RITA - the monster is coming...

[TonyV]

My prayers for the best go out to all whom might be affected by this latest storm, as well as those who are still suffering the affects of Katrina. Hunker down Don, and all of our southeast Texas TBN brothers. Let us know that your ok when the time comes.

...Tony

 

[texbaylea]

TxDon

This projected track shift eastward puts us in Rita's sights according to the local Bryan - College Station newspaper. I am serious about doing some boarding up. Our son is coming down from Garland to help today. I really appreciate it but he will experience heavy traffic getting back. I am going to pull out my 20 year old PTO generator and test it today. Hope it is still working as it was last year.

mikim

What do your experts think, will the track continue to shift eastward? Is the high that has been over central Texas now moving?

Vernon

 

[mikim]

The high that was over us is collapsing and the one that is to the east of us is moving slightly east sucking Rita in to it's westerly edge. I'll update on the track with the next conf call.
Good news is you're on the west side which won't be as bad.

 

[mikim]

Latest --- she has actually gotten a bit better. 907Mb 165mph .. pointed at High Island .. expected to make landfall at 145mph .. traveling to Texarkana - then make a U turn and come back at us. Expected rainfall at landfall 8 - 15" then more after the U turn. Remember Allison? Rita is fat as well -- hurricane winds extend out 85 miles from the center -with tropical winds out 185 miles... so we can't look at just where the eye is - I'll post updates as I can catch them - I'm not in the ops area all the time - I'm still trying to do the things I get paid for.

 

[texbaylea]

mikim

Thanks. I am going to turn off our son from coming down because of the traffic conditions on IH45. It is one way North half way to Dallas. My wife and I will just do what we are able and ride it out.

Good luck to everybody, this one ain't going to be fun.

Vernon

 

[kensfarm]

I heard it had wind gusts over 200mph.. did someone tie off that Big Texas Talking Cowboy.. saw that on the travel channel the other day.

Have they said anything about the storm surge height?

Bunker down guys.. good luck & God bless!!

 

[mikim]

Storm surge differs A LOT depending on which side of the storm and how close to the center ... I just asked one of the lead forecasters about that and he won't even hazard a guess just yet ... A wobble of just 20 miles in the track can make a difference of like 20 feet in the surge (my guesstimate)

 

[RobertN]

The news out here said the Texas Governor is going to shut down south bound I45, and redirect all lanes North. They indicated this is a first for the area. </font><font color="blue" class="small">( Texas Gov. Rick Perry has ordered southbound traffic on Interstate 45 shut down and all eight lanes redirected north for 125 miles. Texas officials said that's a first )</font>

I talked to my Cousin last night; they were just arriving home in Corpus Christi after a driving/moving trip moving my 2nd cousin from Florida. Looks like they got home with my 2nd Cousin, just in time to head out and evacuate from thier house in Corpus Christi.

 

[RobertN]

The local news this morning gave an example of the size of Rita. It covers an area roughly comparable to distance from here(near Sacramento, Ca) all the way south to Los Angeles /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif That's over 385 miles...

 

[JESSE1]

Just heard that Rita is supposed to stall out over Northeast Texas and dump upwards of 24" of rain. We've had a very dry summer but I think it's going to reverse itself real quick.