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Cat Forum / Cat Anecdotes / September 2005Hurricane RITA - South Texas Residents... GO!
From the National Weather Service: RITA IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST NEAR 9 MPH...15 KM/HR...AND THIS GENERAL MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE FOR THE NEXT 24 HOURS. REPORTS FROM AN AIR FORCE RESERVE HURRICANE HUNTER AIRCRAFT INDICATE THAT MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS REMAIN NEAR 175 MPH...280 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. THIS MAKES RITA A POTENTIALLY CATASTROPHIC CATEGORY FIVE HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON SCALE. SOME FLUCTUATIONS IN INTENSITY ARE LIKELY DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS. Go, go, go! Rita is going to be another Katrina. Don't think you are going to be safe. Get out before they tell you to. HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 70 MILES...110 KM...FROM THE CENTER...AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 185 MILES...295 KM. THE LATEST MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE ESTIMATED FROM REPORTS BY THE HURRICANE HUNTER IS 897 MB...26.49 INCHES. THIS MEANS RITA IS THE THIRD MOST INTENSE HURRICANE IN TERMS OF PRESSURE IN THE ATLANTIC BASIN. TIDES ARE CURRENTLY RUNNING NEAR NORMAL ALONG THE MISSISSIPPI AND LOUISIANA COASTS IN THE AREAS AFFECTED BY KATRINA. TIDES IN THOSE AREAS WILL INCREASE UP TO 3 TO 4 FEET AND BE ACCOMPANIED BY LARGE WAVES OVER THE NEXT 24 HOURS... AND RESIDENTS THERE COULD EXPERIENCE SOME COASTAL FLOODING. HEAVY RAINS ASSOCIATED WITH RITA ARE FORECAST TO BEGIN TO AFFECT THE WESTERN AND CENTRAL GULF OF MEXICO COASTAL AREAS THURSDAY NIGHT INTO FRIDAY. RITA IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE TOTAL RAINFALL ACCUMULATIONS OF 8 TO 12 INCHES WITH ISOLATED MAXIMUM AMOUNTS OF 15 INCHES FROM THE CENTRAL TEXAS COAST TO SOUTHWESTERN LOUISIANA. RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 2 TO 4 INCHES WILL BE POSSIBLE ELSEWHERE ACROSS SOUTHERN LOUISIANA...INCLUDING THE NEW ORLEANS METROPOLITAN AREA. AFTER RITA MOVES INLAND...TOTAL RAIN ACCUMULATIONS OF 5 TO 10 INCHES WILL BE POSSIBLE OVER EASTERN TEXAS... AND CENTRAL AND EASTERN OKLAHOMA DURING SATURDAY AND SUNDAY. REPEATING THE 4 AM CDT POSITION...24.9 N... 88.0 W. MOVEMENT TOWARD...WEST-NORTHWEST NEAR 9 MPH. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...175 MPH. MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE... 897 MB. AN INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER AT 7 AM CDT FOLLOWED BY THE NEXT COMPLETE ADVISORY AT 10 AM CDT. > Go, go, go! Rita is going to be another Katrina. Don't think you are > going > to be safe. Get out before they tell you to. Rita is potentially far worse than Katrina. Katrina was not a Cat 5 hurricane and fell swiftly to a Cat 2 on landfall. The damage in Katrina was mostly due to the storm surge and the flooding due to levees breaking in New Orleans, rather than the wind. Rita is currently a much *nastier* storm than Katrina was. The storm surge, winds and potential for flooding due to intense rainfall are all far, far worse with Rita... helen s >> Go, go, go! Rita is going to be another Katrina. Don't think you are >> going [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > helen s Helen, Katrina *was* a category 5 storm, with winds of at least 175 mph and a central pressure of 902 millibars. Until Rita, it was the second strongest hurricane in the Atlantic basin. Rita's winds are 175 mph, and her pressure is 897 mb - so she has probably taken second place. When Katrina hit, she was only down to a Category 4 storm. The devastation in many of the areas was due to storm surge, but Katrina (and Rita) was a 30 mile wide F3 tornado! The areas where those winds hit were wiped out. Because of the New Orleans flooding, much of the devastation in Mississippi was not adequately reported by the media. Katrina was *bad*. Rita will be *bad* as well, possibly worse. Today's storm track center has her very close to Houston. If you are in the area, PLEASE get out. Go to higher ground - and that isn't 30 feet above sea level. I know of someone in Mississippi whose house was 34 feet above sea level and he still had 6 to 8 feet of flooding from Katrina. Be safe. Take yourself and your family (including pets) and GO. Those of us in the rest of the country will do our best to help you recover. But please be here for us to help! Don't take chances. Get as far away as you can. *****HUGS***** to everyone evacuating, and everyone who is taking in friends and relatives. Kalynnda, who will rev up the kitty purr motors for everyone to be safe. > Helen, > Katrina *was* a category 5 storm, with winds of at least 175 mph and a > central pressure of 902 millibars. Over here on this side of the pond it was reported as a Cat 4, that quickly lowered to a Cat 2 on landfall. I'm on other side of the pond, so no evacuation for me... thankfully! Cheers, helen s Purrs for everyone in south Texas. DH has family in Texas City. Ann  Signatureread Sam's blog at http://kittens-3.blogspot.com/ see pictures of Sam at http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/ann791/my_photos >>> Go, go, go! Rita is going to be another Katrina. Don't think you are >>> going [quoted text clipped - 33 lines] > > Kalynnda, who will rev up the kitty purr motors for everyone to be safe. > Purrs for everyone in south Texas. DH has family in Texas City. > > Ann Please let us know how they are when you find out. Hugs to all of you. Annie >Go, go, go! Rita is going to be another Katrina. Don't think you are going >to be safe. Get out before they tell you to. Too late for some :) I got an e-mail this morning from my niece who lives in The Woodlands of Houston with her husband, 2 dogs, and cat. She says they are going to ride it out. It took her four hours to make the 20-minute drive from work yesterday and the highway near her house is bumper to bumper. She has only 1/2 tank of gas left, there is no more gas to be had, and all hotels/motels are full even into Oklahoma. The house is sturdy and she feels reasonably safe, but there *is* that nagging worry if Rita is still a category 5 when it reaches landfall. Purrs appreciated for them, Lori, and all others in the vicinity, especially the evacuees from Katrina who have to go through all that again. Jeanne >> Go, go, go! Rita is going to be another Katrina. Don't think you >> are going to be safe. Get out before they tell you to. [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > > Jeanne Jeannie, purrs for your niece and her family. We did an art show around the Woodlands a couple of years ago. Someone sure pissed off Mother Nature this year. This storm surge is really nasty. Everyone, GET OUT. Head inland, now! With your family, your pets, whatever papers you can carry. I can't put anyone up here in my apartment but I'll find you a place to stay in Memphis. Go, go, go! Jill > On Thu, 22 Sep 2005 05:16:26 -0500, "jmcquown" > Too late for some :) I got an e-mail this morning from my niece who [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > especially the evacuees from Katrina who have to go through all that > again. Purrs for everyone to be safe! Signaturelewe lewemi at yahoo dot se | cats' pics: photos.yahoo.com/lewemi ...> Purrs appreciated for them, Lori, and all others in the vicinity, > especially the evacuees from Katrina who have to go through all that > again. > Jeanne I exchanged a brief email with Lori. She and her family are packing to leave. She didn't say where they were heading, but is concerned about getting out because of the traffic. We are sure that there are no hotel rooms available anywhere. They will need all the purrs, prayers, positive vibrations, whatever you can send. We are a good distance south of Houston. Yesterday, officials declared a mandatory evacuation of the entire county. We already had a room booked further inland starting Friday (tomorrow), but now it is also in the evacuation zone. However, the hotel said it will stay open for those who have reservations, but they are full and not taking anyone else. According to people we have talked to, San Antonio, Dallas, Austin, and Houston are full. A neighbor got what appeared to be the last room in Brownsville, which is close to the Mexico border. However, with Rita's focus farther to the north, we will probably be the lucky ones. Those in greater danger are in our thoughts and prayers. Annie Any one heard from Victor? I am not sure if he is in the evac area or not. Annie, Lori and everyone else affected. You are in our thoughts. Purrs for all of you. Skritches, A very worried KittyLady > Any one heard from Victor? I am not sure if he is in the evac area or > not. Annie, Lori and everyone else affected. You are in our thoughts. > Purrs for all of you. > Skritches, > A very worried KittyLady Victor lives in a destination area for evacuees. Annie > Any one heard from Victor? I am not sure if he is in the evac area or > not. Annie, Lori and everyone else affected. You are in our thoughts. > Purrs for all of you. > Skritches, > A very worried KittyLady Victor lives in Austin, hopefully he will be fairly safe there. -- Adrian (Owned by Snoopy and Bagheera) A House is not a home, without a cat. http://community.webshots.com/user/clowderuk Lots and lots of purrs for Lori and her family and for you, Annie and your family to stay safe, SignaturePolonca & Soncek > ...> Purrs appreciated for them, Lori, and all others in the vicinity, > > especially the evacuees from Katrina who have to go through all that [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > > Annie >>Go, go, go! Rita is going to be another Katrina. Don't think you are going >>to be safe. Get out before they tell you to. [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > > Jeanne Purrs for your niece and the others in the area. And double so for the recent evacuees from Katrina. I can't even imagine the fear they must be feeling right now. Ginger-lyn Home Pages: http://www.spiritrealm.com/summer/ http://www.angelfire.com/folk/glsummer (homepage & cats) http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~summer/index.htm (genealogy) http://www.movieanimals.bravehost.com/ (The Violence Against Animals in Movies Website) I'm so very sorry to hear your niece and her family could not get out. Lots and lots of purrs and best wishes for them and everyone else affected to stay safe, we are thinking of you, SignaturePolonca & Soncek > >Go, go, go! Rita is going to be another Katrina. Don't think you are going > >to be safe. Get out before they tell you to. [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > > Jeanne For anyone interested here is a satellite image taken about an hour ago.. http://tinyurl.com/nh2z I saw yesterday a more defined eye on this storm from the same satellite, so the storm has weakened, and it's become less organized over the past 18-20 hours. But still heading for Texas.. if it takes a sudden turn to the north, which these storms frequently do, it heading right for New Orleans again right now. The smart money says it's heading for the Houston/Galveston area. They said it had weakened to 4 this a.m. but winds had dropped to maybe 170 or so. Still huge. Yup. It now looks like Galveston is ground zero. :( > For anyone interested here is a satellite image taken about an hour > ago.. [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > The smart money says it's heading for the Houston/Galveston area. > From the National Weather Service: > Go, go, go! Rita is going to be another Katrina. Don't think you are going > to be safe. Get out before they tell you to. As of right now, it looks like we'll be staying home. Traffic is so gridlocked that people are starting to stall out and run out of gas - creating a steel blockade around the city. We have every window boarded up and we have supplies to last for at least a week without electricity. If our plans change at the last minute I'll try to let you know. Please send purrs that we get through this safely! Hugs, CatNipped > As of right now, it looks like we'll be staying home. Traffic is so > gridlocked that people are starting to stall out and run out of gas - [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > Please send purrs that we get through this safely! Youbetyourbippy! All the purrs in the world that Rita doesn't rock your world! We'll be thinking of you, the kids & furkids. Gordon, Bandit, Snowball, Claudius & Raki. >> From the National Weather Service: > [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > >CatNipped Mega storm calming purrs and prayers are on the way to the gulf coast that everyone in the path of Rita will be safe. Purrs and Hugs, Nan and the felinity felines A wise man talks because he has something to say; a fool talks because he has to say something. >> From the National Weather Service: > [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > > CatNipped Lets hope the combined purrs are more powerful than Rita. -- Adrian (Owned by Snoopy and Bagheera) A House is not a home, without a cat. http://community.webshots.com/user/clowderuk > As of right now, it looks like we'll be staying home. Traffic is so > gridlocked that people are starting to stall out and run out of gas - [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > Hugs, > CatNipped I'm worried about you, but glad that you have a place to stay. It should be better than being stuck on the road. Please let us know how you are doing. This is such an odd weather year. Last Christmas we woke up to snow. Take care, Annie >> From the National Weather Service: > [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > >Hugs, You will all be fine! I have no doubt of it. You are wise not to join a panicked herd on the highways. Based on pictures I have seen of hurricane aftermath, my guess is that the biggest risk you face would be a structural failure of your roof. People have been known to take up flooring so they can install temporary bracing to tie down rafters. That would keep you occupied if you are looking for something more to do while you wait. Keep posting and good luck. Your grandkids will have a great story to tell their kids. Charlie > >> From the National Weather Service: > > [quoted text clipped - 25 lines] > > Charlie Thanks! We're in better shape here than the people who have been in their cars all day long and have traveled (maybe) 5 miles. There are *SO* many broken-down cars and cars that have run out of gas, that it has effectively blocked all access out of the city. But we should be fine - the house is all boarded up and we have about 300 gallons of potable water and enough canned food to last for a couple of weeks. We have all of the water that's in the hot tub for washing with (and we'll fill up the bathtub before the storm hits). We filled up Ziplock bags with water and packed them into the freezer in the garage to prolong the life of the food in it for when we lose electricity. We have 3 large tanks of propane for the gas grill (which has a stove-type burner on the side) that we'll use to cook the food that will go bad the fastest. We have an axe/maul for emergencies. We have emergency first aid supplies. We have a "Storm Station" that will recharge flashlights and cell phones and has a radio in it (plus we have a weather-emergency radio). We have a Coleman lantern and about 50 large candles (and matches and lighters). We have enough cat and dog food (and cat litter) to last for a couple of weeks. Besides my MIL, sister-in-law, DH, daughter, me, and my three granddaughters, we will also have my son, his wife and her 17-year-old daughter coming over before the storm hits (thank gawd for this big house, however badly it needs a face-lift - at least it's structurally sound and has stood here since 1974!). We have all vehicles filled with gas and we are thinking about taking two to go park at the corner of the subdivision in the TinyMart parking lot away from falling trees. Fate willing, we'll get through this unscathed! Purrs are still welcomed and appreciated, though. Hugs, CatNipped > Fate willing, we'll get through this unscathed! Purrs are still welcomed > and appreciated, though. Lori, I can't believe all you and your family have gone through in the last weeks. It must be almost surreal for them to be facing this again. My thoughts and prayers are with you through all of this and I'm also very happy that Gypsy was found and I hope the other pup is located, too. Best to you, Lori, Candace -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- I think what Charlie's trying to say is that a LOT of houses are built with the rafters just sitting on the frame. The roof, itself, is being held in place by gravity alone. Most of the time that's fine. But when 150 mph winds hit it from the right angle (or actually, wrong angle), the roof acts like a wing and lifts itself right off the frame of the house. If you don't know if the rafters are attached, you really should check. If they're not, some 1" steel strapping and a box of screws can work miracles. All your prep won't be worth much if the roof comes off and everything gets rained on. And I didn't see 3 important items in your list. LOTS of toilet paper. lots of AMMO. (I always stock up when I can tell how much I have to the nearest 100 lbs <g>) and rope...a shitload of rope. A couple rolls of clear plastic might not be a bad idea, either. Best of luck > -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- > [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > check. If they're not, some 1" steel strapping and a box of screws > can work miracles. Quite helpful. Does this include houses built before 1960? -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- From: "Topaz" <topaz@nomail.com> >Quite helpful. Does this include houses built before 1960? Yes. Home builders have cut corners to make an extra buck since the time when humans emerged from caves. :) Two of the best "home improvements" you can make are to secure the roof to the frame and secure the frame to the foundation. The latter will keep the house from shaking itself off the foundation in an earthquake. I went through a moderate quake in Hawaii a couple of decades ago and most of the damage to houses was caused by them jumping the foundation. If they had been secured, they would have probably been fine. But anyway, it your roof isn't attached to the frame, I strongly suggest doing so. It's usually fairly easy to do yourself and not all that expensive to contract out. > -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- > [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > (or actually, wrong angle), the roof acts like a wing and lifts > itself right off the frame of the house. No, that's one thing we had the inspector check before we closed on the house. The roofs of houses here in Houston (and along the Gulf Coast) are all *supposed* to be attached, but we checked anyway. > If you don't know if the rafters are attached, you really should > check. If they're not, some 1" steel strapping and a box of screws [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > And I didn't see 3 important items in your list. > LOTS of toilet paper. Got it, just didn't mention it. > lots of AMMO. (I always stock up when I can tell > how much I have to the nearest 100 lbs <g>) Got it, just didn't mention if. > and rope...a shitload of rope. Ditto. > A couple rolls of clear plastic might not be a bad idea, either. We have 6 20' X 20' plastic tarps and lots and lots of nails and screws - and 6 rolls of duct tape!! ;> > Best of luck Thanks, I'll keep checking in while we have electricity and will check in afterwards as soon as I can. Hugs, CatNipped > -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- > Version: N/A [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > =gCnz > -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- > Thanks, I'll keep checking in while we have electricity and will check in > afterwards as soon as I can. CatNipped I've got my fingers crossed and the furballs are purring madly for you. Let us know as soon as you can once you get the power back and keep in touch in the meantime Lesley Slave of the Fabulous Furballs -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- From: "CatNipped" <lcrews@houston.rr.com> >No, that's one thing we had the inspector check before we closed on the >house. The roofs of houses here in Houston (and along the Gulf Coast) are >all *supposed* to be attached, but we checked anyway. That's a little ambiguous. I'm assuming you mean "No problem, we've checked and the roof IS secured to the frame". If so, you should be in good shape. If not, get your a.s in gear, 'cause you've got a weak link there. Again, best of luck. > -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- > [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > That's a little ambiguous. I'm assuming you mean "No problem, > we've checked and the roof IS secured to the frame". Yes, that's what I meant - I meant we took no chances that it "should" have been done, we made the inspector make sure that it *was* done (and he put that in writing) before we closed on the house (living on the Gulf Coast you learn to make sure of little details like that). > If so, you should be in good shape. > If not, get your a.s in gear, 'cause you've got a weak link there. > > Again, best of luck. Thanks! Hugs, CatNipped > -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- > Version: N/A [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > =+z8j > -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- Lots and lots of purrs and best wishes for everyone to stay safe, you are all in our thoughts! SignaturePolonca & Soncek > Thanks! We're in better shape here than the people who have been in their > cars all day long and have traveled (maybe) 5 miles. There are *SO* many [quoted text clipped - 33 lines] > > CatNipped >As of right now, it looks like we'll be staying home. Traffic is so >gridlocked that people are starting to stall out and run out of gas - [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > >Please send purrs that we get through this safely! purrs enroute SignatureSteve Touchstone, faithful servant of Sammy, Little Bit and Spot with loving memories of Rocky (RB) stouchst@JUNKsirinet.net [remove Junk for email] Home Page: http://www.sirinet.net/~stouchst/index.html Cat Pix: http://www.sirinet.net/~stouchst/animals.html >From the National Weather Service: > [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] >Go, go, go! Rita is going to be another Katrina. Don't think you are going >to be safe. Get out before they tell you to. My 90-year-old uncle lives in Houston, and decided to ride the storm out rather than evacuate. His house is on relatively high ground, not that this is saying much, and he has gone through quite a few previous hurricanes. SignatureJohn F. Eldredge -- john@jfeldredge.com PGP key available from http://pgp.mit.edu "Reserve your right to think, for even to think wrongly is better than not to think at all." -- Hypatia of Alexandria >>From the National Weather Service: >> [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] >that this is saying much, and he has gone through quite a few previous >hurricanes. Good news! I talked to my uncle by phone a few minutes ago. He came through the hurricane without any injury or significant damage to his house, and his electricity even came back on while I was on the phone with him. SignatureJohn F. Eldredge -- john@jfeldredge.com PGP key available from http://pgp.mit.edu "Reserve your right to think, for even to think wrongly is better than not to think at all." -- Hypatia of Alexandria > Good news! I talked to my uncle by phone a few minutes ago. He came > through the hurricane without any injury or significant damage to his > house, and his electricity even came back on while I was on the phone > with him. That is good news! SignatureMarina, Frank, Miranda and Caliban. In loving memory of Nikki. marina (dot) kurten (at) iki (dot) fi Pics at http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/frankiennikki/ and http://community.webshots.com/user/frankiennikki >> My 90-year-old uncle lives in Houston, and decided to ride the storm >> out rather than evacuate. His house is on relatively high ground, [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > house, and his electricity even came back on while I was on the phone > with him. I'm very glad to hear it. :-) -- Adrian (Owned by Snoopy and Bagheera) A House is not a home, without a cat. http://community.webshots.com/user/clowderuk |
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