For all of the people who don’t remember what happened when Hurricane Rita threatened Houston in 2005 you can read the NPR story or that of Adrastos at First Draft who was still cleaning up from Katrina when it hit. The short version is that more than ten times as many people died trying to evacuate, than those who didn’t. Texas has not corrected any of the major deficiencies that created the disaster in 2005, so it was probable that with an increased population the death toll would be even higher than over a 100 dead.

Meanwhile Susie Madrak has discovered the real reason for Trump going to Texas: selling hats. Curse his heart for the shriveled prune that it is, there is not a hint of empathy or compassion in that man’s soul. The fourth largest city in the US is under water, tens of thousands of people are homeless, an unknown number are dead, and the so-called President of the United States is hawking tchotchkes on the public’s dime.

Position: 16.4N 32.2W [10PM CDT 0300 UTC].
Movement: West [275°] near 15 mph [24 kph].
Maximum sustained winds: 65 mph [100 kph].
Wind Gusts: 80 mph [130 kph].
Tropical Storm Wind Radius: 60 miles [ 95 km].
Minimum central pressure: 999 mb ↓.

Currently about 545 miles [ 875 km] West of the Cabo Verde Islands.

Here’s the link for NOAA’s latest satellite images.

[For the latest information click on the storm symbol, or go to the CATEGORIES drop-down box below the CALENDAR and select “Hurricanes” for all of the posts related to storms on this site.]

Position: 31.7N 92.3W [10PM CDT 0300 UTC].
Movement: North-Northeast [030°] near 9 mph [15 kph].
Maximum sustained winds: 35 mph [ 55 kph].
Wind Gusts: 50 mph [ 80 kph].
Minimum central pressure: 998 mb.

Currently about 30 miles [ 50 km] North-Northeast of Alexandria, Louisiana.

At 4AM CDT the storm made landfall just west of Cameron, Louisiana.

At 10PM CDT the NHC issued its last public advisory on Part II of Harvey.

Here’s the link for NOAA’s latest satellite images.

[For the latest information click on the storm symbol, or go to the CATEGORIES drop-down box below the CALENDAR and select “Hurricanes” for all of the posts related to storms on this site.]