1:45 - The big punch along the Texas/Louisiana coast is happening now. The storm surge is probably 30-45 minutes away but the eyewall is close to the coast now.
1:50 - The most adorable and suprisingly cool dude on TV is the past month has been Max Mayfield from NOAA. He is so calm and collected and his graphics always work well and he never tells the commentator what to do and he never looks tired (he should be, he's on every channel, national and local). Three Cheers for Max!!
2:40 - The eye has officially moved on-shore. As it moves inland, some gradual weakening is expected over the next hours.
3:01 - A large fire has been reported in Houston in the Clear Lake area. Flames fully engulfed the structure and it was not clear if fire fighters have yet to arrive on scene.
3:10 - Rainfall rates have been very high in this storm. Rates in the Lake Charles area 3-4 inches an area with more than 10 inches already falling.
3:30 - The storm is so large, cloud bands from Hurricane Rita have alrady passed St. Louis, Missouri and are at Chicago, Illinois' door!
3:40 - The current radar picture is scary. Refinery row along Johnson's Bayou and Holly Beach has been pounded by the strorm surge which is estimated at 16-20 feet. Beaumont Emergency Response personnel are reporting sustained winds at 99 mph with gusts higher than that. These response personnel are in shelter mode and will be until sustained winds fall below 50 mph which could be until sometime Saturday afternoon.
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