Here are a few snippets of the developing nightmare:
Hurricane Rita has the potential to flood an area almost twice the size of New Orleans when it reaches shore early Saturday, causing tens of billions of dollars in damage to the Houston metropolitan area and plunging yet another major Gulf Coast metropolis into disarray.
"Dozens of chemical plants and petroleum facilities lie in Hurricane Rita's path, many of which may not be adequately prepared to prevent toxic releases," said Tom Natan, research director of the National Environmental Trust.
The Dallas Greyhound Bus company said don't go there; they have no more room on their buses.
For motorists stranded without gasoline, Texas Department of Public Safety trucks are prowling Interstates 10 and 45 and U.S. 290 with gasoline, said state Homeland Security Director Jack McCraw.
GALVESTON, Texas - Cars clogged Texas highways with 1.5 million people fleeing Hurricane Rita on Thursday as the massive storm roared through the Gulf of Mexico towards one of the largest American cities and the centre of the U.S. oil industry. "I don't think anyone in the Gulf Coast is out of harm's way," said David Paulison, acting director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
A direct hit from Hurricane Rita, the third most potent storm in U.S. history, could disrupt production and send gasoline prices to record highs. Extensive damage to marine terminals on the Texas coast, used to receive crude oil and ship refined products to market, could delay full recovery for weeks.
Parking is no longer available at William P. Hobby Airport. Both on and off-airport parking areas are full to capacity. The parking situation at Bush Intercontinental Airport is fast approaching the same status. . . . The Chronicle's Laura Weisman is heading to San Antonio on I-10 and reports the outside temperature reading on her car reads 118 degrees.
The mayor of Houston said the government will not be able to evacuate everyone who needs help. Mayor White said, “We need neighbor caring for neighbor.”
"The forecast called for three to five inches of rain in New Orleans in the coming days. That is dangerously close to the amount engineers said could send floodwaters pouring back into neighborhoods that have been dry for less than a week.
Rita has Louisiana in her sights," [Gov.} Blanco said. "Head north. You cannot go east, you cannot go west. If you know the local roads that go north, take those."
As for those who refuse to leave, she said: "Perhaps they should write their Social Security numbers on their arms with indelible ink."
And all these years we've been worried about terrorists. Sheesh.
Rita Hurricane Rita Texas Evacuation Louisiana Gas
