Do you have a detached garage? From what I understand, that is often the weak point for the home. The flimsy aluminum doors fail in a strong wind, then the wind hits the structurally weak interior and tears the hosue apart. The other general weakness is when the roof trusses are not secured to the home. A big gust can just lift the roof off. They changed the building code in Fl, bot sure about Houston's code.
I posted this last night, so I'll post again for those that missed it. Steve Lyons on the Weather Channel basically said that CAT 4's 7 5's very rarely hit land that strong and, since Katrina came in as a CAT 4/5 already, that bolds well for this storm. He went on o say that most hurricanes that increase to a CAT 4/5 usually weeken back to a 3 before landfall. I say we all should prepare for the worst. I just don't want people to think, just because it is a CAT 4 now, that it will stay that strong when it gets here.
man this is not good...my mom and dad live out in west houston by barker cypress and i-10. if this thing keeps this track up west houston will get the some of the worst from the hurricane. if it takes a more northern turn before hitting then it could be really bad.
Why do Houston weather men have a huge orgasmic smile while talking about hurricane Rita? I swear the ch. 2 guy might need a tissue.
Yeah, I know what you mean. Watching them it's hard to decipher what is real and what is just shock value. Better safe than sorry though.
Guys, if everything east of you is booked up, come down to the valley. Just get out of that monster's path.
I found these small ants in my kitchen yesterday. Those black worker ants that move really fast..... I've never seen ants in my house before. I take that as a sign that they sense the danger coming.
Yes, but remember that 100 miles is a LOT in a hurricane. If it stays 100 miles to the west of Houston, we will feel, perhaps, category 1 force winds. At this time, hurricane force winds are extending out about 100 miles from the center. The eye is about 50 miles across. So, it makes a HUGE difference where it makes landfall. Anywhere south of Freeport on that continued NW track means we'll see a lot, but not what we would see if we had a direct hit.
i'm not attacking you..you're the messenger... but i don't buy it anymore. i've been hearing that Rita would only be a 2..maybe a 3...because Katrina sucked all the energy out of the Gulf for too long now....and we wake up this morning to a Cat 4 AND NOW THE METEROLOGISTS ARE SAYING THE FORECAST IS THAT IT WILL INTENSIFY. that conditions are ripe for it to do so. this thing is a monster...and at this point, i don't see it diminishing that much. too much open water. no shear at all.
HISD has some balls to not call off classes yet. Does anybody have any idea if the Mayor or somebody will step in and call off work/school so people can evacuate without the fear of losing their job? My job will make me work unless somebody tells them they can't force me to.
I'm hoping all districts will make the decision to close this afternoon... NOW is the time to watch the wobbles... Any wobble north = Bad to Houston Any wobble south = bad for Corpus
i would imagine the mayor's office will start putting pressure on today...unless it's unnecessary because HISD has already made the call, but hasn't announced it yet. my bet is there won't be school anywhere in Houston tomorrow. there are lots of people wanting to get out of the way of this thing. when you're talking about hurricane force winds in your area in less than 48 hours, then you need to have the schools already cancelled. At this point tomorrow morning, that's where we'll be. And particularly since it's ALREADY Cat 4. I spoke to a guy who is a trustee for Deer Park ISD yesterday...they made the decision Monday night. They didn't announce it until yesterday afternoon.
I don't care what the Higher Administration says today. I will not be here tomorrow. They don't pay me enough to not stay home and prepare to get my stuff together to get the F out of Texas.
There won't be nearly the amount of rain that came with Allison. Allison moved over Houston and just sat there for an extended period, with Rita it will keep moving. That's not to say there won't be flooding, but wind damage will be a bigger problem for most places.
