Ninth Ward Levee Topped By Rain Water: This morning, water poured into the Ninth Ward of New Orleans once again. Rain from Hurricane Rita went “over a dike that had been used to patch breaks in the Industrial Canal.” The waterfall is now 30 feet wide and water is waist-high in most of the ward.
A point of clarification: Topping does not equal breaching. Topping may cause a breach because of scour at the base of the levee/wall; this depends on the volume and strength of the water. A true breach of the Industrial Canal would be unfortunate.
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Hurricane Rita / Houston Update: The gang up here in Kingwood (north suburb of Houston) spent all of yesterday afternoon and early evening preparing the house for high winds related to Hurricane Rita. Current predictions put the hurricane just northeast of here. We expect loss of power, strips of rain, street flooding and a bit of wind damage to trees and windows. Our preparations included: cleaning the house and garage, stocking all cars in case of an evacuation, gathering of pet supplies and carriers, organization of all non-power-requiring appliances and full-on inventory.
Just so everyone knows, we did not decide to stay in Houston out of childish bravado, but due to the sheer impracticality of leaving. With no gas in stations between here and San Antonio or Austin, and roads bumper-to-bumper with frightened evacuees, it is unfeasible to leave. Being on the road, especially with a herd of animals, while the hurricane hits is an exercise in idiocy.
As if the nerd quotient at txyankee’s house isn’t high enough (three people sitting around the dining table and one upstairs, all IMing one another), he has set up a webcam that overlooks the backyard. If you want a look, please follow these instructions:
While my computer is on and we have power/internet, I am going to show the backyard through my Yahoo! Messenger account. If you get on there and look for me, I am a_regulr_guy (no a in regular!!). It’s set for everybody to see it. Find me as a friend and then I will “accept” you.
The rain approacheth. (For reference, we’re right on the Harris Co. – Montgomery Co. line off Highway 59)
