NationStates Jolt Archive

Well, my kids came home today with notes that say the schools will be closed tomorrow and Friday and that it could be extended. I've also gotten word that Conroe and Magnolia schools will also be closed.

This may not be a pleasant experience for those of us near the Texas coast. I'm sending my family up north to the farm, but I will be staying behind to help with any relief and rescue effort.

For all we know at this point, something odd may happen and this thing may end up being nothing. For now, though, we're preparing for the worst. Houston proper is now under a voluntary evacuation, with mandatory evacuations as far north as the University of Houston.

I've stocked up on first aid kits, water, canned food, batteries, and various supplies enough to last me at least five days. I'm not as such worried, but I may have to load it all up and head south to give it to someone else.

What's really fun is seeing all the military helicopters and listening to the coast guard banter back and forth from Lake Conroe. If nothing else, we're ready. My message to God: Bring it on! :D (j/k ... don't)

Anyway, I'll update as things get interesting and for as long as I have electricity.

good luck to you, man, and good for you for staying to help.

Good luck, Keruvalia.

Well, my kids came home today with notes that say the schools will be closed tomorrow and Friday and that it could be extended. I've also gotten word that Conroe and Magnolia schools will also be closed.

This may not be a pleasant experience for those of us near the Texas coast. I'm sending my family up north to the farm, but I will be staying behind to help with any relief and rescue effort.

For all we know at this point, something odd may happen and this thing may end up being nothing. For now, though, we're preparing for the worst. Houston proper is now under a voluntary evacuation, with mandatory evacuations as far north as the University of Houston.

I've stocked up on first aid kits, water, canned food, batteries, and various supplies enough to last me at least five days. I'm not as such worried, but I may have to load it all up and head south to give it to someone else.

What's really fun is seeing all the military helicopters and listening to the coast guard banter back and forth from Lake Conroe. If nothing else, we're ready. My message to God: Bring it on! :D (j/k ... don't)

Anyway, I'll update as things get interesting and for as long as I have electricity.I hope you're right and it winds up being nothing, that at least it weakens considerably as it hits the shallower water (although I can't hope for a more southerly course, as my parents live outside San Antonio, and while that's inland, I'd still rather not worry so much). But good luck dude, and I hope for the best. And I hope FEMA's learned a thing or ten in the last month.

I hope you're right and it winds up being nothing, that at least it weakens considerably as it hits the shallower water (although I can't hope for a more southerly course, as my parents live outside San Antonio, and while that's inland, I'd still rather not worry so much). But good luck dude, and I hope for the best. And I hope FEMA's learned a thing or ten in the last month.

It can still make a more southerly course towards northern parts of Mexico, and even hit the Mexican coastline. We will know more by tomorrow for sure.

And yes FEMA knows more because it won't have to deal with Governor Blanco. :)

Good luck, hunker down... your kids will be safe.

I'm praying that there is no significant storm surge when Rita approaches the shallow water of Galveston Bay. It was only an 8 foot wave that killed 6-8,000 people in Galveston in 1900.

Well, my kids came home today with notes that say the schools will be closed tomorrow and Friday and that it could be extended. I've also gotten word that Conroe and Magnolia schools will also be closed.

This may not be a pleasant experience for those of us near the Texas coast. I'm sending my family up north to the farm, but I will be staying behind to help with any relief and rescue effort.

For all we know at this point, something odd may happen and this thing may end up being nothing. For now, though, we're preparing for the worst. Houston proper is now under a voluntary evacuation, with mandatory evacuations as far north as the University of Houston.

I've stocked up on first aid kits, water, canned food, batteries, and various supplies enough to last me at least five days. I'm not as such worried, but I may have to load it all up and head south to give it to someone else.

What's really fun is seeing all the military helicopters and listening to the coast guard banter back and forth from Lake Conroe. If nothing else, we're ready. My message to God: Bring it on! :D (j/k ... don't)

Anyway, I'll update as things get interesting and for as long as I have electricity.

Well, this is interesting. We're apparently near the same area, considering I live in the Woodlands, just south of Conroe.

I guess I can contribute to this by giving news from my area...

Evacuation traffic up here is horiffic. I-45 is backed up for god knows how long, and cars are going about 5 mph are so, and since we have a construction area just to the north of us, it'll just back up even further.

Our family has decided to stay and weather the storm, as we sort of have a strategically placed house. It's on the crown of the neighborhood, and when Allison came, we had no flooding whatsoever. Wind shouldn't be too much of a problem, as we have few windows on the side that's going to get hit the worst, and we've got a number of other houses blocking most of the wind. However, if Rita heads north and the worst of the storm heads towards us, we're getting out double quick.

Our supplies are pretty well stocked, and we shouldn't have many problems, provided that Rita stays on it's path.

I'll keep updating until we lose power as well, to complement Keruvalia's reports.

Evacuation traffic up here is horiffic. I-45 is backed up for god knows how long, and cars are going about 5 mph are so, and since we have a construction area just to the north of us, it'll just back up even further.


Ugh ... no kiddin' ... my wife left UofH at noon. A 45 minute trip. It's now 5:45 pm and she's not home yet. Traffic is a wall.

hey Keruvalia,
I know this is a bad time to ask, but can you take a few pics of
the choppers flying around?
We hardly ever get that kinda of action with military
stuff, well, only when the Pres flies in but thats it! LOL!

Seriously though,
Good luck and when the waves do come, head for higher
ground! We dont want to see you getting loaded into a
Black Hawk from your rooftop! (I wanna do that! lol ;))
Good luck, stay dry, and God Bless!!!

Good luck, hunker down... your kids will be safe.

I'm praying that there is no significant storm surge when Rita approaches the shallow water of Galveston Bay. It was only an 8 foot wave that killed 6-8,000 people in Galveston in 1900.

Shallow water doesnt help in a storm surge.
It makes it worse. But was the Galveston
hurricane a Cat 5? or was it smaller?
This ones a monster!

Good luck dude. Check in with us if you're able and let us know you're OK.

Just as the other thing was dying down. :(

Shallow water doesnt help in a storm surge.
It makes it worse.

It does? How so?

It does? How so?
It's the same reason as why regular oceanic waves become more pronounced as they reach the shore. Waves are caused by large areas of water that circulates vertically. As the motion and energy of the circulation travels through the water, the circulation is well maintained as long as the water is deep enough. When the water becomes too shallow to maintain proper circulation of the waves, the energy of the circulation pushes water up at the back of the cycle, creating visible waves. Of course, the storm surge carried by the eye of the storm is slightly different. The extremely low pressure of the eye pulls water up. Since the surface of the water doesn't actually move with the eye, the energy is carried by the creation of a gigantic level of circulation. When the eye reaches the shore, the pressure is low enough and the circulation powerful enough that a gigantic wave will rise in the shallows and carry itself ashore.
Correct me if I'm wrong, buts this is just a rough explaination.

It's the same reason as why regular oceanic waves become more pronounced as they reach the shore. Waves are caused by large areas of water that circulates vertically. As the motion and energy of the circulation travels through the water, the circulation is well maintained as long as the water is deep enough. When the water becomes too shallow to maintain proper circulation of the waves, the energy of the circulation pushes water up at the back of the cycle, creating visible waves. Of course, the storm surge carried by the eye of the storm is slightly different. The extremely low pressure of the eye pulls water up. Since the surface of the water doesn't actually move with the eye, the energy is carried by the creation of a gigantic level of circulation. When the eye reaches the shore, the pressure is low enough and the circulation powerful enough that a gigantic wave will rise in the shallows and carry itself ashore.
Correct me if I'm wrong, buts this is just a rough explaination.

Yes but this does not focus on the fact that shallow waters cause a weakening in hurricanes such as thi one.

Yeah, but in that case it would have to hit shallow water in the middle of the Gulf.

Yeah, but in that case it would have to hit shallow water in the middle of the Gulf.

Well that is where I see it going, or at least hope... towards portions of northern mexico and parts of Texas (including Brownsville).

But we shall know far more tomorrow. Maybe I'll be wrong, but lets hope i'm right and this thing steers away from densely populated areas.

Shallow water doesnt help in a storm surge.
It makes it worse. But was the Galveston
hurricane a Cat 5? or was it smaller?
This ones a monster!

Yes, the waters get pushed up into the shallow waters of the bay and build a big surge. It surprised me that only an 8-foot wave destroyed the old city and killed that many people in 1900. It was a CAT-4.

The storm surge and waves are what do so much damage - "hide from wind, run from water" is the common saying.

http://www.noaa.gov/galveston1900/

My dad is gonna stay too, he won't let me stay because he says he won't be able to do his job unless he knows his family is safe. My sisters and I will be heading to my uncle's house farther north and inland. My brother is gonna be staying with a friend in Austin, and the steps are going to their relatives in Karnes City.My dad will be helping evacuate, and with whatever else he can do. He'll probably be weathering the thing out in the "bunker" they're preparing in the City Administration building, or at City Hall.

We're in Cuero, which is expecting "winds of at least hurricane force", and recent unfinished construction on the sewer/drainage system does not bode well for flooding. Especially considering the fact that we're in an area that bad with flooding. Cuero lost all kinds of property, homes, and people, in the flood in '98 and most of that wasn't even direct rainfall. It mostly was run off from further inland, coupled with the decent amount of rainfall we were still carrying from earlier that week. I don't think it was caused by a hurricane either-there was little or no wind damage, as far as I remember.

Well, my kids came home today with notes that say the schools will be closed tomorrow and Friday and that it could be extended. I've also gotten word that Conroe and Magnolia schools will also be closed.

This may not be a pleasant experience for those of us near the Texas coast. I'm sending my family up north to the farm, but I will be staying behind to help with any relief and rescue effort.

For all we know at this point, something odd may happen and this thing may end up being nothing. For now, though, we're preparing for the worst. Houston proper is now under a voluntary evacuation, with mandatory evacuations as far north as the University of Houston.

I've stocked up on first aid kits, water, canned food, batteries, and various supplies enough to last me at least five days. I'm not as such worried, but I may have to load it all up and head south to give it to someone else.

What's really fun is seeing all the military helicopters and listening to the coast guard banter back and forth from Lake Conroe. If nothing else, we're ready. My message to God: Bring it on! :D (j/k ... don't)

Anyway, I'll update as things get interesting and for as long as I have electricity.

Don't you die on us now man! Stay safe and good luck!

Good luck!

You might want to set your nation on vacation mode in case the power's out for long too. That way you won't lose it.

Don't you die on us now man! Stay safe and good luck!

Die? Ah hell ... takes more than a little wind and rain to knock me down.

You might want to set your nation on vacation mode in case the power's out for long too. That way you won't lose it.

Good idea!

... and the "looting" mentality begins.

So, I went to the local Wal-Mart to get a few things I needed to make sure I had. No big deal. Yeah, it was pretty damn crowded and the shelves were pretty bare, but I knew I'd need a couple little things.

Anyway, I managed to snag a large bag of potatos, a sack of onions, a couple loaves of bread (2 of the last), and some various other whatnots.

I stepped away from the cart to go look at the canned soup aisle (which, by the way, was devoid of everything except cans of turnip greens) and see if there was anything left and upon returning to my cart with 4 large cans of turnip greens in hand, the bread and potatos were gone.

GONE!

Some rat bastard stole my food.

*sigh*

Oh well ... I hope it was someone who needed it more. I grabbed some flour and will just make my own bread to store through the weekend.

the ship canal that runs through houston looks to be the biggest problem.....i really hope this storm doesnt come with the loss of life that katrina did. i was there for 3 days, and will be going back for a month and putting my death industry skills to use. sadly, they are needed so bad they are PAYING me. ugh.

Ugh. I've learned that it'll be a Category 1 when it hits Austin. The worst of the storm is to be the storm's right side, which will be just to the right of Austin. There's fear downtown (where a lot of the cultural/uniquely Austin stuff is, and the capital) will flood.

We're hundreds of miles from the coast, which means this thing is strong. From what I've heard, it's become a Category 5. Governor Perry has already asked President Bush to declare Texas a state of emergency, and he's pulled Texas National Guard troops from New Orleans back to Texas in order to get ready for the hurricane and assist in dealing with the aftermath. Also, he's asked Bush to sign something that will, if I remember right, give full reimbursement to storm damage.

I happen to hate storms, especially anything that might spawn tornadoes, so..Egh. I know it won't be as bad, here, as near the coast...But still.

Oh yes. Gas up your cars now, people, as the price will very likely shoot up even further.

Good luck Keruvalia!

The storm's been downgraded to a cat-4, but the storm surge is still expected to be 50 ft. tall. Unfortunately, Galveston's storm walls are only 17 ft. tall.

Good luck, Keru. Stay safe.

The storm's been downgraded to a cat-4, but the storm surge is still expected to be 50 ft. tall. Unfortunately, Galveston's storm walls are only 17 ft. tall.

15ft, not 50ft.

50ft is unthinkable.

Saffir-Simpson Scale (The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale)

The storm's been downgraded to a cat-4, but the storm surge is still expected to be 50 ft. tall. Unfortunately, Galveston's storm walls are only 17 ft. tall.

15ft, not 50ft.

50ft is unthinkable.

Saffir Simpson Scale (http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/aboutsshs.shtml)

I don't know why I put down 50, but I meant 15. 15-20 ft, actually.

I'm here in Houston as well, and the traffic is beyond belief. What can one expect though when they are evaccing some three million people over limited roadways?

It's going as well as can be expected.

The 1900 hurricane was a cat 5, and killed 6,000 people on Galveston island alone, with an over all death toll of close to 10,000 lives. The storm surge watshed completely over the island.

Rita may be weakening for the moment, but I'm worried that she will strengthen again in the warmer waters close to shore. She's going to cause a mess where ever she hits.

The 1900 hurricane was a cat 5, and killed 6,000 people on Galveston island alone, with an over all death toll of close to 10,000 lives. The storm surge watshed completely over the island.

As Sabbatis pointed out above, The Storm of 1900 was a category 4.

More than 8,000 people perished September 8, 1900 when the category 4 hurricane barreled into Galveston, where many people were on vacation. (source: NOAA (http://www.noaa.gov/galveston1900/))

By the time the storm reached the Texas coast south of Galveston late on September 8, it was a Category 4 hurricane.
(source: National Hurrican Center (http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/HAW2/english/history.shtml#galveston))

Only 3 category 5s have hit the US: the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935, Camille, and Andrew.

I live in Austin Texas while my daughter lives in Houston.
She is in the process on evacuating the city.
Regardless of where the Hurricane hits the coast, the fact remains that the storm will still cause extensive flooding and probable tornados inland.
I find that man is powerless over Nature.
What will occur will occur.

Mikeswill

Love Conquers Fear

Rita is only weakening at this point. Strengthening is not possible, especially after 12 hours from now. She will hit land in 36 hours.

Chances are that Hurricane Rita will hit as a category 3 with 130-135 MPH winds.

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/storm_graphics/AT18/refresh/AL1805I+gif/031210P_sm.gif

Remember, the Houston area and its refineries faced this same threat several years back. There was a very strong category three hurricane and the refineries held. i think they are prepared.

Let's hope NO can stand up to the rain. Besides obviously weakened canals and levees, the pumps are not yet fully capable.

The worst flooding will be come a day after the storm.

Rita is only weakening at this point. Strengthening is not possible, especially after 12 hours from now. She will hit land in 36 hours.

That's a very strong statement about something that has proven to be very unpredictable over the years.

I've seen them strengthen, dissapate, do 180's, stop, and go in completely random directions while in the Gulf. This thing could hit land as anywhere from a category 2 to a category 5, although a high category 3 is most likely. The weather bureau can't predict these things as well as everyone would like.

I've seen them strengthen, dissapate, do 180's, stop, and go in completely random directions while in the Gulf. This thing could hit land as anywhere from a category 2 to a category 5, although a high category 3 is most likely. The weather bureau can't predict these things as well as everyone would like.

According to actual projections based on water temperatures, wind trajectory.. a strong category 3. Saying it would hit as a category 2 is downplaying it. It striking as a category 5 is certainly not going to happen as it already is passing through more shallow and less warm waters. I take their word over yours. Sorry. These guys actually rely on flights that go into the eye of the storm... they drop instruments by plane and give us information.

Sorry. These guys actually rely on flights that go into the eye of the storm... they drop instruments by plane and give us information.

"These guys" (http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/refresh/graphics_at3+shtml/031210.shtml?table) don't even support your predictions, with it having a 40% chance of Cat 4-5 winds in 36 hours.

However, you're ascribing a certainty to their predictions that even the forecasters disagree with. They can't even predict with any certainty where it's going to hit, let alone how hard.

To quote Forecaster Knabb:


SOME RESTRENGTHENING IS FORECAST IN THE SHORT TERM.
GRADUAL WEAKENING IS POSSIBLE LATER ON FRIDAY BEFORE LANDFALL DUE
TO LESSER OCEAN HEAT CONTENT CLOSER TO THE COAST...AND TO THE
POSSIBILITY OF SOME INCREASE IN THE WIND SHEAR. THE BOTTOM LINE IS
THAT THE INTENSITY WILL LIKELY FLUCTUATE DURING THE NEXT 36
HOURS...AND RITA IS EXPECTED TO MAKE LANDFALL AS A MAJOR
HURRICANE...AT LEAST CATEGORY THREE.


There's a fair bit of uncertainty there.

Rita is only weakening at this point. Strengthening is not possible, especially after 12 hours from now. She will hit land in 36 hours.

Chances are that Hurricane Rita will hit as a category 3 with 130-135 MPH winds.

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/storm_graphics/AT18/refresh/AL1805I+gif/031210P_sm.gif

Remember, the Houston area and its refineries faced this same threat several years back. There was a very strong category three hurricane and the refineries held. i think they are prepared.

Ummm.... that gives us a strong possibility of her being a category 4 when she makes landfall.
Also, category 4 is 131-155 MPH, so making landfall at the speeds you're saying would make it a category 4.
Also, you and Thelona are both pulling on NHC forecasts.

Thelona, that also gives it the exact same probability of being a category 3.

Thelona, that also gives it the exact same probability of being a category 3.

True, but it didn't seem necessary to point it out. I was just disagreeing with the definitive statements that Mesatecala was making.

*EDIT* I just noticed that the earlier link shows the latest data rather than historical information. It showed a 40% chance of Cat 4-5 strength winds, 40 % Cat 3, and 20% less (in some proportion). That's now changed.

Update from Forecaster Beven (http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCDAT3+shtml/230856.shtml?), who's forecasting 143 mph winds in 24 hours:


THE INTENSITY FORECAST IS STILL PROBLEMATIC.

whatever the strength of the storm will be..

i keep my fingers crossed for all you guys and everyone els ein the area and strongly advise everyone to make sensible decisions..that is, leave if you don't know a really secure place to stay in (and remeber, not even the superdome held what it promised)..you're helping people mor eby not staying=not getting in need of help yourself than by staying to help, probably..though i do admire your will to do so.

I really hope it just dies down and nothing happens, but thats unfortunately unrealistic right now.

Best wishes and good luck. I truly hope there is better preparation for this one that the last one.

Those two trying to refute me... no.

http://www.weatherunderground.com/tropical/tracking/at200518.html

Down to 135MPH right now. If it drops 5 more it will be a category 3.

... and the "looting" mentality begins.

So, I went to the local Wal-Mart to get a few things I needed to make sure I had. No big deal. Yeah, it was pretty damn crowded and the shelves were pretty bare, but I knew I'd need a couple little things.

Anyway, I managed to snag a large bag of potatos, a sack of onions, a couple loaves of bread (2 of the last), and some various other whatnots.

I stepped away from the cart to go look at the canned soup aisle (which, by the way, was devoid of everything except cans of turnip greens) and see if there was anything left and upon returning to my cart with 4 large cans of turnip greens in hand, the bread and potatos were gone.

GONE!

Some rat bastard stole my food.

*sigh*

Oh well ... I hope it was someone who needed it more. I grabbed some flour and will just make my own bread to store through the weekend.
I went to 4 different grocery stores and couldn't find bread anywhere. One of them had water in boxes of 4 1-gallon jugs on a pallet. They were limiting it to 4 boxes per customer, but some lady was trying to take 8 of them, claiming she had more family. Ugh!
I must say, however, that for the most part people were very courteous and patient, considering the pressure of worrying about your family and jobs.

Kinda neat watching this come in. The wind has picked up and the temp dropped noticeably. I'm glad it's not as strong as some suspected, but 130 mph winds are nothing to scoff at.

Good luck Keruvalia! We will all be thinking about you and hope for the safety of all.

Any chance it could hit Crawford Texas? That I'd be OK with.. *LOL* :D

Any chance it could hit Crawford Texas? That I'd be OK with.. *LOL* :D

Lol ... no ... but George Sr. lives here. ;)

Let's hope NO can stand up to the rain. Besides obviously weakened canals and levees, the pumps are not yet fully capable.

The worst flooding will be come a day after the storm.
The levee protecting the 9th Ward has been breached in three spots and the water is already waist high. I hope that there won't be another hurricane for a while this year, or maybe no hurricanes; that would be nice. Of course the atmosphere would become unbalanced without hurricanes and such.

Just some perspective ...

http://www.unlc.biz/images/map.jpg

See me waving?

oh so that's what you look like?
*gasps at astonishingly good-looking godlike features on her screen*

Keruvalia, how you doing? Alright? I sure hope so. How are those oil refineries doing? You still have power?

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/storm_graphics/AT18/refresh/AL1805I_sm2+gif/204656P_sm.gif

Just an update.. it should be weakening SUBSTANTIALLY in about 12 hours (of course its eye will be over land in 20-24 hours). Hold on and wait.

It seems like Louisiana is getting the brunt of the storm. And a question, is it the upper-right area of the hurricane that has the most damaging winds?

Not going to argue the rating of the 1900 storm, I've seen sites that differ from yours, Daistallia 2104.

The winds are starting to come through Houston...

Lol ... no ... but George Sr. lives here. ;)

I guarantee Senior and his wife got the first private jet out of there at the first mention of "hurricane", and will return the second it's safe for publicity.

LOL, Keru..Great pic. I made similar to show my girlfriend. Austin's gonna be right on the edge of the actual storm, last I heard/saw.

I talked with my sister's friend on the phone today, who's an evacuee from Houston. It's a mess. Apparently, people were just told to evacuate, with no clarification that there were areas under mandatory evacuation, and others under volunteer evacuation.

Here in Austin, all the highschools in my school district have been turned into shelters and are completely full. In addition, some middleschools were used, and were filled up as well. All hotels here are completely full, and have been for the past day or two. I really don't think anyone anticipated ever needing to move a large amount of people to a specific area like this. Anyone else have any news on their own local situations?

Good news!

I am pretty much out of the danger zone. Rita took a nice eastward turn and all I'm getting is some nice wind and some rain. To me, this is no different than a standard Texas thunderstorm (and I love those).

All that worry over nothin'. *whew*

Of course, that's just me. There are folks in SW Louisiana who will be getting hit hard and there is an expected stall over NE Texas/NW Louisiana which will bring a lot of flooding and damage to them. I don't know if ya'll remember, but just a few years back a tropical storm (not a hurricane) stalled in NE Texas, turned around, came back, and gave Houston some of the worst flooding it had ever seen.

So I'm not entirely out of the woods yet, but I still have power and internet. I'm thanking Allah every moment!

*snip*

I remember that flood. I also came back from a trip to Canada last summer, and heard about San Antonio or Houston being flooded. If it was Houston, you guys must've learned to love water. ;-) :-p

Stay safe, and don't chase after the storm. :-p

Good news!

I am pretty much out of the danger zone. Rita took a nice eastward turn and all I'm getting is some nice wind and some rain. To me, this is no different than a standard Texas thunderstorm (and I love those).


You are also lucky that the storm weakened greatly as I predicted.

Thank goodness... do you think Galveston is faring alright?

I used to live in Texas (back in 93-94.. when I was 6 or 7).

Good news!

I am pretty much out of the danger zone. Rita took a nice eastward turn and all I'm getting is some nice wind and some rain. To me, this is no different than a standard Texas thunderstorm (and I love those).

All that worry over nothin'. *whew*

Of course, that's just me. There are folks in SW Louisiana who will be getting hit hard and there is an expected stall over NE Texas/NW Louisiana which will bring a lot of flooding and damage to them. I don't know if ya'll remember, but just a few years back a tropical storm (not a hurricane) stalled in NE Texas, turned around, came back, and gave Houston some of the worst flooding it had ever seen.

So I'm not entirely out of the woods yet, but I still have power and internet. I'm thanking Allah every moment!I'm starting to think that nature's tired of having the Mississippi running through New Orleans and has decided to make it run through the Atchafalaya like it's been wanting to for the last eighty or so years.

I'm starting to think that nature's tired of having the Mississippi running through New Orleans and has decided to make it run through the Atchafalaya like it's been wanting to for the last eighty or so years.

That's entirely possible ... either that, or God hates spicey food.

That's entirely possible ... either that, or God hates spicey food.
Well, I always figured I'd end up in hell one day, and if that's where the cayenne is, then that's where I'll be. :D

Latest news: Rita's making landfall right now along the TX/LA border. BTW, Galveston is on fire.

BTW, Galveston is on fire.

Only a few buildings are and I don't think that will last long considering the obvious rainfall. From what I have heard, Galveston is doing alright considering... its storm wall repelled storm surge..

At last I heard 3 buildings were on fire, but they were worried that the winds were going to spread the fire. You're right, though. The seawall held, so it could have been far worse. The levees in New Orleans, however, broke again.

At last I heard 3 buildings were on fire, but they were worried that the winds were going to spread the fire. You're right, though. The seawall held, so it could have been far worse. The levees in New Orleans, however, broke again.

The seawall in Galveston is like 17 feet high (or was it 15?). Damn.. I used to live in Houston many years back and remember swimming in some of the beaches at Galveston.. I wonder how it is at this moment...

Yeah I know about New Orleans and I knew it was going to happen even if New Orleans only had four or five inches of rain. Those levees were in very poor condition.. though they were pumping water out.. they were in bad shape.

Well, I always figured I'd end up in hell one day, and if that's where the cayenne is, then that's where I'll be. :D

You and me both, brother ... you and me both.

Not going to argue the rating of the 1900 storm, I've seen sites that differ from yours, Daistallia 2104.

The winds are starting to come through Houston...

Please post them. I'm curious a to who you think is more accurate than NOAA and the NHC. :) (Seriously, please post your source - I couldn't find any saying it was a cat 5.)

You and me both, brother ... you and me both.


Save a pitchfork for me guys.

Please post them. I'm curious a to who you think is more accurate than NOAA and the NHC. :) (Seriously, please post your source - I couldn't find any saying it was a cat 5.)
You are right. Only 3 Cat 5's have hit N.A. in recorded history and that was definitely NOT one of them. Someone else already listed them.
It seems like Louisiana is getting the brunt of the storm. And a question, is it the upper-right area of the hurricane that has the most damaging winds?
No the upper right is where it loses the majority of its speed since it runs into the prevailing winds mostly there. The prevailing winds lend their effort when it goes down the Western and across the Southern sides. So it is at its strongest in the SE so the worst is yet to come just when you think it can only get better.

You are right. Only 3 Cat 5's have hit N.A. in recorded history and that was definitely NOT one of them. Someone else already listed them.

Go back and look at who listed them and the sources I used, and you'll see why I'm for a source more accurate than NOAA and the NHC. ;)

I'm very glad that you are safe!

I'm very glad that you are safe!

We dodged a fucking bullet, man. Too bad for those people on the Texas-Louisiana border, though...

I have a question any of you that live down in a commonly Hurricane-bashed area.

Why does everybody always, upon hearing that another huge storm is coming to flatten their home, rush out and buy food, water and wood to cover the windows. If you live someplace like that then why don't you keep this stuff in your basement! Don't just hope to get lucky and arrive at the store before the other twelve-million people, just buy all the storeable food and plywood you can while its cheap!

Unless you feel like waiting out the storm and looting for food and water later. :rolleyes:

I have a question any of you that live down in a commonly Hurricane-bashed area.

Why does everybody always, upon hearing that another huge storm is coming to flatten their home, rush out and buy food, water and wood to cover the windows. If you live someplace like that then why don't you keep this stuff in your basement! Don't just hope to get lucky and arrive at the store before the other twelve-million people, just buy all the storeable food and plywood you can while its cheap!

Unless you feel like waiting out the storm and looting for food and water later. :rolleyes:

LOL, *nobody* has a basement in this area. It's impossible, because the ground is so wet and spongy.

Fuck, you people from dry areas should really get a clue. Seriously.

If you live someplace like that then why don't you keep this stuff in your basement!

Basement?

Basement?

Well, a basement in this area could be possible, but you'd have to use it as a swimming pool... And be on the lookout for collapsing walls. :p

Well not everybody in dry areas can have basements. For example, we in California more then often don't have basements. There is a bit of a common sense issue about that one. Pudu, it is often the only thing they can do, and often the best thing they can do.

Anyways, it appears damage was less then expected from this storm. It appears to have weakened faster then they expected. Houston dodged it, but Galveston dodged it big time and the sea walls held..

Fairly good news here, too.

Live 30 miles NE of downtown Houston. Got some strong winds, one of our smaller trees in the backyard broke mid-trunk and fell on the corner of our fence. There are branches down everywhere. But ... no broken windows, house is ok. All in all, I'm feeling very lucky.

Our power went out about 3:30 am Saturday morning CST, and came back on about 5:30 pm. Took me awhile to get the internet back up and working.

Some grocery stores will be opening tomorrow, and most should be open on Monday. The issue with opening things is waiting for employees to return from evacuation. Which will probably be another traffic nightmare.

Kids have school off Monday and Tuesday (they're crushed ... lol). Knowing my work, I'll probably have to be back Monday, driving into Houston with all the returning evacuees. GRRR!

A good map showing why the evacuation was so large can be found here

http://www.srh.noaa.gov/hgx/tropical/workshop05/HurricaneEvacuationMap.pdf

its from the local NBC televisions stations website
http://www.click2houston.com/newsarchive/4997227/detail.html

I was happy to see my home towns of League City, Kemah and Galveston escaped practically unharmed.. I was pretty worried when Rita was a 5, it would have flattened everything I knew for nearly 30 years.

Now I am far away in CA, and hurricanes are a memory since 94, but I don't miss them a bit.

A good map showing why the evacuation was so large can be found here

http://www.srh.noaa.gov/hgx/tropical/workshop05/HurricaneEvacuationMap.pdf

its from the local NBC televisions stations website
http://www.click2houston.com/newsarchive/4997227/detail.html

I was happy to see my home towns of League City, Kemah and Galveston escaped practically unharmed.. I was pretty worried when Rita was a 5, it would have flattened everything I knew for nearly 30 years.

Now I am far away in CA, and hurricanes are a memory since 94, but I don't miss them a bit.
Now all you have to worry about is those pesky earthquakes ... :D

I remember one or two houses with basements back home (just south of Houston), and a lot of larger buildings have them, but basements do require careful (read exspensive) construction so as not to end up as Potaria's swimming pool. ;)

Now all you have to worry about is those pesky earthquakes ... :D

Be glad you don't live somewhere olong the Asian side of the Pacific (someplace like, oh I don't know ... maybe here in Oaska ;)). We get quakes and typhoons. Fortunately we're far enough north and the surrounding waters are cool enough that the big monster typhoons don't hit us. Of course that was also the conventional wisdom about earthquakes. I was told again and again that this part of Japan just doesn't get hit by big quakes. Boy was I surprised! (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Hanshin_earthquake)

Mesatecala, I'm happy to say that you got it partly right in the best way - if you'd gotten it partly right the other way, we'd have ended up with a cat 5 near Brownsville, and almost certainly a fair number of deaths. Thank goodness that didn't happen! :)

Hoping to here from ya soon Keruvalia. Hope you and yours escaped undamaged!