Next Hurricane - Rita - RRRR??

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[israelirealities]

I have a feeling that this one is going to be harder than Katrina. I would say not to stay there, no matter what. Just get on the first plane or car whatever to a safe place. Its not worth dying for a stupid wind. <br>On the larger issues, this is becoming bizarre by the day, with these hurricanes and I bet some Iraqis who lost their faith in God are "born again"...:-). <br>I would not jump to conclusions re America's power, I think this too shall pass, and despite the losses, the cat will fall on its feet. I would be more concerned with the political instability this can bring about, and used by "non democratic" forces just lurking for opportunities. <br>In ISrael, the most immediate concern is that we will NOT receive the promised 2.2 Billion, for the "disengagement show" we put on diligently. So much for get rich quick scams..didn't work this time.<br>This might also change the political situation here, because Bush was supposed to make sure that SHaron does not lose to Netanyahu in the Likkud internal feuds around the Primaries. If he's busy...well, who knows. If we get Netanyahu here, well, its not going to be boring, fire, blood and tears.<br>Lastly, though I am NOT a fundamentalist conspirationalist, it does seem HAARPish...but then what's the logic ? is this another self inflicted terror act to gain MORE control ? who knows. I hope not. <br>Perhaps Bush messed up with some ancient Babylonian spell...if this makes pull our of Iraq...at least it would not have been in vain, to suffer down there. <br>If its any consolation to you US/Texas residents, a lot of us here in the Mid East would still trade places and passports with you today. A hurricane comes and goes, but our government from hell is here forever...<br>Hope everyone leaves in time, even though it is very tempting to rebell against Bush saying today :"DO WHAT THE AUTHORITIES TELL YOU TO DO" (Heil !). Just not worth it. Save the good energy for a better occasion. <br>I will be watching Fox News and praying for the people down there. <br>IR <p></p><i></i>

[chiggerbit]

No, please don't tell me that, israelirealities,<br>not Fox News! <p></p><i></i>

[Dreams End]

Undecided on Haarp...but there are reasons they WOULD do such a thing if they could. Here are a few:<br><br>1. More reasons for oil price gouging, despite the fact that oilcos have been intentionally reducing refinery capacity to increase $$$.<br><br>2. To "clear out the slums"...as one US congressman suggested, "God" had cleaned out the slums of New Orleans that government had not been able to. <br><br>3. To continue expanding states of emergency/martial law<br><br>4. To distract from other issues.<br><br>5. Just because they can......<br><br> <p></p><i></i>

[israelirealities]

its the only American news we get here on standard Cable TV, there is CNN but its "world CNN' actually coming from UK and calling your CNN, "Our sister network" which makes me puke. There is SkyNews, which is World NEws...and BBC London. What do you suggest ? <br>Fox was the only source of continuous reports from KAtrina. As you should know the other stations, coming from UK and other European countries were less than sympathetic, and so the reports were reliable, few, and cynical. I wanted the "feel" from "home", namely, trashy 24 hrs spun news with a lot of drama. Its part of the "news news", namely, when I immerse myself in Americana, this is part of the covered item as well. There is nothing like US trashy TV...be advised we are some 8=9 hours lag from the area where all this is happening. Oh, I miss the USA...its like a big open stab in the heart. I think all of us "third world abductees" of US colonialism hate the guts of this flesh eating culture devouring empire, yet once we tasted the honey, we want to be part of it and leave those hell holes we originated in. tragique...well.<br>IR <p></p><i></i>

[Dreams End]

I hope some people know some back ways out of town. <br><br><!--EZCODE AUTOLINK START--><a href="http://www.cnn.com/2005/WEATHER/09/22/rita/index.html">www.cnn.com/2005/WEATHER/...index.html</a><!--EZCODE AUTOLINK END--><br><!--EZCODE QUOTE START--><blockquote><strong><em>Quote:</em></strong><hr><br>Houston resident Tim Conklin told CNN that he had been in bumper-to-bumper traffic for 13 hours and had only gotten about 48 miles. He said the drive to Dallas, where his father-in-law lives, usually only takes about four hours.<br><br>On Highway 290, the main road between Houston and Austin, people were pushing their cars and minivans to save gas -- and were moving just as fast as the vehicles that were driving. Others were stopped on the side of the highway after breaking down or running out of gas.<hr></blockquote><!--EZCODE QUOTE END--><br><br>They are going to reverse traffic directions on some interstates' opposing lanes...don't know if that'll help the ones already on the road. I hate to say it, but if I were there, I'd be packed but waiting till this initial rush was over and the reverse traffic lanes had been established.<br><br>And, again, you can leave town, but where do you stay once you are gone? <p></p><i></i>

[israelirealities]

PS what's the "approved" TV network nowadays for those who believe tha Bush is the devil incarnate ? In my last visit to the USA< believe or not, I gave up on TV totally. I received my news from the Internet anyway. <br>One last comment from hell. If any of you saw (and understood) ISraeli new broadcast, you'd see how Fox tranforms into a reliable, sophisticated, well balanced journalism. All in pespective. At least those clowns in Fox are peppy and make you happy ! <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :b --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/tongue.gif ALT=":b"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <p></p><i></i>

[DrDebugDU]

<!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>Meteorologist Steve Gregory describes Rita as a perfect storm.</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END--><br><br>PIX 2 - "The 85Ghz pass this evening shows the most impressive eyewall structure I have ever observed in a storm. The eyewall itself is extraordinary in it's perfection and intensity."<br><br>And this:<br>PIX 3 - "This enhanced water vapor image shows something rather remarkable. Not only is the eye clear -- it is extremely dry. While all powerful hurricanes exhibit strong subsidence within the eye (which is why there are no clouds), the typical shading on this particular 'curve' is usually black. But this color enhancement is a middle tone brown -- and it has developed over the past 6 hours - meaning that the subsidence in the eye is extremely strong."<br><br><!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://www.wunderground.com/blog/SteveGregory/show.html">www.wunderground.com/blog/SteveGregory/show.html</a><!--EZCODE LINK END--><br><br>The links point to the latest story. Some excerpts:<br><br>The storm has PEAKED in intensity, but remains an extremely dangerous Hurricane, with a central pressure of <!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>907mb</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END--> and MAX sustained winds of <!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>170mph</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END-->.<br>(...)<br>The Thermal Eyewall temperature differential was 16°C - down from the phenomenal <!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>21°C spread</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END--> of last evening.<br><br>By the time of landfall Saturday morning, Rita should be a CAT 4, with winds of <!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>120mph</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END-->, and gusts to 150mph. Enough to cause tremendous wind damage to well built, non masonry structures. However, the storm surge will cause <!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>complete devastation within 1-3 miles of the coastline</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END--> near the point of landfall.<br><br>(...)<br>A tidal surge of 20-24ft <br>(...)<br>EXTREME rainfall is likely along the path of the storm, with <!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>12-20 inches</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END-->, locally higher <p></p><i></i>

[Dreams End]

Houston Chronicle predicts it will go down to a category 3 by landfall. This is often the case, but that doesn't really put the "fear of god" in those needing to evacuate. Also, I haven't seen that prediction anywhere else. weather channel says maintaining level 5 is usually almost impossible as atmospheric conditions must be "perfect" but they don't say it will go down to a 3. <br><br>What about those shipping lanes in Houston..I haven't heard about that..nothing so far in the chronicle about it.<br><!--EZCODE QUOTE START--><blockquote><strong><em>Quote:</em></strong><hr><br>GALVESTON - Hurricane Rita weakened slightly this morning, and forecasters said the Category 5 could be down to a Category 3 - meaning winds as high as 130 mph - by the time it comes ashore late Friday or early Saturday.<br><br>The most likely target for landfall has shifted slightly north this morning toward Galveston Bay, but forecasters believe it could shift even further north toward Beaumont and Port Arthur. The danger zone, however, stretches along the entire central Texas coast between Galveston and Corpus Christi, with up to 15 inches of rain in places<hr></blockquote><!--EZCODE QUOTE END-->. <br><br><!--EZCODE AUTOLINK START--><a href="http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/topstory2/3364832">www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssis...y2/3364832</a><!--EZCODE AUTOLINK END--> <p></p><i></i>

[israelirealities]

This is very good question. From what I saw on FOx an hour ago, those who refuse to leave said "they have nowhere to go". I can see their point, and have been in similar situation. But really, its still better to camp somewhere near San Antonio in a tent for a week, the weather is nice and it can be OK, certainly then this scare. Because even if turns out less than expected, the fear can kill you too. (I called it, in one of my Hebrew posts, Post KAtrina Stress Disorder...<br> <p></p><i></i>

[DrDebugDU]

BBC had a picture of a long traffic jam. Everybody who wants to get out is stuck bumper to bumper...<br><br><!--EZCODE IMAGE START--><img src="http://news.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/05/americas_preparing_for_hurricane_rita/img/1.jpg"/><!--EZCODE IMAGE END--><br> <p></p><i></i>

[chiggerbit]

Another hazard to consider are tornados. I'm thinking this could be a bigger problem with Rita than it was with Katrina, if only becuase of a cold front that is moving southward through the Midwest. Yesterday here in Iowa it was 90+ degrees, tomorrow it may not even break 70. If that front hits all that weather from Rita, I hate to think of the result. At least tornados are limited in the amount of territory they cover. <p></p><i></i>

[GDN01]

I'm realizing I can't get out now. I had planned to stay and keep working today and tomorrow morning before driving 30 miles up the road to a good friend's house who has a generator and well water, to ride out the storm and then come back first thing when the storm had passed to start assessing damage and where everyone is, and how the people we have sheltered fared. I don't think I can leave at all. The traffic on all roads out is at a standstill. Maybe it will change by the morning when most people will have either left or gotten off the road. We are getting calls now of people who had planned to head further north and now think they should stop here and take shelter rather than risk being stranded on the road. They've been on the road for 20 hours and traveled 40-60 miles. Why haven't they opened all lanes to be outgoing? They know people are trapped on the road. <br><br>I feel like I'm in a dream. The sun is shining. My laundry is in the dryer. It seems like most people have left - it is strangely quiet outside. I'm getting phone calls from people I haven't spoken to in years - old friends wanting to make sure I'm ok. Bush is just as maddening as ever with his speech on turrism. The hurricane does seem to be veering east, which makes it less of a threat here, but devastating for New Orleans due to the rain they will get. And I have family in Lousiana that I can't get a hold of.<br><br>I just hope this dream doesn't become a nightmare that I never wake from.<br> <p></p><i></i>

[DrDebugDU]

It's the silence before the storm. Just keep your head cool. Keep a positive outlook, because you'll probably make it. It's just going to be rough. And fuck bush and his stupid speeches or read the commentary about his speeches and watch him get ripped limb from limb on the boards. He is definitively the most hated man in the world right now.<br><br>Anyway you are a real hero, because you have chosen others over yourself. That's something real heroes do. They don't go around killing people but they are saving and helping people. It may not give you media coverage and your name may not be known, but ultimately you are more valuable than them. Never forget that! <p></p><i></i>

[Dreams End]

I'm monitoring this bulletin board hosted by the Chronicle.<br><br>Main themes:<br><br>traffic (can't get anywhere)<br><br>phone lines, cell and land, are already overloaded<br><br>Some general confusion about what to do in special circumstances.<br><br><!--EZCODE AUTOLINK START--><a href="http://forums.chron.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?webtag=hc-rita">forums.chron.com/n/pfx/fo...ag=hc-rita</a><!--EZCODE AUTOLINK END--><br><br> <p></p><i></i>