Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Here comes Rita

Well...after complaining all spring and summer for being so dry, it looks like we are going to get the big one. Best wishes to those down south on the coast.

Gator

Yeah, I have some real mixed emotions about this. I need the rain in North Texas awfully bad but not at the cost of a hurricane hitting those on the coast. You guys be careful.

BTW, I once heard Pat Boones definition of mixed emotions. It is when your 16 year old daughter comes home at 4:00 in the morning with a Gideon Bible in her hand.

Gator,

Yes, it looks like its our turn. My Houston house is close to Galveston Bay and if the projections are correct, it may well be history.

I hope that everyone on the South side of Houston on down toward the coast has a plan, because this storm as it stands now is not like the others we have seen. You have to go back to Carla to find something comparable and during that one the land where the Space Center is located was 6 feet under water.....and Carla hit 100 miles south of Houston/Galveston. To give an example, an old friend reported 100 mph winds in Austin during Carla. Check a map if you aren't familiar with Texas and see how far Austin is inland.

Burgermeister, I hope you have your plans in order. We are headed to East Texas.

Oy, looks like Rita is going to be a real "pond filler".

Prayers go out to all out Texas Gulf Coast friends. Be safe, and take no chances! Hurricanes can turn bad on you in an instant. Hope it spins down and everyone fares well.

You guys stay safe - we need the rain but not this bad.......!
If you need a safe haven - we have plenty of room.

I just checked the long range weather forecast for Blackfoot TX. The projected high today is 104 degrees and continued 100's until Saturday when Rita hits East Texas. Then next week the projected low on Friday is 59 degrees. WOW, fall is hitting all in one week this year...

Yes, I live near Galveston Bay, also. After seeing what Katrina did 100 miles away from the center, I'm outa here tomorrow, back to SW Mississippi where I have been cleaning up from Katrina. This is beginning to look Katrina-esk. If you remember Alicia, dont compaare this one to it; it is big and bad. Be Safe!

well, in this case, katrina may be the best thing that has happened to Texas coastal residents in a long time. Hopefully with all the heartache and destruction witnessed in the last few weeks, coastal residents will really take this thing seriousily and head north. My thoughts are with any of you that may be directly effected in the next few days.

For those tracking Rita, this is a helpful Website: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/

Guys :

From one who just went thruogh this please take care , no heroics ,just survive -- pick up things that can't be replaced ( pics. personal files etc} and get cash ,water ,gas , canned food , ice, batteries , generator, tools etc and get out of its way. Our prayers and God's speed go with you. Let us know if we can help. ewest

ewest, yes you can help. You can take in my sister-in-law and her kids. All my in-laws are coming to stay with me cause of Rita. There's 10 or more. She's the only one that I don't want.

BrianH :

You know you care for your sister ( she became your sister when she became part of your family). I bet you could put her to work around the house (that is your neighbor's house ). Be careful though -- you never know who reads this forum.

When Kat. came through we had 15-20 people stay with us as we had power when 97% did not. It was crazy with people sleeping all over the house and took "much" patience even though most were friends or relatives. ewest

Nice site Alligator. It's going in my favorites!

Here's another very nice site:

http://www.weatherunderground.com/tropical/

Click on the "Computer Models", which the official strike forecast is largely derived from.

I know all you Texans like to brag about how everything is bigger in Texas but do ya have to include hurricanes too I hope this storm will drop a notch or two before landfall but please take cover and put safety first.

Our prayers are with you all!

The Weather Channel last night described Rita as a slow moving tornado the size of Georgia.

Here's another site, shows 34ft. waves at nearest buoy.

HurricaneTrack.com

My in-laws from Houston just called with an update. They were trying to leave Houston, but after 10 hours on the road had only made it several miles. They were running out of gas (and patience) and had to turn around and go back home. The freeways are jammed for up to 100 miles outside of Houston…

Gator

Robinson,

I repectfully disagree. A category 4 is still not something to be taken lightly. Have you ever been through a hurricane?

With all due respect over 1000 people and counting stayed behind with Katrina and paid for it with their lives. This storm is no weaker at this point.

We're hearing reports of gasoline shortages or non existence for a long way North of Houston. I'm aware of one guy who turned around and went back home rather than run out of gas and face the storm in his car.

It is one thing to evacuate. It is another thing to prepare to evacuate.

If it were just me, I would draw my sword and defiantly face the storm as it came in.

However, I have women and children whose lives I am resopnsible for. I take that seriously. The storm is now heading my way, so we're bailing. 110 mph winds will tear the roof right off the house. Then what?

Another thing Robinson. I've been through a few hurricanes, and it's perfectly miserable hearing and seeing things crashing down around you. Words can not adequately convey the destructive power and terror of a hurricane to anyone who has not been through one.

I am not very familiar with the Houston area, are there many side roads to exit north or are they limited to the main interstate.

Why did it take them so long to open up the south bound lane for north bound traffic on I-10? On the news I saw a massive traffic jam going north with the south bound wide open!

mr willy,

A friend of mine from East Texas said that a 2 lane highway in our area was jammed at 4am this morning! Seems all north/south highways and side roads are jammed too.

Gator

For you folks in northeastern Texas I hope you're prepared for lots of rain! I saw this on the latest NOAA hurrican site:

AFTER LANDFALL...STEERING CURRENTS ARE EXPECTED TO WEAKEN
AND THE CYCLONE COULD MEANDER FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS IN THE VICINITY
OF NORTHEASTERN TEXAS...PRODUCING HEAVY RAINS.

Cecil,

Yes - spot on. There are some forecasts saying we could receive up to 25 inches. Amazing.

Gator