Re: Look out Mr and Ms Ladyfish
Hurricane Rita, a Category 4 hurricane, remains a very powerful storm. All preparations should be wrapped up before morning. Initial effects along the Gulf Coast should commence on Friday.<br /><br />Hurricane Rita is forecast to continue on a west-northwestward track through the Gulf of Mexico. A turn toward the northwest is anticipated Friday. <br /><br />Rita should still make landfall as a large, intense, major hurricane with impacts extending well away from the center. Hurricane force winds extend 80 miles away from the center and tropical storm force winds extend 205 miles from the center. Landfall is possible Saturday mid-morning along the upper Texas or southwest Louisiana coast. Residents and tourists in locations such as Port O'Connor, Bay City, Lake Jackson, Freeport, Galveston, Texas City, Houston, Beaumont-Port Arthur, Cameron and Lake Charles should ALL prepare for a very dangerous landfalling major hurricane. Rainfall across southeastern Texas and southwestern Louisiana may exceed 12 inches initailly, but there are indications that the storm may stall for a few days and dump well over 20 inches in some locations. This scenario would create significant flooding. <br /><br />Squalls of heavy rain and gusty winds will reach as far east as New Orleans. In fact, because of Rita's large size, initial squalls (feeder bands)have already begun to rotate into coastal Louisiana Thursday night and continue through Friday. Long before the eye of Rita makes landfall, these same outer squalls containing tropical storm force winds will also rotate into upper coastal Texas beginning on Friday.<br /><br />A hurricane warning is in effect for coastal Texas and Louisiana from Port O'Connor to Morgan City. In addition, a tropical storm warning is in effect south of Port O'Connor to Port Mansfield in Texas and from east of Morgan City to the mouth of the Mississippi River in Louisiana and up to New Orleans.
Please, anyone in the path of this monster Do Not Under Estimate The Power Of The Wind And Water Im speaking from first hand experiance due to riding out hurricane Katrina. Make the smart assessment and choice LEAVE AND LEAVE EARLY . 
