The destruction of Houston?

“Please ignore any advice from people that live in the coastal areas of MS and FL.

We don't know anything about hurricanes.”

“Nobody is suggesting your advice is bad, SS. I was merely suggesting that it would be great if he could still go down (to a "different town", one not in the storm's path...) and still lend a hand.

Otherwise, please ignore advice from compassionate people who want to see help get to those in the coastal areas affected by hurricanes.”

“Category 5 now, 165mph winds.”

“I was on a conference call with an attorney of a major oil company a little while ago. He mentioned that in anticipation of the storm track, they are moving many of their personnel from their Houston area operations to the Chicago area in the next day or two. They are also moving their Houston based emergency management group to Chicago so those personnel can more effectively manage any pending disaster.”

“This is making me nervous... we definitely don't need another hit.

As SS points out, Houston is in a very different situation than New Orelans - which does make the thread title silly - but if I was a New Orleans evacuee in Houston, I'd be freaking out a bit.”

“http://money.cnn.com/2005/09/21/news/economy/rita_threat/index.htm?cnn=yes

NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Remember when gas spiked to $3-plus a gallon after Hurricane Katrina? By this time next week, that could seem like the good old days.

Weather and energy experts say that as bad as Hurricane Katrina hit the nation's supply of gasoline, Hurricane Rita could be worse.

Katrina damage was focused on offshore oil platforms and ports. Now the greater risk is to oil-refinery capacity, especially if Rita slams into Houston, Galveston and Port Arthur, Texas.

"We could be looking at gasoline lines and $4 gas, maybe even $5 gas, if this thing does the worst it could do," said energy analyst Peter Beutel of Cameron Hanover. "This storm is in the wrong place. And it's absolutely at the wrong time," said Beutel.

Michael Schlacter, chief meteorologist at Weather 2000, said Rita now appears most likely to hit between Port Arthur and Corpus Christi, Texas, sometime between Friday afternoon and Saturday morning.

Just about all of Texas's refinery capacity lies in that at-risk zone. (For a look at CNN.com's coverage of Hurricane Rita, click here.)

"There is no lucky 7-10 split scenario to use a bowling analogy," he said. "If you're [a refiner] within 200 miles, you're going to feel the effect."

Compounding Katrina's impact
When Katrina hit, 15 refineries, nearly all in Louisiana and Mississippi, with a combined capacity of about 3.3 million barrels a day were shut down or damaged, according to the Energy Department. That represented almost 20 percent of U.S. refining capacity.

Within a week, almost two-thirds of that damaged capacity had resumed some operations, according to the department. But four refineries with nearly 900,000 barrels a day of capacity are still basically shut down.

If Rita hits both the Houston-Galveston area, as well as the Port Arthur-Beaumont region near the Texas-Louisiana border, that could take out more than 3 million barrels of capacity a day, according to Bob Tippee, editor of the industry trade journal Oil & Gas Journal in Houston.

"Before Katrina, the system was already so tight that the worst-case scenario was for a disruption that took 250,000 barrels of capacity out of the picture. That would have been considered a major jolt," said Tippee.

"We're already in uncharted territory now. We can't project what happens from another shot the size of Katrina or worse."

Part of the problem is that skilled crews needed to make refinery repairs are already busy trying to fix the Katrina damage. That would extend recovery time from Rita.

"[Rita] could have a significant impact on supply and prices -- this really is a national disaster," Valero Energy (Research) CEO Bill Greehey in an interview with Reuters Tuesday evening.

Gas not the only concern
Problems could spread beyond the gas pumps.

Tippee said that natural-gas prices could see a further spike, since so many of the offshore platforms off of Texas produce natural gas, not crude oil.

And while gasoline imports have helped bring gas prices down from record highs, there isn't as much potential for heating-oil imports, he noted.

"Gasoline tends to obscure everything, especially since we aren't paying heating bills right now," said Tippee. "But we were already looking at a winter fuel problem. We're about to take another hit that will cause a lot of problems."

Schlacter said even the oil platforms off the Louisiana Gulf Coast, which are not likely to take a direct hit from Rita, could be affected by large waves churning up the Gulf of Mexico as the storm passes to the south. Waves of as much as 40 to 50 feet could hit the platforms off the Texas Coast, he estimated.

Tippee said that production across the Gulf is already being affected by oil companies pulling workers off platforms ahead of the storm. And it's not just domestic oil being interrupted.

The Louisiana Offshore Oil Port (LOOP), the nation's largest gateway for overseas oil, stopped accepting deliveries of its 1.2 million barrels of oil a day Wednesday afternoon due to high seas, LOOP spokeswoman Barb Hesterman told Reuters. She said the disruption was expected to be "for a short time."

But if Katrina is any guide, it could take several days after Rita passes for production to resume even at oil and gas platforms that escape damage.

"There were several days where if you could have gotten out to the platform, you could have started it back up, but you couldn't find the boats or helicopters you needed to get back to the platforms," he said.”

“CONSERVATION

any ?????'s”

“any ?????'s”
uncliff
6:10:14 PM
9/21/05
ignore this user

Yes. How do I get to work? If gas gets up to $5 a gallon I'll have to decide which is more important, food or gas I won’t be able to afford both?”

“Bicycle? Horse and buggy?”

“I may no longer be able to afford my 35-mile commute to work after this storm (for real this time...)”

“bus? train? walk? carpool?

Don't give me that "how do I get to work" excuse!”

“No bus, no train, I work in an office with only two other people who live farther away form me than work, and its 40 miles (53 if I go by bike) one-way. I'd move closer to work, but I can't afford housing. Maybe I will be able to get a deferment on part of my student loans.”

“from nhc.noaa.gov...
HURRICANE RITA TROPICAL CYCLONE UPDATE
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
650 PM CDT WED SEP 21 2005

...RITA BECOMES THE THIRD MOST INTENSE HURRICANE ON RECORD...

DROPSONDE DATA FROM AN AIR FORCE RESERVE UNIT RECONNAISSANCE
AIRCRAFT AT 623 PM CDT...2323Z...INDICATED THE CENTRAL PRESSURE HAS
FALLEN TO BELOW 899 MB...OR 26.55 INCHES. THE DROPSONDE INSTRUMENT
MEASURED 32 KT/35 MPH WINDS AT THE SURFACE...WHICH MEANS IT LIKELY
DID NOT RECORD THE LOWEST PRESSURE IN THE EYE OF RITA. THE CENTRAL
PRESSURE IS PROBABLY AT LEAST AS LOW AS 898 MB...AND PERHAPS EVEN
LOWER. FOR OFFICIAL PURPOSES... A PRESSURE OF 898 MB IS ASSUMED...
WHICH NOW MAKES RITA THE THIRD MOST INTENSE HURRICANE IN TERMS OF
PRESSURE IN THE ATLANTIC BASIN. SOME ADDITIONAL DEEPENING AND
INTENSIFICATION IS POSSIBLE FOR THE NEXT 12 HOURS OR SO.

RITA CURRENTLY RANKS BEHIND HURRICANE GILBERT IN 1988 WITH 888 MB
AND THE 1935 LABOR DAY HURRICANE WITH 892 MB.

FORECASTER STEWART

$$”

“http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2002509275_katevac21.html


Galveston, gone the way of Waveland, MS?”

“I've , after 6 years not, started day trading stocks again. I hate it, but have driven less than 10 miles in 3 weeks. Hardest way to make money that exist, but these storms have made it easier.”

“http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/refresh/graphics_at3+shtml/210636.shtml?5day

The track has changed, now appears that the dangerous western quadrant of the storm will miss Houston.”

“7 AM CDT THU SEP 22 2005

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE ESTIMATED NEAR 170 MPH WITH HIGHER
GUSTS. THIS MAKES RITA A POTENTIALLY CATASTROPHIC CATEGORY
FIVE HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON SCALE. A SLOW WEAKENING TREND
IS FORECAST BUT RITA IS EXPECTED TO REACH THE COAST LATE FRIDAY OR
EARLY SATURDAY AS A MAJOR HURRICANE...AT LEAST CATEGORY THREE.

HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 70 MILES FROM THE
CENTER...AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP
TO 185 MILES.

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCPAT3+shtml/221138.shtml”

“I was planning to kayak-pack on Lake Texoma next week, but that's out. I'll hole up in the nuclear plant and save my vacation for a sunny day after the gas prices come back down. Maybe Big Bend around Christmas again....”

“I have dear friends in Houston and hope hope hope that they will be okay.


ah, global warming and a consumer nation....think the gov would have some back-up plans to prevent the crippling of our economy due to the demolision of oil rigs and infrastructure?”

“Seeing as I am in North East Florida on the Atlantic Coast and We have had (sometimes heavy) rain the last three days from Rita I'd say the likelyhood is very high that N.O. will flood again.

Oh yeah, there is no such thing as a non-dangerous quadrant of a cat 4/5 storm.”

“Man the footage of the traffic jams remind me of when we evacuated for hurricane Floyd.

It's a Texodus.”

“From NOAA:

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE DECREASED TO NEAR 165 MPH...270
KM/HR... WITH HIGHER GUSTS. RITA IS A CATEGORY FIVE HURRICANE ON
THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON SCALE. SOME SLIGHT WEAKENING IS FORECAST DURING
THE NEXT 24 HOURS BUT RITA IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN AN EXTREMELY
DANGEROUS HURRICANE.




”

“pixie, upstate ny (along with much of our country) has virtually no public transportaion outside of major metro areas.

the $$housing$$ around albany as zac mentioned is ridiculous right now.
i drive 1 1/2 hours to work every day.

i'm #&%!$ed”

“Only thing that will be left of Galveston after this 'cane will be that stupid Glenn Campbell song.”

“I'm afraid you're right. Galveston has been having real bad beach erosion lately.”

“I saw a model of what Galveston will look like after she passes.

You could not see any of the island! It was all under water.”

“DATA FROM A NOAA RECONNAISSANCE AIRCRAFT INDICATE THAT MAXIMUM
SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE DECREASED TO NEAR 150 MPH...240 KM/HR... WITH
HIGHER GUSTS. RITA IS NOW A STRONG CATEGORY FOUR HURRICANE”

“Still a lot of time for strengthing and weakening.”

“Birch.....chances are your flight will be cancelled......
...there are folks all over the Alabam & Mississippi coast who need help, if there is any way to change your plans.....
....VERY cloudy....and they are moving sooo fast.......reports of flooding in Dauphin Island...
....best wishes & prayers for all in path of this storm.....it is a big bad one.....”

“Thus far Continental hasn't cancelled Birch's flight, believe it or not. ChuckD and his family are evacuating and the shelter has evacuated too. Birch won't be going.

Divinity, we can't afford to change the flight over to somewhere else, much less pay for nine days of lodging. ChuckD was going to house Birch for the time he was to be there helping at the shelter.

Oh well. I guess we'll be mailing all the goodies and money collected. Birch has two army duffle bags full of toiletries and supplies and kids' stuff.

I hope and pray things don't turn out as bad as expected.”

“That's a really nice picture, IVTSYB.”

“Thank god I only live 7 minutes (by car) from work, but my vacation to virginia may have to be cancelled if the gas is 4 or 5 doolars a gal.

But more importantly, I hope everyone does evacuate...this looks like a monster. This has been an aweful year for those people in the south. :(”

“God Help these people.”

“Divinity, we can't afford to change the flight over to somewhere else, much less pay for nine days of lodging. ChuckD was going to house Birch for the time he was to be there helping at the shelter
Sassafras
2:16:37 PM
9/22/05

I'm glad to hear ChuckD evacuated....LOL...sorry to laugh.....there aren't many places to lodge....Fema and contractors have alot of the rooms...they were saying they would give you a place to sleep in a shelter, but you had to provide your own food & water.....I'm sorry Birch has to cancel...but it is important for his safety....alot of folks need help still.....
...I passed a crew from NC cleaning up trees in out area.....we are so thankful!!!!

...we just had the first band of rain and wind go through here.....power went out for a bit.....it is going to be a long weekend!!!!!”

“HOUSTON - (KRT) - Rita's predicted aim shifted eastward toward Beaumont, Texas, Thursday, perhaps sparing Galveston and Houston the worst.

But officials here worried that the clogged roads and lack of gasoline could trap people in cars when the Category 4 storm packing 145 mph winds comes ashore late Friday or early Saturday.

"If the hurricane comes in at a certain angle," said Houston Mayor Bill White, "being on the highway is a death trap."”

“We tried to leave, traffic is horrible, came back home, going to rest and try again tomorrow.”

“chuckd, our prayers are with you. I saw the traffic and was amazed. My flight was cancelled a few hours ago. I was worried about you guys all day, I called about 50plus times and got nothing but busy or hurricane recordings. I hope you and yours will have an easy time in the morn, God speed and safety.”

“My daughters have an aunt&uncle + a couple cousins in the Sugar Land area... hope they are out of harm's way.”

“Just heard... they made it to Dallas.”

“ChuckD please stay safe!”

“hugs and best wishes ChuckD....we have some flooding and roads closed down on the coast....we are expecting rain and high winds...but our thoughts and prayers are for Texas and Louisiana...saw a piece on tv about a woman in Houston, who took in evacuees after Katrina....they all evacuated, but didn't know where they would stay....can you imagine not knowing if you would have a place to lay your head, cook your meals, and not know what you will return to ...if anything???...I can't....(thank goodness I have camping gear....”

“CNN A bus carrying elderly Hurricane Rita evacuees caught fire and exploded early today on a crowded Texas interstate, killing as many as 20 people.


http://www.cnn.com/2005/WEATHER/09/23/rita/index.html
last edited: 9/23/05 9:31:52 AM”

“I saw that USA, so very sad. My prayers are with you guys. Good luck with the evacuation ChuckD.


10AM advisory:
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE DECREASED TO NEAR 135 MPH WITH HIGHER
GUSTS. RITA IS AT THE BORDER OF CATEGORY FOUR AND THREE HURRICANE
ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON SCALE. SLIGHT WEAKENING IS POSSIBLE BEFORE
LANDFALL...BUT RITA IS EXPECTED TO COME ASHORE AS A MAJOR
HURRICANE.
last edited: 9/23/05 11:10:22 AM”

“We are on the NW side of Houston, looks like the worst will be well east, boarded up the house, saved up about 50 gallons of water, We're gonna ride it out.

Good thing I got that sampler case from Enertia the other day.”

“Good for you! Stay safe!”

“No kidding! We heard that Rita's down to cat 3. Is that right? You guys are in our prayers Chuck.”

“CNN A bus carrying elderly Hurricane Rita evacuees caught fire and exploded early today on a crowded Texas interstate, killing as many as 20 people.
USA
9:29:35 AM

Yeah, I saw that too, all so very sad. Wonder how Bush caused that?”

“Thoughts and prayers are with you Chuck!”