CNN/Weather Channel Reporting Rita Cat 1 inland as far as Austin/Waco

[MazeRat7]

They are saying it will only weaken to a cat 1 by the time it makes it to Austin/Waco. If you have lived here (Austin) for any time you know how prone we are to flooding and power outages... hell why do you think they call it the Colorado River Basin... *grin.

Supplies are already running low from what I saw today while out and about. I am in the far SW portion of the city but have Perdenales Electric, not COA Power, I expect to spend a day or two off the grid.
Hopefully phones will be up so I can use my "dialup" account (yuk).. I know damn well the cable will be down so by-by broadband & tv....

Hope you are all getting ready...

good luck
MZr7

[chalky]

1. To tell you the truth, I am FREAKING OUT.

It's the thought of the inevitable tornadoes that's getting to me....
:scared:

Be safe, MazeRat.

[TomInTib]

5. Remain cool chalky....

if you are in Austin there will not be any tornados. The topography is way too choppy.

Flooding is another story. Get what you need.

[chalky]

8. That's what I used to believe, until November before last when a tornado

hit the 290/Ed Bluestein area. Waaay out of season and waay out of the usual tornado turf. That kinda shook my confidence.

[TomInTib]

10. Whoa! No kidding?

Can any Austinites out there tell us about the last tornadoes have touched down in Greater Austin?

That blows me away (literally if not symbolically).

[chalky]

13. I think it was hurricane Allen that spawned the tornado that hit the area

around what once was Mueller Airport. It wasn't a strong tornado, but some apartment buildings on 51st were damaged. I can't remember if there were injuries. That was back in the early eighties.

[fudge stripe cookays]

20. There have been plenty of tornados to come down in/near Austin.

My family has lived there since 1971. Topography has nothing to do with it.

FSC

[MazeRat7]

11. Also, tornados are "typically" on the NE side of a cane...

it will be passing to our NE (putting us on the sw side) so "HOPEFULLY", those will be minimal.

MZr7

[slor]

12. Tornados can most certainly hit Austin...

they may jump around a bit more, than say, in Kansas, but that does not make them any less real.

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. be safe and hunker down

a Cat 1 is manageable, a CAT 5... my god from what yuo are saying we are bout to see another Cat 4 disaster, (international aide needed)

[MazeRat7]

3. Exactly.. Austin is 170mi from the coast...

But the fact that they are saying it will be a cat 1 here hurts my heart for what is going to happen on the coast. All the hotels are already booked and shelters are now opening.

Also, I think there is a sense that "it won't be bad this far inland"... but I am worried. I've been here since '76, been "in" tornados, floods, etc and never worried.... maybe I am just getting old... *grin

MZr7

[chalky]

6. And have you noticed how STILL it is outside? Feels like the city is

holding it's breath.
I keep telling myself that my mood is due to weeks of seeing the devastation in Katrina's wake combined with memories of the Jarrell tornado(es).

Still...I want my mommy.

[MazeRat7]

9. Yeah.. folks are really freaked...

I think the visuals from Katrina combined with the general "problems" we always have during storms has folks worried. I was getting some Coleman fuel today and while everyone was real "business like" they were all really somber.

MZr7

[Why Syzygy]

18. The trajectory was modified by 4 AM

going further East. Looks like most of Louisiana is in the most danger at this point, all the way to Arkansas rather than Oklahoma.

(oops post 16) has same graphic)

It also seems that the times of estimiated landfall keep being moved later. Wish I understood more about all this.
http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/refresh/graphics_at3+shtml/023809.shtml?5day

[Why Syzygy]

19. dupe

[dave29]

4. Stores (HEB, Randalls) are out of water in Austin

My wife was told they are diverting alot of it to Houston. I was lucky to find some at a Walgreens this evening. People are a bit freaked out all the way here inland in Austin. I am Central/West - in a hilly area, but still have flooding problems from time to time. I too am worried about the tornadoes.

[chalky]

14. Have you got a Costco membership? I bought a couple of cases

of bottled water Monday. 'Course, that was before the APB went out for everyone to stock up on water.

[MazeRat7]

7. Bottled water is not the only option...

If you have large containers, fill them. I have a couple of 5gal containers we use when going camping plus an extra ice chest.

Also, get some "water purification tables" or a "purification filter".. I saw lots of both at the sporting goods store today. Backpackers have used these (Iodine tabs) for years to make drinkable water. Apparently not to many folks know this so they "assume" the only choice is to buy water.

Finally, get a camp stove, fuel and tin foil. Boil a pot of water, cover it with tin-foil, and arrange the tin foil so that the condensate drips into a recovery container.

Hope that helps....

MZr7

[TomInTib]

15. Come on Austin....

Break out some Stevie Ray ("Texas Flood") some Shiner Bock and your favorite supplicant and let the good times roll.

Keep Austin Weired

[fudge stripe cookays]

21. You're kidding, right?

This really isn't funny. The lightheartedness is coming off as something else. I won't say what.

FSC

[Bernardo de La Paz]

16. The Big H is over Crawford:

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/storm_graphics/AT18/refresh/AL1805W_sm2+gif/023809W_sm.gif

[Bernardo de La Paz]

17. It's shifted now. NOAA updates the map at the end of the link.