I wonder will Rita cause as much damage as Katrina. Will coastal states erect stronger hurricane levee after katrina? what do you guys think? <img src="/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

Still to early to tell..although I did notice that it already a Category 2 with alot of Gulf to cover before landfall...I am projecting a Category 5..just a guess though.

I also see from the Projections that a day after landfall the center of the storm will be at the Texas/Oklahoma border. While I live in a suburb of Tulsa, I am already making preparations for possible power outages as I remember what was leftover from Katrina as it went North.

I don't know a lot about hurricanes. I sure hope some mechanisms will be put in place to help avoid the monstruous amount of damage that's done every time. <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Current forecast map seems to indicate about category 3 at landfall, around Houston. Wait a minute- aren't a bunch of the Katrina evacuees staying at the Astrodome? Somebody isn't living right.

Yes, prepare for power outages. I live about 200 Mi north of the Mississippi Gulf Coast.. My power was out for 3 1/2 days. My parents' power was out for a week and we live in (the same) town. Others in more rural, but nearby, areas were out for up to 2 weeks.

Remember that in most instances, with widespread power outages come boil-water notices, so don't forget to stock up on drinking water, too.

>>My town was lucky, our water system never lost pressure, so we never had any problems.

Stay Safe,

JimJr

By 4:00 central time Rita was a category 5 with winds of 165mph and evacuations have begun in Galveston and north. The evacuees that were at the Astrodome are being moved to Ft. Chaffee, Arkansas. By noon tomorrow evacuation from Houston is strongly recommended. Already 100 miles north of Houston--where I am-- evacuees are appearing--just came from a service station where a number of obviously hastily packed cars were refueling.

Oh yes, just caught the first public service announcement on TV about being prepared with food and water FOR TWO WEEKS, showing a proud housewife with a pantry full of canned soups, tuna, spaghetti, etc., and stacks of one gallon water containers. Also every public spot relative to evacuation says not to leave your pets behind, but also reminds you that shelters do not accept people with pets and maybe you should check with your vet. Hummmmm ???????

Bee, you can't argue with a hurricane any more than a blizzard. The only "mechanism" is humans need to accept that our planet isn't a tame, disnefied, sterilized-for-your-protection place.