Hurricane Rita forming...return to New Orleans postponed [Archive]

Red Harvest

09-19-2005, 22:52

We've got a nasty hurricane brewing with Houston presently in its long range sights. Uncertainty has led to the cancellation of the early returns to New Orleans.

If this one moves across bashing Houston like Katrina did Louisiana and Mississippi, this could be some sort of new worst case scenario in several regards--including energy.

The water is hotter than normal according to most reports, and according to NOAA, that could make for another unusually strong storm.

Xiahou

09-19-2005, 22:55

I can't believe Nagin was actually calling for the return of people to a city with almost no utilities and services, that's still almost half flooded with sewage, has breached and weakened levies and during the middle of hurricane season. ~:confused:

It's ironic that the man who was shouting the loudest for the federal government to come save the city was all to recently griping that they should butt out and let him repopulate the city....

Crazed Rabbit

09-20-2005, 00:20

I didn't want to start another thread, so I'll post this in the current semi-Katrina related thread:

The FDA: it doesn't just waste US tax dollars anymore! They insist on burning millions of dollars worth of British food donations. Ah, useless federal agencies;

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/tm_objectid=16147117%26method=full%26siteid=94762%26headline=exclusive--58--up-in-flames-name_page.html

Sorry Britain.

Crazed Rabbit

Proletariat

09-20-2005, 01:12

Nagin is the stupidest man I've seen in the news for ages.

Alexander the Pretty Good

09-20-2005, 01:14

Maybe we should impose sanctions on him.

Red Harvest

09-20-2005, 02:20

Well, Nagin was told that nobody was going to help him with forced evacaution (state and federal) so WTF was he supposed to do? Wait for nothing? If people were going to be there anyway, why not allow more in and start clean up, work etc? Not that it was going to be pretty being there. It isn't like the Feds have done a hell of a lot to help. Frankly, it shows a lot more intelligence, effort, and initiative than most others in the effort have shown. What of course he couldn't count on was another hurricane...or that the Corps was going to reverse course and say a 6" rain might be enough to do in their patchwork. His job is not to kiss up to Dubya or the governor, but to get New Orleans functioning ASAP. What do his constituents want? They want to get back in.

As it is, Galveston is already requesting voluntary evacuation and is planning busing starting on Wed. The fear of God is in officials now. Nobody expects any help anymore.

But that wasn't the real point of the thread. We face the chance of having two major hurricanes deliver a 1-2 punch. Take out New Orleans area, then take out Houston area. If you look at oil and gas production/distribution, and refining etc., not to mention rig locations this combo is about as bad as it gets energy wise. Then the idea of having another major displacement and general damage before the country could even catch its breath from the last one.

Anyway, I've been checking out my materials for boarding up this evening. I'm out of the Cat 5 flood/surge zone, so wind is my major worry.

Proletariat

09-20-2005, 02:59

Well, Nagin was told that nobody was going to help him with forced evacaution (state and federal) so WTF was he supposed to do? Wait for nothing? If people were going to be there anyway, why not allow more in and start clean up, work etc? Not that it was going to be pretty being there. It isn't like the Feds have done a hell of a lot to help. Frankly, it shows a lot more intelligence, effort, and initiative than most others in the effort have shown. What of course he couldn't count on was another hurricane...or that the Corps was going to reverse course and say a 6" rain might be enough to do in their patchwork. His job is not to kiss up to Dubya or the governor, but to get New Orleans functioning ASAP. What do his constituents want? They want to get back in.

Dangers abound, said Coast Guard Vice Adm. Thad Allen. The city still lacks drinkable tap water and working telephones, and bacteria-tainted floodwaters pose a serious health hazard. The levees are too weak to protect against another storm. An evacuation plan to clear the crippled city in the event of another disaster is not complete.

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/12684423.htm

If all they want is to go back in right away, they're not making a much more intelligent decision than those who decided to 'tough it out.' (No, I'm not talking about those destitute folks who Nagin basically drowned when he high tailed it before he had time to pass out bus keys.)

I don't think there's anything intelligent about encouraging people to return to an area infested with bacteria, no 911 system, barely any running water and oh yeah, another frigging hurricanes in the area. How in the blue f did he not know the levees can be compromised by more rain until today? It's not like Rita appeared at 6 am today.

I think you use a potent double standard when evaluating Nero Nagin.

Anyway, I've been checking out my materials for boarding up this evening. I'm out of the Cat 5 flood/surge zone, so wind is my major worry.

Godspeed, Red.

Seamus Fermanagh

09-20-2005, 03:39

Well, Nagin was told that nobody was going to help him with forced evacaution (state and federal) so WTF was he supposed to do? Wait for nothing? If people were going to be there anyway, why not allow more in and start clean up, work etc?...His job is not to kiss up to Dubya or the governor, but to get New Orleans functioning ASAP. What do his constituents want? They want to get back in.?

Provided that appropriate measures are taken to stop the public health debacle that might result, returning might be understandable.

But that wasn't the real point of the thread. We face the chance of having two major hurricanes deliver a 1-2 punch. Take out New Orleans area, then take out Houston area. If you look at oil and gas production/distribution, and refining etc., not to mention rig locations this combo is about as bad as it gets energy wise.

Wouldn't be fun, I agree. Still, damage from Katrina to that infrastructure was surprisingly light. I would have thought we'd lose more rigs and have greater problems with pumping/refining than we did.

Seamus

Red Harvest

09-20-2005, 04:29

Wouldn't be fun, I agree. Still, damage from Katrina to that infrastructure was surprisingly light. I would have thought we'd lose more rigs and have greater problems with pumping/refining than we did.

Seamus
It was about what I expected, actually. The disruption, etc. has caused some changes in gasoline consumption (at least initially) that helped offset the loss of refining--plus Labor Day is the end of the peak driving season, so seasonally things usually get easier on the demand side. It's been a about a week since I heard a report on the refineries but one big one (Pascagoula, Mississippi) is out of commission for months. Several others were still down and trying to figure out how they would be coming back up--simply getting employees and contractors onsite and housing them somewhere was a big issue, besides dealing with damage. They were planning to restart this past week at some capacity if memory serves.

The crude shortage was compensated for by the SPR, which is what it is there for, to offset short term disruptions. It didn't surprise me that oil prices have fallen quite a bit. This is as a result of reduced U.S. demand, and opening the SPR to make sure refineries had feedstock.

Red Harvest

09-20-2005, 04:33

I think you use a potent double standard when evaluating Nero Nagin.

No, but I do recognize the difference between someone who was doing something and got most of his job done, versus those that didn't get any of their jobs done during a crisis.

Proletariat

09-20-2005, 04:38

bmolsson

09-20-2005, 04:49

I really hope that this Rita goes away. People in New Orleans really need a break.
Nature hasn't been very forgiving the last years. Wonder what we have to expect for the future.

Red Harvest

09-20-2005, 05:07

So if Bush advised a bunch of people to go back into a cess pool with no EMS system or running water and every other figure from the Mayor to FEMA to the Coastgaurd advised against it, would you still consider it to be showing 'intelligence, effort, and initiative'?

Please.

If Bush had taken control, and was more or less making sure things got done, and wanted to allow people into cleared sections. Yep, I would consider it reasonable. But Bush passed on taking control of the situation. Blanco did as well. Those two squabbled about BS while things deteriorated.

This is a leadership vacuum issue. Why is Nagin the one showing leadership? Because nobody else has any guts or initiative to get the job done. He wanted to get everyone out, he was refused help/authorization to do so. He went down another avenue, so he gets attacked for this.

Doesn't make him perfect, but I'll take they guy who is trying over the a-holes consulting their lawyers while they do nothing any day of the week.

Whether or not the buses had run, we still would have been looking at the same problems after the storm, the numbers would have been maybe half, but the problem would have been the same. The Federal (and State) response might have been even more inept because those needing help might not have gotten as much press as early on or perhaps Nagin would have waited another day before going off... The bigger problem for the future is not pre-disaster evacuation (which folks will now be working on more diligently at the local level), it is post disaster evacuation...you know, the kind of thing you might get after an earth quake or terrorist attack.

I do commend him for going off like that. It was what was needed, and it worked. Had Bush or Blanco taken that sort of initiative, I would be applauding it as well. I've had a similar experience before, where I had to come unglued on a lying superior publicly to get a big project moving. I was expecting my head to roll, but he was dressed down instead. We got the required resources the next day.

Red Harvest

09-20-2005, 05:10

I really hope that this Rita goes away. People in New Orleans really need a break.
Nature hasn't been very forgiving the last years. Wonder what we have to expect for the future.

It's unlikely to go away. Current strike zone projection is farther west, Houston. It depends mostly on what happens to the high that is parked over this section of the country at the moment. There are not many "good" places for a big storm to go once it gets into this part of the Gulf. It would be best if it just faded away, doesn't seem likely though.

Red Harvest

09-21-2005, 06:27

Projections are that it will hit Category 4. They are expecting Category 3 in the morning as it is strengthening in the *evening* so far (not a good sign.) Cat 4 is projected as early as tomorrow night. Storm track...just about anywhere along the Texas coast, with Matagorda to Galveston being the most likely. They should have it nailed down decently by tomorrow afternoon if recent storms are any indication of their projection abilities (much better than they used to be.) The other thing is, this storm is getting very large on some of the most recent maps (reminds me of Katrina). Houston is likely to be on the "dirty side" of the storm, so even a miss could be quite nasty.

The hardware stores in Houston were totally unprepared for this and were out of many things for boarding up by 7AM this morning. I was able to get what I needed (a bit of improvisation) and have boarded up the back half of the house. Took a damn site longer than it should have because of the necessity for improvisation, but it is sturdier as a result. Schools are closed and evac will kickin into high gear starting tomorrow.

EDIT: She hit Category 3 a few minutes after I posted this...

Red Harvest

09-21-2005, 14:12

Already Category 4 this morning. Went from Category 2 to Category 4 over night. Hit that same patch of hot water that Katrina strengthened from. (So while people continue to discuss any impact of global warming, the hotter than normal water does effect the models...and NOAA's predictions of what it expects.) To quote Yogi Berra, "This is like deja vu all over again."

Bartix

09-21-2005, 14:20

Nagin is the stupidest man I've seen in the news for ages.
have you seen this (http://www.badmash.org/videos/videos_flv.php?v=george_bush_512K_Stream.flv&t=) guy? ~D

Proletariat

09-21-2005, 14:23

Figure I'll drop the Nagin stuff, just agree to disagree, Red.

What's it like in Galveston, right now? Does it look like people are complying with the voluntary evacuation in a smoother way than we saw a few weeks ago, or at least with a greater sense of urgency? More importantly, when are you leaving?

Edit: Just read it's mandatory evac now. Guess I could've turned on the news this morning. :embarassed:

Proletariat

09-21-2005, 14:24

have you seen this (http://www.badmash.org/videos/videos_flv.php?v=george_bush_512K_Stream.flv&t=) guy? ~D

Yeah, yeah. I knew that was coming.

:tongue:

Red Harvest

09-21-2005, 15:02

What's it like in Galveston, right now? Does it look like people are complying with the voluntary evacuation in a smoother way than we saw a few weeks ago, or at least with a greater sense of urgency? More importantly, when are you leaving?

I've not heard that much on Galveston's efforts other than the preparation and the mandatory evacuation (and of course the routes they are supposed to take.) They were supposed to start evacuations of nursing homes and the like this AM, with buses for people at 6 PM.

While many people on this side of Houston are concerned, quite a few seem to be planning on riding it out. People aren't boarding up for the most part (I heard only 1 or 2 doing so while I was working on it.) My next door neighbor didn't think we would get much, he was figuring Category 3 "tops." Could be a mad rush for the exits if this puppy turns a little.

I'm planning to pack the kids and wife out tonight in the very early AM when I think traffic will be easiest (and when I've got things set so I don't need two sets of hands.) If I go, it will be 24 hours later--when the track is fairly settled. If it looks like a fairly wide miss I'll stay. If it looks like we are going to get hit hard I'll go. I have some concern about leaving early with a boarded up house if the neighbors aren't doing the same...it's like putting up a sign that says, "Break in here!" That's why I'm holding off on the front windows and leaving myself. I've got 4 wheel drive and high ground clearance, and am not bashful about driving off road to get around traffic jams (very frequently comes in handy in Houston anyway, more so than out in the sticks.)

I'm debating pulling down a portable shed today...I don't think it will take hurricane force winds and I don't want to lose it.

I hope we are all just wasting our time on this storm, but I've had a bad feeling about this one from when I first glimpsed it. My wife calls it "fey" when I get this itch, I call it guessing well with limited data...and being a wee bit paranoid.

Seamus Fermanagh

09-21-2005, 15:10

Re: Rita

Now they're wondering if it will be a cat 5. Portions of the Gulf through which it is likely to pass have water and air temperatures that are exactly the same. Yeesh.

Re: George Dubya Bush

Overall, I'm not unhappy with him as a President -- despite the lackluster government performance during and after Katrina -- but you simply have to admit that he mangles his own language like few leaders ever have. Almost awe-inspiring at times. He is the antithesis of a Kennedy-esque glib tongue.

Seamus

Xiahou

09-21-2005, 22:10

Re: Rita

Now they're wondering if it will be a cat 5. Portions of the Gulf through which it is likely to pass have water and air temperatures that are exactly the same. Yeesh.Yup, it is now a Cat5 with 165mph winds.
link (http://news.yahoo.com/fc/world/tropical_storms_and_hurricanes)

Sjakihata

09-21-2005, 22:15

Adrian II

09-21-2005, 23:42

Red Harvest and others who are caught up in this, I hope you all stay out of harm's way if that Airbus happens to park outside your doors. You will report back to us alive, you hear?
:charge:

Redleg

09-21-2005, 23:48

This one just might be a bad one - in the news here at Dallas they are making weather predictions that it will remain a Cat 1, until it reaches here, ie the Dallas Area which is a good 250 miles from Houston.

Ronin

09-21-2005, 23:52

How can this happen?! I mean this isnt a co-incidence. Someone MUST have developed a weather-control-device.

Really, I was so sad when I heard it turned into a cat 4, now you're saying it's cat 5?! I hope you are prepared for this, god bless.

repeat along with me and dubya...."there´s no such thing as global warming..lalalalalalalala" :dizzy2:

Strike For The South

09-21-2005, 23:54

its a catagory 5 now beaumont to galveston are gone its supposed to hit friday or saturday lets hope its not as bad as Katrina on saturday we are supposed to get 60 mph winds were 175 miles inland!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! god bless all

GodsPetMonkey

09-21-2005, 23:56

How can this happen?! I mean this isnt a co-incidence. Someone MUST have developed a weather-control-device.

It's those damn crazy Iranians! ~D

Good luck to everyone caught up in the path of this storm, remember your, and your families, lives are more important then your 60" TV!

Seamus Fermanagh

09-22-2005, 03:27

How can this happen?! I mean this isnt a co-incidence. Someone MUST have developed a weather-control-device.

~:) The Girls and Boys at NOAA tell us the ocean warming and tropical winds that most influence hurricanes happen in 25 year batches, unfortunately, the latest "heavy" zone started around 1995. :help:

Really, I was so sad when I heard it turned into a cat 4, now you're saying it's cat 5?! I hope you are prepared for this, god bless.

I hope that the forecasters are correct and that it weakens as it approaches land. A Cat-4 is bad enough, but a Cat-5 that stayed a full 5 until over land doesn't really bear thinking about. Those storms pack more energy than all of the nukes ever detonated -- they are truly awful.

Seems as if Red has his plans in order, and it sounds like his kids are packing up now. Still a little too early to know if it'll boresight Houston, Galveston or Corpus. Hope our other Texicans are geared up and ready.

Seamus

Strike For The South

09-22-2005, 03:47

~:) The Girls and Boys at NOAA tell us the ocean warming and tropical winds that most influence hurricanes happen in 25 year batches, unfortunately, the latest "heavy" zone started around 1995. :help:

I hope that the forecasters are correct and that it weakens as it approaches land. A Cat-4 is bad enough, but a Cat-5 that stayed a full 5 until over land doesn't really bear thinking about. Those storms pack more energy than all of the nukes ever detonated -- they are truly awful.

Seems as if Red has his plans in order, and it sounds like his kids are packing up now. Still a little too early to know if it'll boresight Houston, Galveston or Corpus. Hope our other Texicans are geared up and ready.

Seamus

TEXANS but yes god-speed to everyone Im hearing Rita is 3rd wrost ever It aint going to be pretty

Kaiser of Arabia

09-22-2005, 03:50

Heilege...

I am wordless. Seriously.

Two Category 5 storms within weeks. This is no coincidence. This is either some sick manaicle plot by the leftist governments to bring down America, or God's wrath upon the Leftists of America. Unfortunalty, if it's the latter of the two, he's been hitting the wrong parts.

Destruction shall reign supreme, and I fear that this forbodes the end.

Seamus Fermanagh

09-22-2005, 04:02

Well, if it's anyone's plan to strike the "leftists" its mis-fired.

The biggest loser in political terms is Bush. Any number of political handicappers are saying that his ability to push any sort of an agenda is kaput. That may be a little strong, but he has taken a hit politically.

SFTS:

Chill! I lived in Texas for 5 years. Texan, Texian, Texican, Tejano, any way you label 'em, they're good folks.

...even Travis County trash like Aenlic ~;)

Seamus

Strike For The South

09-22-2005, 04:03

sorry I shoulda added a smile ~:cheers:

AntiochusIII

09-22-2005, 04:13

Strike For The South

09-22-2005, 04:16

Whoa. Red seems to be offline for quite a while now. Hope he's safe outside Houston.

The storm seems to be hard. But, according to the sacred American tradition to the letter, some of us has already started the blame game early; God punishes Leftist? Right.... (pardon the pun)

Anyway, I hope it won't hit as hard as Katrina.

RED should be fine its not here till saturday everyone will A little CAT 5 vrs TEXANS oh its severely outmachted ~:cheers: :charge: ~:cheers: :charge: ~:cheers: :charge: ~:cheers: :charge: ~:cheers: :charge: ~:cheers:

Red Harvest

09-22-2005, 05:44

This will be my last update for awhile (likely a week, less if I'm extremely lucky.) I'm packing this PC in a box shortly. I'm boarded up better than anyone else around, so I've done my best, the rest is out of my hands.

Honestly, unless this thing turns far north (meaning it tracks east of here) in a hurry, I think the house will be blown away or crushed by trees and parts of other houses that weren't boarded up. We are packing up mementos and all that. Hoping to get the wife on the road by 4 AM. Don't know when I'll follow or catch up.

While sections in the surge zones were taking this seriously, those around me weren't until about noon today. All the ones that said they were staying are now preparing to leave.

There is some relatively cooler water on this edge of the Gulf, so there is some hope it will weaken in the last few hours. Right now, this storm is simply the worst I could imagine. I've got neighbors who are frantically *sandbagging* and we are out of the stated max storm surge zone of 20 odd feet.

Hope to see you all on the other side of this.

Papewaio

09-22-2005, 05:59

Good luck, stay calm and get back in touch when you can!

Idaho

09-22-2005, 10:20

Hope all the Texans stay safe and well insured!

Beirut

09-22-2005, 11:58

Ronin

09-22-2005, 12:05

Hope to see you all on the other side of this.

hang tought in there....good luck for your family and your house.
hope to see you back around here soon.

Rodion Romanovich

09-22-2005, 12:43

This hurricane will probably pass just outside the coast, and it will be clear to all that if it had only gone a few kilometers closer to the land, it would have led to the death of some thousand people, but since nobody got hurt nobody will care. And so, people will go on with business as usual and create fifteen hurricanes of the same magnitude that will come in ten years, and they'll all wonder how it all happened...

el_slapper

09-22-2005, 14:22

Good luck to any Texan. ~:grouphug:

Idaho

09-22-2005, 14:48

Seamus Fermanagh

09-22-2005, 15:11

Rodion Romanovich

09-22-2005, 15:56

Still seems like they are making more of an effort this time.

More of an effort creating more storms or more of an effort preventing casualties? ~:handball:

Well, I hope as few as possible die, it's clearly the best thing seen from the short term perspective. But in the long term, sometimes it almost seems like the more that die in the short term the better, otherwise nobody will learn, and then more will die in the future... :dizzy2:

drone

09-22-2005, 16:12

My sister lives in Austin, she says people are flocking in from the coast. A friend of hers in Houston has been on the "road" for 5 hours, and yet is still in the city. After watching some footage of the exodus, I'm thinking they need to open up some of the incoming lanes on the highway for outgoing traffic. Even in Austin, supplies are getting low, bottled water, batteries, milk, TP, the usual.

This is the weekend of the Austin City Limits Festival, a rain or shine music jam/party. Don't know how this is going to work out, but there may be amplifiers blowing down 6th Street on Saturday.

Good luck to all Lone Star residents.

Ianofsmeg16

09-22-2005, 16:19

Good luck Red and Any other Texan caught up in this our hearts are with you....

Strike For The South

09-22-2005, 17:30

GOOD LUCK RH its beatifual today calm before the strom eh I went to my dads grocery store and there was nearly nothing left so good luck and godspeed to all ~:cheers:

Red Harvest

09-22-2005, 17:35

This is just fucking great. I might be stuck riding this one out. My wife and kids are stuck somewhere on 59. Now all the cel lines are busy so I can't get through.

Folks are running out of gas all over the place, there is none to be had, and no avenue out of Houston is moving appreciably. Gonna have to wait to see if they can get the contra flow working. What a clusterfuck.

I've got a full tank, but I'm stuck waiting. So I'm back on line, trying to figure out what part of Houston I might be able to drive to and ride this out.

Seamus Fermanagh

09-22-2005, 18:01

Holy ____ Red, that sucks.

The counter flow was authorized, I hope they get it together.

As for you, I hope you can still make a clean break. If not:

Elevation is good -- above predicted surge a must. Flooding sucks, but surges just take things apart (I grew up in a Jersey Beach town that started at 11th street....after '62).

Solid walls or barriers facing the worst wind direction.

Lack of obvious weapons upwind of you (metal signs, small sheds etc.)

Likely open post storm evac route to re-connect with family.

Bleach. Surprisingly useful stuff when things go to pot.

Others may have some other ideas.

Good Luck.

Seamus

P.S. Red, they're predicting this sucker will stall over the red river and could dump as much as much as 24" (.6m) of rain on northeastern TX, southwestern LA, and much of OK. Be prepared for some major East Texas flooding as well -- you're no doubt aware of the usual trouble spots. West of Austin and south and West of San Antonio are currently looking to get off comparatively lightly.

econ21

09-22-2005, 18:43

Good luck, Red Harvest. ~:grouphug: You've always struck me as one of the most able and self-confident org members, so I have confidence you will find the best solution to your predicament.

Red Harvest

09-22-2005, 18:45

Finally managed to make contact with my wife through a 3rd party. She made a grand total of 40 miles in 10 hours (4 of that in the past 6 hours.) That's how well this "evacuation" is working. I've got her turned around and headed back with 1/2 tank of gas. Shouldn't take her too long.

I've been talking with the local fire chief and crew. They say we are probably better off riding it out, unless the powers that be get the roads working (which is beginning to look dicey.)

Of course, the city says it won't open any shelters...because as we've seen in New Orleans, nobody will be coming to service shelters for a week or so. They want people to evacuate...of course, traffic isn't moving so evacuation is not possible...but we don't want you to go to a shelter. Better to end up stranded in a car, during landfall. And these morons have the nerve to talk about "common sense" and "personal responsibility" in their news conferences?

Steppe Merc

09-22-2005, 18:46

I just hope that everyone over there will exacuate in time, and saves as many people as possible. Good luck Red Harvest, and to everyone in the way of the hurricane.

Don Corleone

09-22-2005, 18:53

Red, you and your wife are in my prayers. Please let us know once you know you're past the danger point.

Now, :furious3: :furious3: :furious3: :furious3: :furious3: :furious3: :furious3: :furious3: :furious3: :furious3: :furious3: :furious3: I was just watching the evacuation on TV. :furious3: :furious3: :furious3: WHY DON'T THEY OPEN IN-BOUND HIGHWAY LANES FOR OUTBOUND TRAFFIC?!?!?!?! They're only using 1/2 the highway! To evacuate the 4th largest city in the US! Criminy, the stupidity is mindblowing.

Ianofsmeg16

09-22-2005, 18:55

Would subways be a good thing to hide in?

Idaho

09-22-2005, 18:57

Possibly because they want to keep the inbound for emergency services?

I agree with you Don - just offering a possible explanation.

Strike For The South

09-22-2005, 19:02

They are opening some up now letd just hope its enough

Seamus Fermanagh

09-22-2005, 19:02

Possibly because they want to keep the inbound for emergency services?

I agree with you Don - just offering a possible explanation.

Sadly, its more because they don't have enough people in the right places to manage the inevitable craziness in traffic flow on connecting roads. They're just now in the process of opening all lanes outbound, even though it was decided that they should have been open in such fashion by 9am local.

Let's hope that Rita continues to weaken, then "all" we'll have to worry about is the flooding....

Seamus

Redleg

09-22-2005, 19:05

Would subways be a good thing to hide in?

Not if its in the surge zone - or anywhere near the flood plain.

Proletariat

09-22-2005, 19:15

WTF? FoxNews reporting that I45 and I50(?) are now open for contraflow. Too bad everyone's probably out of gas by now.

Apparently part of the problem is that they had to close all the on ramps on the outbound lanes. What a stupid ass problem to have. Why the hell wasn't this begun yesterday evening?

Oh yeah, brilliant Fox coverage and commentary, btw. Here's a nice quote, "Traffic is the main problem right now."

No $hit, genius. What's next?

"Earth round! More after this break."

Seamus Fermanagh

09-22-2005, 19:18

Oh yeah, brilliant Fox coverage and commentary, btw. Here's a nice quote, "Traffic is the main problem right now."

Well, the media in general is renowned for its command of the obvious -- delivered of course with smooth voices and carefully quaffed photgenic good looks.

Seamus

Red Harvest

09-22-2005, 19:32

There is a bigger problem than contraflow. They are not restricting access farther down the road. They should be feeding from the inner/seaward side forward. They aren't. Folks should not be allowed ON the highway from farther inland until the rush from farther back is moving--in essence, use the speed of the tail to do the flow metering. Otherwise, you get choke flow. Since this isn't being done, the folks at the back of the lines never move, while the inland folks move slowly. And even folks farther inland don't want any part of this beast, so they are trying to get out of the way as well. Result: gridlock in town. That's what I'm piecing together based on what I'm seeing and hearing. Could prove to be wrong, but it matches what my wife described.

The Galveston folks mostly got out, because they left a day earlier--ahead of the pack.

My wife returned on part of I-45 that is supposed to be in contraflow already...so it still hasn't been fully converted.

OlafTheBrave

09-23-2005, 01:22

Red if worse comes to worse I would get between the beams of a highway overpass on the abutment. Hopefully you can find somewhere decent to hunker down in. For the guys farther inland keep yer heads down and hopefully none of yall will get hit by the twisters.

With Katrina and now Rita and all the public focus on the issue perhaps the US will take a long hard look at our current so called emergancy plans which basically consist of "Run for the hills." I also find it quite Interesting that in Lousiana and Texas officals are not oppening or supply shelters due to the "Mandatory Evacuation" while farther east in states that get hit more often they are provided them due to experience.