Mandatory evacuation for lower Keys-Rita might strengthen to Cat 3

[demo dutch]

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-rita,0,3442743.story?coll=sfla-home-headlines

[benburch]

1. Damn

I hope KW will be OK.

Katy & I got married there and it would just kill us if it were wiped out like NOLA, Gulfport and Biloxi were.

[whistle]

2. So far, the projected track of Rita is through the Straights of Florida

...could then cross Key West, then out into the Gulf of Mexico and west to Texas where it would make landfall.


http://hurricane.terrapin.com/ATL-18A/ctrack.html

[demo dutch]

3. Looks alot like hurricane George. It wasn't a direct hit but

did quite a lot of damage. Between the endless trailer parks and flood risk in the lower Keys, I have have to say it doesn't look good.

The Canadians have it going ..
http://www.weatheroffice.ec.gc.ca/hurricane/track_e.html

Remember the north part of the hurricane is always the strongest so if it passses slightly south of Key West they'll get the worst part

[sweetjake]

5. Agreed

It's wide and ugly. Lots of pockets of dense weather. We've had those off the coast of the Carolinas....Floyd and such. They can remain in the lower Categories yet do tremendous damage. I hope folks heed the warnings.

[geomon666]

4. Not looking good for Texas. Bush get back to the ranch ASAP!

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/storm_graphics/AT18/refresh/AL1805W5_sm2+gif/084708W_sm.gif

[FlaGranny]

6. It looks like it could hit Houston.

There are many Katrina evacuees in the Houston area. Oh my. That will be very traumatic for them.

[AspenRose]

11. My brother and I were discussing that last night

He's far north in Lewisville but we both grew up in San Antonio and briefly lived in Houston.

Very strong hurricanes hitting the Texas gulf often brought flooding to S.A.

And Houston, well....

You're right, this could take a very heavy psychological toll on the evacuees from NOLA.

[UpInArms]

7. Rita may become major hurricane over Gulf: Hurricane Center

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/newsfinder/pulseone.asp?dateid=38614.4756059954-842828730&siteID=mktw&scid=0&doctype=806&property=symb&value=&categories=&

11:24am 09/19/05

NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- Tropical Storm Rita is likely to become a major hurricane over the Gulf of Mexico, according to the latest update from the National Hurricane Center.

[losdiablosgato]

8. I would not wish this thing on anyone, but

that said I live in Houston, so I am hoping it goes into Mexico!!!!

[demo dutch]

9. Update: Miami under hurricane warning - Rita to strengthen possibly Cat 3

[donsu]

10. this is the last I'll be on DU until Rita passes & elec. comes back on

electricity was off for a wk. + after Georges.

wish us luck because the bushgang loves the upper keys but is not fond of the lower keys.

we are on our own and we know it.

[losdiablosgato]

12. Good Luck, God Speed, and Prayers

[jus_the_facts]

13. Please evacuate before it's too late.....

....be safe and GET OUT of there. :hi:

[greyl]

14. Good luck, donsu and others! nt

[demo dutch]

19. Good luck, we'll be thinking of you

[Bryn]

15. Oh, No I am under Hurricane Warning

I am in Florida City, 18 miles from Key Largo. Off I go, preparing. We got hit here by Hurricane Katrina. Though she was category one, she was a BITCH here!! Caused flooding around here, power out for several days, felled trees, etc. My house didn't suffer any serious damage, but I had to have a/c duct replaced as it was full of water/debris. Katrina killed my 4 ft. 5 yr old Rosemary Bush. x(

[sweetjake]

17. I've been trying to convince several of my friends of just how

much damage a Cat 1 hurricane can do. Many of them think that calling for evacuations for this one is just a knee-jerk reaction to Katrina. They don't understand that the damage like you went to is typical and can be even worse sometimes.

It's so much better to be safe than sorry.

Good luck to you. Be safe.

[demo dutch]

20. Good luck downthere Bryn! We've just got a tropical storm warning Phew!

[truthisfreedom]

16. good luck to everyone in the path of this latest storm.

may it lose energy fast.

[genieroze]

18. Does anyone think there are more strong storms than usual?

It seems like we are running out of names this year.

[demo dutch]

21. Yep up to seventeen sofar, they'll be running out of names soon!

[Rainscents]

22. Yep, and we still have two months left for hurricane season.

[demo dutch]

23. Read in Mia Herald that Rita will be the seventh hurricane to hit FL

in 13 months. It's insane!

[malaise]

24. How many hurricanes have hit the US

since Bush became President? That man has real bad karma.