D/FW DUers do not need duct tape and plastic sheeting

[no_to_war_economy]

anyone else thinking that there is just a bit of over-reaction to Rita in the d/FW area

I mean, it is gonna be hell for the coast but no way will this be Cat 1 Hurricane in d/FW proper

[crispini]

1. I just got this from the Richardson Police Department

From Richardson Police Department

This is from the Emergency Management Director at the City of Richardson. Notice the suggestion to stock up on water and batteries, and to fuel up your vehicles. He is expecting we'll get some spin-off from hurricane Rita, so we should plan for possible power outages due to high winds and possible tornadic activity.

Hurricane Rita is now a Cat 4 (131-155). The models used to track hurricanes show that the probable impact will be near Matagorda. With this being the general location of landfall, the strongest side of the storm will severely impact the greater Harris County (Houston) with destructive winds, very heavy rains, and tornadoes.

After landfall, the track of the storm is projected to move over Dallas Fort Worth area. If the storms reach land at a Cat 4, by the time it reaches DFW, it should be a CAT 1. We will experience wind gusts at times greater than 50 mph up to 74 mph. The Metroplex will experience the affects of Hurricane Rita by Saturday afternoon. We can expect periods of heavy rains and possible tornadic event associated with the rain bands. I would suggest that you stock up on batteries and potable waters. Fuel up your vehicles. I strongly suggest you monitor the weather channel or your news station for the latest information in this changing event.

If you will go to the web and go to www.ready.gov it will give you a list of things that you should have to be prepared for an emergency.

[fudge stripe cookays]

3. Wonder where you got that....

hmmmm.....

;-)

[crispini]

4. Snork!

Hey sweetie! :7 How ya doin?

[fudge stripe cookays]

10. Doing OK!

Ready to hurt a certain engineer who made me come into the office on my remote day, but other than that, ok.

:D
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[Bernardo de La Paz]

6. Note: ready.gov is Ready For Business but NOT Ready for Kids

Even though this is two thirds into Preparedness Month, http://ready.gov is Ready For Business but NOT Ready for Kids!

[fudge stripe cookays]

9. Maybe they're re-doing that

really bad rap song?

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[Bernardo de La Paz]

16. If they are re-doing it, they've been re-doing it for at least 3 weeks

If they are re-doing it, they've been re-doing it for at least three weeks that I know of.

[girl gone mad]

23. My mother in law called today to say that all of the grocery stores..

in her neighborhood (highland park) were running out of bottled water and canned food.

I always keep plenty of water for an emergency. I'm going to fill up the gas tank this evening.

[Why Syzygy]

26. Calling all meteorologists!

Does a Cat 1 exist on LAND?

Well maybe it's just CYA, ya know, in case someone doesn't spell it out for Gwb .. D.A.M.A.G.E.

I lived most of my life in DFW. Now happily in Austin. We'll get some wind, rain, maybe a few twisters. I doubt it. Take cover, ya know. Same ole same ole.

Cat one? I really doubt it.

Meteorologists correct me if I'm wrong.

I'm gonna park my car away from tree limbs and possible hail. Just like we always did. Call the insurance company in the morning.

Some parts of DFW will be without power if there are high winds.
As usual.

This thing is going for Louisiana. I've been there too. LOTS of swamps and big trees. They better run for high ground. I would.

The lower income of DFW always floods. THAT'S why they are LOWER INCOME - DUH!

I can't blame them for extra precautions after the fiasco that was NOLA.

[ChickMagic]

33. I took a couple of courses in college

It looks to me like Beaumont is going to take a direct hit. I think the worst of the storm is going to be east of Dallas - between Tyler and Lake Charles. It's not likely to be a Cat 1, but we could have sustained winds of 35-40 mph and higher gusts. Depending on how quickly it moves, it could be a tropical storm or more likely a tropical depression. If it's a slow mover on land, we'll get a real frog strangler with rain.

Still, in our apartment complex, if you blow on the wires the power goes out. :(

[Why Syzygy]

35. oops on the wires!

Thanks for the info.

[fudge stripe cookays]

2. And you know this how?

Have you seen the size of this storm? It's nearly 300 miles across. I'll be cautious, take preparations, and make up my own mind, thanks.

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[no_to_war_economy]

5. caution yes

I am talking about all the panic of no gas no water no power no food for days

it is already moving well to the east, it is gonna rain like a mother, spawn some spinners but I hardly think we need to stock the storm cellar

FUCK! I dont have a storm cellar

[fudge stripe cookays]

8. You obviously weren't a boy scout.

Read Jill's post below. It could happen. The farther east it moves, the better, so I won't be in the far northeast quadrant of winds.

But right now, living in Rowlett is the not the best decision I've ever made.

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[Horse with no Name]

19. Be careful of wishing that thing East

some of us are "East"
;)

[fudge stripe cookays]

22. I know sweetie....nothing personal!

We gotta share the love, you know what I mean?

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[jilln]

7. No, but...

being prepared with stuff you will use anyway is smart.

Last summer my block went 4 days without electricity after a thunderstorm, so we are expecting the same now.

[tammywammy]

11. What part of the metrolex are you in?

[no_to_war_economy]

13. carrollton

[crispini]

12. Four days? You must be in Lakewood, or the C streets.

I remember that! That was nuts!

[jilln]

14. Lower Greenville

In a way it was cool because all the neighbors hung out and got to know each other, but on the other hand there's only so much you can do in the light of a flashlight.

And having to buy food every day...

[tammywammy]

15. Was there a baby boom 9 months later?

In south Arlington the power was also out for a few days then too. May or June, I can't remember exactly.

[Why Syzygy]

27. That's the nice part

isn't it?

[rainbow4321]

18. And with a good portion of TXU workers out of the state

it may take a while to get the lights back on...longer than what we are used to in a "regular" TX storm.

[rainbow4321]

17. Reg. gas running out in Plano, bottled water low in store

Chicken Little? (as I was called last night in DU-GD)

Maybe, but the way I figure it, it's kinda like doing the Y2K shopping I did back in Dec. 1999. I'll use the stuff I just stocked up on eventually.
Just got back from doing a large "non-perishable" trip to the Albertson's in my neighborhood. All gallon bottled water is GONE. A lady in the line with me asked if I had filled up on gas cuz the majority of stations around us have the word "empty" pasted on their Regular Gas signs. Kinda glad I filled up 2 days ago and that I can go 2 weeks on one tank. And I'll use the flashlights/candles I just bought at some point, goodness knows normal springtime Texas weather will see to that.
The line/parking lot at my local 7-11 station is backed up to where there is a mini traffic jam on the street in front of it (not good, it's at a major intersection and it is screwing up the red light/green light thingy).

All of this and Rita has yet to even touch the TX shoreline.


My bank is based in Austin, which could easily get a Cat 1 hurricane. I just took out extra cash from the ATM in case the bank's main computer goes down.

[Horse with no Name]

20. I hear you

Our county judge issued a warning this afternoon.
We'll eventually eat all the canned ravioli's and eventually drink all the water, however, I'd rather have it and not need it than not have it and need it.
I even splurged and bought a weather radio.
We had an ice storm here a few years back and didn't have electricity for 2 weeks.
I don't want to go through that.
My problem has been my dog.
I have decided to close in the alcove for him--and raise the floor to the height of the house. That way he can stay out of the house, but he is still in it,lol.
That is my project for tomorrow though.
Today is doing all the laundry and making sure we are stocked up for 2 weeks, since that is my yardstick.

[Scooter24]

30. what county are you from?

[TexasThoughtCriminal]

21. Why the run on bottled water?

Not pointing my finger at you Rainbow, but why are folks going nuts on the bottled water? I have this thing in my house where I turn the silver handle and get all the water I want. I'm gonna store it in pitchers and tupperware containers, put some in the fridge and freezer to help keep it cool if I lose power. I'll leave the bottled water on the shelves to those who need it for health reasons. And to those who are sheltering here far from home.

[no_to_war_economy]

24. i am laughing at the soccer moms

from practice tonight, two of them want to shell out a 1,000 bucks for generators

cmon peoples

[Why Syzygy]

28. it's called "emergency preparedness"

Something we need to become accustomed to as long as Gwb rules.
Right?

Or else. Let's get rid of the "emergency".
Whitehouse "emergency"!

[Scooter24]

29. thankyou...

I know it might seem silly to many, but really, DFW and especially eastward could possibly see some very nasty weather out of this. We bought water, batteries, and flashlights- just in case of a power outage or problems with the water service. Nothing to panic about, but nothing beats having some reassurance in times when you aren't sure what mother nature has in store for you.

Now gas, that's another topic... :(

[Why Syzygy]

32. Doesn't seem silly to me

I cultivate friends who know how to fish and hunt and build a camp fire.
I have candles and matches. And two strong legs.

I pity those who don't. Get ready for Gwb's future. A generator might not get it, folks.

Call me "tin foil".

[fudge stripe cookays]

31. Someof us NEED generators.

I'm not a soccer mom. I went and bought a small one yesterday.

Cities sometimes experience power outages WITHOUT storms.

I have MS. I could not handle the heat if the power goes out. I have to at least be able to run an area fan.

Your cavalier attitude is really getting annoying in this forum. People are just being prepared. I daresay we'll be a damned site more comfortable this weekend too.

[tammywammy]

25. I filled up tonight in Irving

I was acutally at 1/4 tank, so needed to fill up anyways. I had no problem. This was off of 183 between Story and Beltline.

I went to the grocery store to pick up AA batteries (I needed them anyways, and hey the flashlight uses them to) and I saw a couple of people buying bottled water. It's hard to know if they regularly buy it or was it because of Rita.

My sister-in-law bought air mattresses and toilet paper for our visitors this weekend. She didn't buy any food, because the people driving up, cleaned out their fridges and freezers.

[TecnoCrat]

34. Not a surprise.

I try to keep all the staples stocked up in house now that the wife is pregnant, just in case. I'm paranoid of something happening, and this just makes it all justified.

I'm over in Garland, so I'm not expecting too much. But always good to have water, matches, tools, etc around. You never know.