Rita Swirls into a Category 5 in the Gulf
Current path has it plowing right into Texas. And it still has two days left before landfall. This is going to make gas prices go up again...and for longer. This won't be a matter of simple price gouging; there simply won't be enough (most of US refineries are in Texas, and without them up and running...well, you get the picture) gas.
This is downright unreal. Before Katrina, the last category 5 hurricane to hit America was Andrew in 1992. Before that, Camille in 1969, and before that, an unnamed one in 1935. But now we have two in one month?
Scary. 
I swear, God must be TRYING to wipe the gulf coast off the face of the planet.
But seriously, this is going to KILL people who drive SUV's.
I'm glad I still rely on good old legpower to get from point A to point B.
Rita is now stronger than Katrina was when it hit landfall. Pressure is at 920 mb.
And it's only gonna get bigger from here. >.>
Jeez..... Mother Nature must be having a really bad month o_o;
I'm glad the government sort of learned from not reacting quickly to Katrina, but I wonder how former residents from New Orleans would feel about that.... "Oh sure! You go to help THEM right away!"
My best wishes to all of them who are forced to brave the storm.
~Shadowed Spirit Sage
*Looks at the pictures*
JESUS H. TAPDANCING CHRIST!
Seriously, this time there is literally No excuse for not getting the hell out of there RIGHT NOW.
Pray for my family and my roommates family who live along the coast. In Austin we're possibly going to be put into shelters if things get bad. I received this email today from my university.
Dear Members of the Southwestern University Community,
The University staff has been meeting with local and state
authorities to prepare for Hurricane Ritas effect on the Central Texas area after landing along the Texas Gulf Coast. We want to update you on the information that we have received from them as well as preparations that the University is making.
Latest Forecast
Hurricane Rita is now a Category 5 hurricane with sustained winds of 165 mph. Its path is projected to hit the Texas coast somewhere around the Galveston area by Friday night.
Hurricane force winds and torrential rainfall are predicted as far north as LaGrange, Texas, with the possibility of isolated tornados during the storm.
Classes
Depending on the weather, a decision will be made by noon tomorrow (Thursday, September 22) as to whether we cancel classes on Friday so that students who live in non-affected areas can travel home. If classes are cancelled, students who plan to leave campus MUST sign out with their R.A. so that we can keep track of them.
Shelters
In the meantime, the campus is preparing to accommodate students who will be safer staying on campus because their homes are in areas likely to be affected by Hurricane Rita. Several shelters have been identified on campus and students will be moved into those buildings should the need arise. A team of staff and administrators will stay on campus Friday and Saturday nights to oversee these facilities. Sodexho will provide food to those staying in the designated shelters.
Other Evacuees
We have received calls about whether the University will serve as an evacuation shelter. We will make a determination tomorrow as to whether we can accommodate family members of students.
Preparations
Physical Plant is working today to clear any objects on campus that might pose a hazard in high winds. Likewise, students who have personal belongings that are outside (especially the Lord Center, McCombs Residential Center and fraternities) should bring them inside with the exception of hazardous materials (i.e., gasoline or other flammable materials).
Future Notices
Future messages concerning plans for hurricane preparation and recovery will be sent out by University Communications or delivered personally through RAs and emergency staff.
Thank you for your cooperation in these efforts.
Deborah L. Brown
Chief of Police
Southwestern University
If you're in central Texas or on the gulf coast get the hell out. I know I'm not evacuating, but that's because I'm ignorant about hurricanes and I live on a college campus so I think I'm in a safer place. If you're just in some house though, really, get out. We're buying food and water and alcohol and fish food tonight incase we're stuck inside a couple days.
Galveston declared a state of emergency yesterday, and a mandatory evacuation was issued earlier today around 6 PM.
New Orleans Residents Refuse to Leave
EDIT: Just heard on TV that pressure is 898 mb. Wow. 3rd strongest storm in history...and Rita is now more powerful than Katrina was at her strongest.
Wait a second, 898mb?
So does this mean that the lower the number is, the stronger the storm? 'Cause I read from Weather.com that it was 904mb o_o;;
EDIT: after going to clarify, they've updated with 898. Still though..... dear lord.
We've had several students from New Orleans come to our school (One is in my gym class), I'm sure we'll have people from Texas come up if things are really bad.
Speaking of which, **hugs Astrid** I wish for the best for you, your friends and family
~Shadowed Spirit Sage
I think it's supposed to weaken to cat 4 before making landfall... after strengthening more from warm eddies in the gulf... o.o
I'm mrerely worried about one thing.
It hits the Texan coast, {stumbelina plx be safe 
} And causes some severe damage---my worry is that it may still have enough power to make the Mississippi flood.
I'm slightly concerned about that. Once that river actually overflows its banks....we can really say new coastline >>
This is a time when Geology people like myself go "-.- Been telling ya to move from there for years now, but you don't want to listen."
Still you can't forsee it happeneing like this, we can only speculate.
FEMA be'n not drop the ball on this one. Or its their asses. Literally.
And there's reports of a third weather system out there...>> No news of it becoming a hurricane, but the conditions seem to be the same. El Nino{weather pattern<--for those that may not know what I refer to} is really ripping up on the Gulf now aint it? >>
Quote:
So does this mean that the lower the number is, the stronger the storm? 'Cause I read from Weather.com that it was 904mb o_o;;
EDIT: after going to clarify, they've updated with 898. Still though..... dear lord.
Like Ultra said, the lower that number is, the stronger the storm is. If that number increases, the storm starts to get weaker.
Although Galveston has already declared a state of emergency, Texas Governor Rick Perry has already declared a state of emergency as well, and has given the federal government the reins to disaster relief. Water, ice, and ready-made meals have already been stocked at secure locations, and medical and rescue teams are standing by.
One note though from the article.
Quote:
"It's nice to have the Bush administration recognize the importance of a federal response to Rita, but why weren't they proactively mobilizing and organizing like this for Katrina?" said Rebecca Kirszner, a spokeswoman for Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid of Nevada.
"These are the questions that need to be asked by an independent commission," Kirszner said.
(twitch)
Fine. Let's do a simple comparison.
Galveston (before Rita's even here)
New Orleans (after Katrina passed through)
Nuff said.
Rita? They should just call it Katrina: Take Two. Whatever, as long as everyone involved does everything they can to ensure nobody gets hurt.
It's only going to get worse if people insist on living on sealines below sea level...well unless something freaky happens (Like the darn thing does a loop and heads for Louisiana and yeah this has happened), let's hope the people of Texas will be okay. I feel sorry for the poor people who were evacuated to Houston from a hurricane to have another hurricane stronger than Katrina come after them again...fun.
Well it can't get any worse than the 1900 Galveston hurricane...
As a Dallas native, this is really concerning me. This means more students coming to Dallas schools (my School is already overpopulated as it is, adding more fuel to the fire with the kids from New Orleans) and (ugh...) gas prices reaching an all-time high once again. Global warming might as well be fully executed in a few years, seeing how we have so much hurricanes occur recently, especially 2 hurricanes at cataclysmic levels.
I live just north of Corpus Christi, which is right near the middle of the Texas gulf coast. *shudder* We were right in the path of Rita, but she has been predicted to go farther north now. OMGrelief...
People all over town are boarding up, including us, just in case we get swiped by Rita anyway. We're right on the south edge of the predicted path. >< Half the freakin' town is at Wal-Mart buying stuff, since everywhere else is closed.
Oh hell, I hope we don't get flooded... Our entire town is one itty bitty peninsula, and the beach is within walking distance. Crapxxors.
Yipes.
We're already to R? That's scary enough....
But yet another hurricane. Well, for the people of New Orleans, this has been a long time coming, Truly, Katrina shouldn't have happened, at least in terms of the damage done.
But in terms of preparation, I'm not surprised that Galveston is prepared. They have had their share of really bad storms, after all.
Well, if this doesn't prove that our climate's going crazy, I'll be damned if I know what does.
I feel really sorry for them in Texas now.
I've just heard a report that Rita might downgrade to a cat. 4 or even possibly a cat. 3 by the time it makes landfall.
(goes to search for an article that verifies it)
Rita is now a Category 4 hurricane with winds at 150 mph. It's possible that it'll be a category 3 by the time it hits land.
Still not a smart idea to feel safe yet, though.
If you haven't gotten out and you've got cellars, hide in them.
Wasn't saying that. Just saying that this storm might not be as bad as Katrina was in terms of damage.
Even so, those levees can't handle much in terms of rain. >.>
HIDE IN CELLARS?!!
Maybe if they were getting hit by tornadoes but why on earth would you want to hide in a cellar when a storm surge could bury you??
Okay I'll stop...lucky me. I was just in the path of that storm not too long ago...
LOLZ Texans have cellars?
In Austin we're out of school tomarrow. Expecting tropical storm force winds and heavy flooding. (Austin is like a BUCKET). We're not being evacuated because of the slight change to the east, but we're being told that we can't leave without signing out with an RA. We've got food and water, school said to expect a long time without power.
Stumbleina and Shoe...
y'all be safe.
Quote:
Jeez..... Mother Nature must be having a really bad month o_o;
Nature's PMS?
I appreciate the concern, and yes, only a few cat fives have EVER hit the US as a cat five, but a TON of cat fours have hit the U.S. A Cat Four hurricane is virtually a cat five in terms of damage. Katrina hit as a Cat Four, i think, but it did Cat Five damage. Rita might too. I live in Biloxi, Mississippi, almost on the coast. We're on the East side of the storm. We're going to get as bad as Texas. At least, wrose than the parts not directly near the eye. We're already missing most of the city. And I'm not evacutating. Don't think I can evacuate for...family problems at the moment. In any case, Jon Stewart said it best: "GOD, WHAT PART OF "GOD BLESS AMERICA" DID YOU NOT UNDERSTAND?!"
I live right where the crosshair is. The east-side band is going to hit here. My Dad is a Hurricane Hunter (note, outdated site.), and THEY had to flee to GEORGIA.
Also, we lived in Destin for Opal and Andrew.
Boy when that chick said make her monster grow, she wasn't just whistling dixie.
**Found at TSF ^^
XD
Well, you know what they say...humor is the best medicine.
God bless America? You think he's gonna simply turn up and dissipate this storm and nobody's gonna have any problems?
God works with the miracles AFTER disasters, not before. And Texas sure could use a miracle right now, for all those people backed up on the road out.
LOL @ WB's pic and SH's link.
Worried at the real situation.
Quote:
If you haven't gotten out and you've got cellars, hide in them.
You're so silly, Harley. There are no such things as basements in the lower half of Texas, dude. XD
So now that the Corpus Christi area is more or less out of the danger zone, I can start worrying about everyone else. SX and Stumbles, y'all stay safe.
One of the levees broke in New Orleans. I swear the lower "tail" of Lousiana'll be wiped off the map...
Thanks for the concern, Shoe. I'll be fine. I've got a Mountain Dew stash to keep me caffinated.
And LOL to the ytmnd link.
Oh no!!!!!!
Today, that hurricane is coming. I'm in it's path. I wish I could kick it's butt. People wish me luck. Right now the hurricane is a category 3.
Bring it on Rita!!!!
Today, that hurricane is coming. I'm in it's path.
Then get the hell out, Darwin.
It's real windy outside and a bit cloudy but the sun is still shining. I have all of my necessary provisions. I can't really evacuate because the gas stations are out of gas, I have no where else to go and mainly because we're getting the west (weaker) side of the system which will probably only be a tropical storm by the time it visits us in east central Texas.
plus:
Hurricane parties!!
I've been disconnected from the news most of the day and don't have time for searching. Has anyone heard about what caused the fires that occurred in a few cities during Rita?
Never heard anything about fires, but Rita is now a tropical storm, last I heard, thus aking all claims about it being another Katrina WILDLY exaggerated.
I can't believe we almost evacuated for THAT.
Seriously, it was about 30 mph wind, some heavy clouds, occasional rain. Nothing worse than a strong spring thunderstorm. It was not Katrina 2 and the people most in danger from it are the ones already living under the sea in Louisana. It knocked out power to a few millon in Texas, but the power will probably be back on pretty shortly if it already isn't.
It really wasn't anything to write home about. I sat outside for parts of it and just watched the clouds roll by.
There were fires in Galveston, but I didn't hear that they were that serious.
Hooray!!!
Rita didn't hit the Houston area.
Dude. We didn't get a DROP of rain. Bright clear blue sky the entire time. But get this - We could SEE the dark clouds from Rita up north. Crazy.
Boarded up the windows fer nuthin'. At least we didn't go all-out and evacuate.
There was no need for that lame evacuation. Simply, everyone overheard the news. The news said that Rita was going to hit cities on the west of the east of Galverston Bay and Houston is on the west. But east Houston did get flooded. But even if the hurricane did hit Houston the entire city would not be flooded.
