Hurricane Rita is dying and moving towards LA

[Conversationist]

The latest on the Weather Channel is that Hurricane Rita is quickly losing strength and heading towards Western LA. Most of TX ( and the Houston metro area) is likely to survive the storm because the strong part of the storm is on the east side. This will go into the unpopulated marsh land of Western LA.

It is likely just going to be a CAT 3 Hurricane by the time it limps into unpopulated Western LA. Appears like the whole thing was media hype.

FEMA reports evacuation is going great (except for the bumper to bumper traffic leaving the City of Houston and that most people are waiting 4-5 hours to get through security at the two Houston Airports)

[chadfromdallas]

The latest on the Weather Channel is that Hurricane Rita is quickly losing strength and heading towards Western LA. Most of TX is foing to survive the storm because the strong part of the storm is on the east side. This will go into the unpoulated marsh land of Western LA.

It is likely just going to be a CAT 3 Hurricane by the time it limps into unpopulated Western LA. Appears like the whole thing was media hype.

FEMA reports evacuation is going great (except for the bumper to bumper traffic leaving the City of Houston and that most people are waiting 4-5 hours to get through security at the two Houston Airports)

How was it media hyped? Its been up to a cat 5...they had no idea it would change like this.... :confused3

[poohandwendy]

Lol, predictions are not facts...noone knows exactly what will happen with this storm until it makes landfall. Everyone in the gulf should be on alert and as ready as possible. Noone should rest easy yet (not that you were saying they should).

[Lisa loves Pooh]

media hype.

Love that term.

Had it not been "hyped" -- lots would have been crying foul.

A hurricane zone is nothing to mess with. They do what they can with what information they have. Sometimes it is overkill..sometimes it isn't enough.

And none of it is hype when you have a hurricane warning on your butt.

[BunsenH]

Media hyped? :confused3 ......the 3rd most powerful hurricane ever measured?....cat 5?............damned if they do........damned if they don't

[Geoff_M]

Sorry, but even as critical as I am about the media, this one ain't "hyped". Possibly being "only" a Cat 3 is nothing to sneeze at. There are two components to the destruction caused by hurricanes: 1) The wind speed, 2) The size of the area where winds are greater than hurricane force. Katrina was "only" a Cat 4, but area where winds were greater than 75 MPH was huge.

From the current NWS statement:...RITA WEAKENS A LITTLE FURTHER...REMAINS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS HURRICANE...

A TROPICAL STORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FROM NORTH OF THE MOUTH OF THE
MISSISSIPPI RIVER TO THE MOUTH OF THE PEARL RIVER INCLUDING
METROPOLITAN NEW ORLEANS AND LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN...

DATA FROM A NOAA RECONNAISSANCE AIRCRAFT INDICATE THAT MAXIMUM
SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE DECREASED TO NEAR 150 MPH...240 KM/HR... WITH
HIGHER GUSTS. RITA IS NOW A STRONG CATEGORY FOUR HURRICANE ON
THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON SCALE. SOME SLIGHT WEAKENING IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS BUT RITA IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS HURRICANE.

RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 3 TO 5 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE OVER SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA INCLUDING NEW ORLEANS.

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCPAT3+shtml/221735.shtmlIf nothing else, New Orleans doesn't need 3-5 inches of rain and neither does Lake Pontchartrain.

[Bunch24]

I live on the projected east side of the storm, and we're already feeling the winds around here. By late tonight, we'll be experiencing a little bit of the rain.

I don't know about media hype. The storm will still go down as the third strongest storm to enter the Gulf of Mexico and will still do a TON of damage.

Mandatory evacuations have been issued for most of Southwest Louisiana, with voluntary evacuations for areas North of I-10.

I'm sorry, but UNPOPULATED (?) Southwest Louisiana is definitely not out of the woods.

As soon as my wife gets home with my little boy, we're out of here. Better safe then sorry.

[C.Ann]

It is likely just going to be a CAT 3 Hurricane by the time it limps into unpopulated Western LA. Appears like the whole thing was media hype.
-----------------------------

"Just" a CAT 3? "Limping" into western LA? Do you have any knowledge of hurricanes at all? Have you ever seen what a CAT 3 can do? It's not exactly a "gentle breeze.." There's no such thing as a CAT 3 "LIMPING" anywhere..

[chadfromdallas]

As soon as my wife gets home with my little boy, we're out of here. Better safe then sorry.

Take note folks...This is common sense right here. Good luck to you Bunch.

[ford family]

"When you're trolling, just trolling"

ford family

[C.Ann]

Take note folks...This is common sense right here. Good luck to you Bunch.
--------------------

I agree, Chad..

Best of luck to you and your family, Bunch.. God bless and stay safe!

[Tigger_Magic]

As soon as my wife gets home with my little boy, we're out of here. Better safe then sorry. Prayers and good thoughts for you, your family and for safe travel tonight. Hopefully, your area will be spared any damage and you can return safe and sound. I hope everyone un "her" path is able to evacuate and stay safe. LA has suffered enough already.

Rita, just go away; you're not welcome anywhere!

[WebmasterKathy]

Maybe it looks like media hype if you're sitting in "the Washington D.C. area."

But a hurricane that's expected to be "only" a Category 3 at landfall sure looks like a frightening reality and one you want to get out of the way of if you're sitting in Southeast Texas.

[Tigger_Magic]

The Weather Channel is saying it is still a cat 4 hurricane, even though the pressure has dropped. They are showing a track now that is more north/northwest... with Rita making landfall in western LA/eastern TX. Not good news for LA.

Even if it weakens to cat 3, that's still a significant storm that can cause tremendous damage.

[Bunch24]

Hurricane Lili was a category 3 storm when it hit this area in 2002 and believe me, it was a powerful enough storm that three years later people are still just starting to get their lives back to normal.

I think people get a little mislead by the category 1-5 number. Believe me, nobody wants a Cat 5 storm to hit, but a Category 2 is no walk in the park either.

After watching Katrina unfold before our very eyes in such devastating fashion, I'd have a hard time accusing the media of "hyping" a storm.

Like I mentioned in my earlier post, better to be safe than sorry. If the meteorologists were to say "Oh, don't worry about Rita, it's going to weaken a whole lot before it hits", the country would be up in arms for not preparing people for the disaster that's about to be unleashed.

And thanks for the well wishes. I'm just anxiously awaiting my wife to return from school. Cellphones are horrible right now, you can't get through to anybody. I went fill up my car and it's about four cars deep per lane waiting in line. Several gas stations in our area have run out of gas. It was just reported on TV to not even go to Wal-Mart, because they are completely out of bottled water, crackers, chips, snacks, vienna sausage, flashlights, etc.

I'm so glad my wife and I decided on Tuesday to go shopping ahead of time.

[snoopy]

Maybe it looks like media hype if you're sitting in "the Washington D.C. area."

But a hurricane that's expected to be "only" a Category 3 at landfall sure looks like a frightening reality and one you want to get out of the way of if you're sitting in Southeast Texas.

Not hype from those of us in compassionate end of D.C. anyway. :confused:

My best to anyone in the path of Rita.

[Planogirl]

OP, I'm sorry if you're disappointed that the storm weakened and apparently won't hit Houston/Galveston head on. What can I say, I'm personally rather pleased. :confused3

[sillypiggi]

I live on the projected east side of the storm, and we're already feeling the winds around here. By late tonight, we'll be experiencing a little bit of the rain.

I don't know about media hype. The storm will still go down as the third strongest storm to enter the Gulf of Mexico and will still do a TON of damage.

Mandatory evacuations have been issued for most of Southwest Louisiana, with voluntary evacuations for areas North of I-10.

I'm sorry, but UNPOPULATED (?) Southwest Louisiana is definitely not out of the woods.

As soon as my wife gets home with my little boy, we're out of here. Better safe then sorry.

Bunch, please leave ASAP if you plans on leaving!!! The traffic is horrific out there. My neighbor tried to get out of Houston at 5 AM today, but was only able to move 6 miles on the highway after 5 hours!! If you do not leave within 2 hours, you may want to consider stay in your house (and board up your house) instead of trying to drive out when it will take FOREVER to get out and everywhere is out of gas. On the news, there are many cars that are out of gas and are stranded on the side of the highway! My parents were going to come to Austin to stay with me, but they just cannot get out of Houston because of the traffic! Now they have to stay in. Good luck!!!!

[cats7494]

"Rita should still make landfall as a large, intense, major hurricane with impacts extending well away from the center. Hurricane force winds extend 75 miles away from the center and tropical storm force winds extend 160 miles from the center. Landfall is possible early Saturday along the Texas or southwest Louisiana coast. Residents and tourists in locations such as Port O'Connor, Bay City, Lake Jackson, Freeport, Galveston, Texas City, Houston, Beaumont-Port Arthur, Cameron and Lake Charles should ALL prepare for a very dangerous landfalling major hurricane. " (from weather.com website)

How is this hype? :confused3

[Bunch24]

OP, I'm sorry if you're disappointed that the storm weakened and apparently won't hit Houston/Galveston head on. What can I say, I'm personally rather pleased. :confused3

Unfortunately, Planogirl, there are some people that do get a little upset when storms do weaken. I know I used to work with a couple of them at the newspaper. They were from out of state and had never ridden out a hurricane and always seemed generally disappointed when a hurricane turned away from us.

I think they wanted the experience of being through a hurricane and also wanted to pad their resume, unfortunately.

[Planogirl]

I look at poor New Orleans and the Mississippi/Alabama coastal areas and feel like I've experienced more than enough. I don't want to see that happen to our hometowns of Galveston and Houston or really anywhere else for that matter. :(

[sgtdisney]

I don't think I have ever seen a category three hurricane being described as limping along.

[Deb in IA]

Rita is still a Category 4. Hurricanes are still so unpredictable that I don't think anyone can say what Rita will downgrade (or upgrade) to a in day or two.


By the way, the 1900 Galveston hurricane that killed between 7000 and 12,000 is thought to be a Category 4.

[heart4pooh]

Just my two cents, but I just went through Ophelia, a hurricane wannabe, I thought. I was scared to death between 1 and 3 in the morning. I told my husband that even if a Cat 1 is headed our way next time, I'm outta here. With no power and no cable it was impossible to know where it was and how much longer it was going to take! We only had some siding come off, but it was very scary! Others in our county had a lot of damage.

[Luv2Roam]

If Rita weakens, it will be a BLESSING! But I wouldn't count too much on that.
Better to be prepared and gone than to be in impossible Katrina-like aftermath situation.

[CarolA]

If I were you I would NOT waste my time responding to the OP. If we are lucky he/she will someday decide to go bother other folks....


This is another blatent attempt to get attention for Conversationaist... If he/she EVER posted anything useful or even not an attempt to rile folks up I would be shocked....

[eeyore kelly]

I am sure the PEOPLE who live in Western La. don't feel it is unpopulated.
:rolleyes2 :sad2: :confused3

Once a troll... :rolleyes:

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a51/eeyorekelly/troll_spray_1_.jpg

[Shutterbug]

If nothing else, New Orleans doesn't need 3-5 inches of rain and neither does Lake Pontchartrain.

They said 3-5 inches of rain could cause more levy failures.

[Geoff_M]

They said 3-5 inches of rain could cause more levy failures.I heard on the radio that the outer bands of Rita have already dumped enough rain in New Orleans to put a foot of flood water today in some areas that were dry the day before.

[Pete's Mom]

I don't think I have ever seen a category three hurricane being described as limping along. Yup, it like saying do you want to be hit by a big truck or a freight train? Whether it is a 3 or 4, it's going to be BAD. :sad2:

[Pete's Mom]

If I were you I would NOT waste my time responding to the OP. If we are lucky he/she will someday decide to go bother other folks....


This is another blatent attempt to get attention for Conversationaist... If he/she EVER posted anything useful or even not an attempt to rile folks up I would be shocked.... Wonder if the questioner is going to do a fly by. ;) :rotfl2:

[WANNABE@WDW]

This storm is really big. It will effect a large area. We are still trying to deal with the remnants of Katrina and now this happens! I'm glad that the metro Houston area appears to be spared, but southwest Louisiana is not "uninhabited"! Please remember all of the Gulf Coast areas in your prayers. The meterologist are good, but they aren't God. Everyone in the warning area needs to be prepared.

[DisWDWMay]

Just saw on the news that there was a slight wobble to the west. This thing still has a very good chance of a direct hit on Galveston (i think they said 26%) or Port Arthur-Beaumont. I'm praying for all those in those areas who were unable to get out, as well as those on the roads that they won't get stranded.

[questioner]

Southwest LA has very few people per square mile in comparison to Houston. So it would be better if the CORE of the storm hit that area instead.

Anyone remember Hurricane Andrew? If it would have gone 15 miles north 1000s would have died in the core of Miami. But it went south of town and damaged small town Homestead. The 15 miles around the eye is the core part of the Hurricane. The rest of the storm is not as strong.

[Tigger_Magic]

I don't believe it is better for any part of a hurricane to hit one place vs. another for any reason. Ideally, Rita would spin herself out in the middle of the Gulf and never make landfall anywhere. It will be unfortunate wherever she hits, no matter how populated it is.

We can opine about the "good fortune" of one city over another and how numbers of lives may have been spared. In the final analysis, homes were damaged and destroyed, lives thrown into upheaval, businesses hurt financially...

I wouldn't wish Rita to hit anywhere else; the best I can hope and pray for is that Rita somehow weakens considerably and is unable to do the damage predicted wherever she hits.

[serenity1991]

It is likely just going to be a CAT 3 Hurricane by the time it limps into unpopulated Western LA. Appears like the whole thing was media hype.



Folks please remember, this is one who likes to "STIR THE POT". Cat 3 "limps"...OPAL didn't LIMP when it hit us back in 1995, that was a nasty storm and wind surge, IVAN didn't LIMP when he barrelled in a 3...every possible thing to come from a hurricane, wind surge, storm surge, tornados...we got it! And Dennis didn't "LIMP" as a 3 when one of his tornados ripped the roof off of my home. :rolleyes:

[bengalbelle]

Wonder if the questioner is going to do a fly by. ;) :rotfl2:
:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: Don't look down!!!!! :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

[eeyore kelly]

If I make myself another user name, can I back myself up with it like the person who is C & Q?

[Tigger_Magic]

Kelly:

:rotfl:

[safetymom]

Just a Category 3. That is still a very strong hurricane.