Democrats & Liberals: Archives

Stephen,
I hope you have enough sense not to be in Huston when Rita makes land fall. I have no fear of even a Cat 3 Hurricane, but 4 & 5’s are a whole diferent Beast of Nature. Although IMO Rita will go to the east of Houston due to the water temperture difference between Houston and Louisina, the odds of the water surge causing massive flooding in your area is all to real.

By the way, do you know how many homes and commercial buildings are rated for a Cat 5 Hurricane in your State? I’ve attemptted to look up this information on Louisina & Missisippi and all I can find out is that is is selective to the builder. Even Texas has stated to FEMA that they’ve had not been succesful in passing Building Codes that would require all new construction meet CAT 5 Standsards. Can you shine some light on this subject foor me?

The first things to understand is that Houston is about fifty feet above Sea Level. Low lying Areas near the gulf will definitely be affected by the storm surge, but we’re nowhere near that area. We’re more likely to deal with flooding from the rain than flooding from the sea.

The winds will be pretty intense, but by the time the worst gets to us, the storm will be somewhat attenuated, and we should be far enough from the eye that we’ll get intense, but not catastrophic winds.

Still, I understand the concern. The idea of having Marguerita The Wide come through at full fury is hardly attractive to me, especially in my arboreally resplendent neighborhood. I’ll be spending tomorrow cutting the limbs nearest the house, you can be sure. There are few things I fear in the world. A storm of this size scares the hell out of me.

Right now, the local roads are packed with people who thought it would be a good idea to take the surface streets away from I-45. We had to drive 2 Hours to come home along a street we usually cover in ten minutes.

Stephen,
Things should go smoother for those in Houston as long as local gov’t can control lawlessness for a few days. And as long as you don’t shoot at the help as it arrives.

Of great concern for us is how the storm tracks inland. Living just north of San Antonio, and having watched the wind devastation as far as 200 miles inland from where Katrina hit, San Antonio and its surrounds could be in trouble if the eye tracks just west of SA, which could pelt S.A. with cat 1 winds. S.A. is about 160 miles from the coast with a population of over 1 million. Not many structures inland of the coast are built, and especially not in San Antionio, for those kinds of sustained winds. Generous roof overhangs to shade walls from the Texas sun are commonplace. They make great air foils for 90 mph winds.

Stephen,

I was in Houston to work on the Power of Houston show in ‘98. There I got to experience tropical storm Francis, which was the only storm of it’s type I have ever been through. It came while we were loading in the equipment and left just before the show.
I realize that Francis was small potatoes by comparison.
Good Luck.

Put the chickens in the barn and batten down the hatches, Stephen. I don’t care right now if you are a Democrat. Keep safe.

Stephen & David,
Go to NOAA.com and check out the images. While I’am not as accute to how the air flows are in your area, I do know that the high pressure cell thats keeping Rita south is moving faster than what was projected yesterday. If it continues to keep moving east you guys may be lucky enough to be on the west side of the eye. The next 24 hours is critical.

Hopefully, the eye of Rita will make land fall just east of Galvaston Harbor. Hope for one more full turn due North tomorrow or head for higher ground cause this storm is sucking up all the hot water she can.

Steven:

From a country north of you, I’ve been following your cogent thoughts now on Watchblog for a year. I talk to the young people I know about you and your writing strengths and how fortunate it is that America has someone with your clear, lucid thinking and writing ability working so well to keep the straight facts out there. IMO the work you are doing here is very important and I pray for your safety and for all in the path of Rita. May you all weather this storm safely and become a stronger more united nation soon. Your neighbours care very much about all you are living through and wish you well.

May your family and loved ones be safe and stay safe…

Can you post a blow-by-blow update on what you see? Maybe make a Thread on it?

Though your personal concerns are valid, Let’s not forget that following the Katrina catastrophe, was one of the largest media frenzies since the verdict of O.J. So be safe and prepare for anyhting (which should be the way you look at life) but be prepared to experience the largest wave of media hype.

Wow Stephen. The sheer terseness of this article makes it clear how seriously you’re taking Rita. :)

Stay safe.

Is anyone else being sent to Internet Optimizer when trying to click on Stephen’s link on the Watchblog main page?

Stephen & David,

Stay safe!

Stephen & David,
Looks like I kind of guessed right. While David it looks like you might get rained on, the winds shouldn’t be that bad. And Stephen, at least Houston won’t get the East Side of the Hurricane; however, New Orleans is going to get soaked and maybe have a few levees give way. At Least that is if Rita doesn’t slow down or even worst stop. Than all bets are off.

Stephen

Hopefully all will go well with you and you and your family remain safe and sound.

I will remember all in my prayers.

Stephen and David:

It appears that wherever Rita hits, there is a high probability of intense damage. Be safe and in our prayers.

It will be interesting to hear your thoughts on the storm and the aftermath relief efforts. We can hope that local, state, and federal authorities have learned much from Katrina and do a better job of providing relief, especially in the early hours and days.

May God be with all of you.

Thanks all. But as of the last hour, it appears San Antonio will be spared, as the tracking zone no longer includes the greater San Antonio area to the west of the predicted strike zone.

The congestion and gridlock occuring on main arteries down near the coast is becoming a real problem according to the WeatherChannel. I feel so very lucky now and relieved.

Stephen,

Good luck and stay safe.

Stephen,
Just in case your area does get serious flooding due to intense rainfall, you might want to back up all your stories and other writings to disk(s) and stick em in a plastic ziplock?

Take Care, and I hope all goes well for you and yours.

Stay safe Stephen… My thoughts are with you and your family.

i’ll say it. everyone would be better off if Rita took the SAME path as Katrina.
what is so great about this one ‘sparing’ New Orleans? because they just went thru it? it would be the best place for it to go right now. it is already ruined. it really can’t get worse. we are happy? that it didn’t take the same path? i’m not.
yes i’ve used a fake name. i’m being cold and callous. don’t want death threats for saying what i believe many are truly thinking.

Hey, good luck, Stephen, and stay safe.

ALL:
I know I said I was taking a vacation from Blogging, But I hope we have learned something from Katrina. I do hope that everyone who knows anyone in the path of this storm, URGES them to evacuate.
Be Safe,
Wayne

Appears emergency services are now being required for the gridlocked 100 mile back up of cars in 100 degree heat and gas stations going dry. Why can’t our leaders get this shit right? 100 mile halted line of cars on one side of the highway in 100 degree heat? Insane. Once again, someone has not done their freacking homework.

I have been saying for forty years that we were/
are foolish for allowing our passenger rail
system to go to hell. That would have made for
a much more efficient and orderly evacuation.
I guess most folks would rather swelter in
traffic jams.

I pray all you Texas folks stay safe, even though
Texas is GeeWubya’s state.

Speaking as a Friend of Bill {W} I am leaning a
lot these on the serenity prayer:

God grant me the serenity to accept the things
I cannot change,
the courage to change the things I can,
and the wisdom to know the difference.

Adrienne said:

you might want to back up all your stories and other writings to disk(s) and stick em in a plastic ziplock

Good idea. Stay safe Stephen.

A graze. That’s the most we got here. It didn’t seem like that would happen when I wrote the entry, but then that’s nonlinear dynamics for you. Small differences signify great big changes in outcome.

I thank you all for your concern and your compassion, and for demonstrating that even among such politically contentious folks like ourselves, we’re still able to recognize our common ground.