David Wolfson
EF5
TSA screener
Sorry! Couldn't resist....
:shock:
Sorry! Couldn't resist....
timmarshall
RITA CHASE SUMMARY
SHORT: Rode out Hurricane Rita in a parking garage in Beaumont, TX. Encountered the west eyewall and wind gusts 80-100 mph lasting several hours. Unfortunately, the hurricane arrived at night. But, I still got some nice video of transformer explosions before the electric power went out. Arrived back home safely after driving through flooded and debris filled roads.
LONG: Left Dallas at 7 a.m. with Beaumont, TX being target. Bill Read, NWS MIC, called to say -stay away from Port Arthur as it will flood. Took Rt. 175 southeast bound after hearing about the I-45 was contraflow. Good thing too, since I would have been in stuck in traffic especially given that bus explosion in southern Dallas County. First and only snag of the day was in Lufkin, TX. Rt. 69 was contraflow for a few miles southeast of town. So, I zigged and zagged on back roads (thanks to Delorme) and got back on Rt. 69. Got lucky in Kountze finding a gas station with gas. I topped off the gas tank although I had plenty of spare fuel. Found a five story poured-in-place concrete parking garage at the ChristUS Hospital one block east of I-10 in Beaumont. It provided excellent views of the city to the south and west. Met up with numerous chasers including Roger Hill and his group, Rich, Casie, Brian, and Jason. Couldn't believe there were electric power outlets in the garage to charge up the camcorder and laptop!
Encountered the west eyewall and wind gusts 80-100 mph over several hours like between 1 and 5 am. Typical damage included downed trees, power lines, roof and sign damage. Unfortunately, the hurricane arrived at night. However, I still got some nice video of transformer explosions before the electric power went out -and chasers cheering each explosion like at a July 4th fireworks event. Best part of the night was a semi-pro skateboarder using an inside-out umbrella zipping by the road in front of the parking garage.
At dawn, I noticed (ugh) that the roads in front of the parking garage were flooded (just like in Slidell with Katrina). The west exit was flooded with more than two feet of water (impassable), but the east exit was flooded with about 14-16 inches of water. In addition, the frontage road only one block away was too deep to traverse. So, once again, I spent about a half hour, zig-zagging around downed power lines on secondary roads trying to find an escape route. Why is it that these streets are so low? Do they use them as flood canals? Well, I finally made it one block to the interstate by heading up an exit ramp the wrong way and doing a U-turn. I-10 west was an obstacle course back to Houston with lots of signs, power lines, and other debris on the road. But, at least it wasn't flooded. Saw structural damage south of town to metal buildings -mainly end wall failures. Got to Houston and it was a ghost town. Nothing was open but didn't need anything. But, I did stop off at a shelter in Spring to freshen up, then headed up vacant I-45 to Dallas (amazing what 24 hours can do). Saw, dozens of vacant cars (out of gas?) along side the road. Stopped at Bubba's BBQ in Ennis for a feast. All-in-all a relatively easy chase close to home for your average hurricane. Now back to surveying Katrina damage.
TIM MARSHALL
Hurricane #15
SHORT: Rode out Hurricane Rita in a parking garage in Beaumont, TX. Encountered the west eyewall and wind gusts 80-100 mph lasting several hours. Unfortunately, the hurricane arrived at night. But, I still got some nice video of transformer explosions before the electric power went out. Arrived back home safely after driving through flooded and debris filled roads.
LONG: Left Dallas at 7 a.m. with Beaumont, TX being target. Bill Read, NWS MIC, called to say -stay away from Port Arthur as it will flood. Took Rt. 175 southeast bound after hearing about the I-45 was contraflow. Good thing too, since I would have been in stuck in traffic especially given that bus explosion in southern Dallas County. First and only snag of the day was in Lufkin, TX. Rt. 69 was contraflow for a few miles southeast of town. So, I zigged and zagged on back roads (thanks to Delorme) and got back on Rt. 69. Got lucky in Kountze finding a gas station with gas. I topped off the gas tank although I had plenty of spare fuel. Found a five story poured-in-place concrete parking garage at the ChristUS Hospital one block east of I-10 in Beaumont. It provided excellent views of the city to the south and west. Met up with numerous chasers including Roger Hill and his group, Rich, Casie, Brian, and Jason. Couldn't believe there were electric power outlets in the garage to charge up the camcorder and laptop!
Encountered the west eyewall and wind gusts 80-100 mph over several hours like between 1 and 5 am. Typical damage included downed trees, power lines, roof and sign damage. Unfortunately, the hurricane arrived at night. However, I still got some nice video of transformer explosions before the electric power went out -and chasers cheering each explosion like at a July 4th fireworks event. Best part of the night was a semi-pro skateboarder using an inside-out umbrella zipping by the road in front of the parking garage.
At dawn, I noticed (ugh) that the roads in front of the parking garage were flooded (just like in Slidell with Katrina). The west exit was flooded with more than two feet of water (impassable), but the east exit was flooded with about 14-16 inches of water. In addition, the frontage road only one block away was too deep to traverse. So, once again, I spent about a half hour, zig-zagging around downed power lines on secondary roads trying to find an escape route. Why is it that these streets are so low? Do they use them as flood canals? Well, I finally made it one block to the interstate by heading up an exit ramp the wrong way and doing a U-turn. I-10 west was an obstacle course back to Houston with lots of signs, power lines, and other debris on the road. But, at least it wasn't flooded. Saw structural damage south of town to metal buildings -mainly end wall failures. Got to Houston and it was a ghost town. Nothing was open but didn't need anything. But, I did stop off at a shelter in Spring to freshen up, then headed up vacant I-45 to Dallas (amazing what 24 hours can do). Saw, dozens of vacant cars (out of gas?) along side the road. Stopped at Bubba's BBQ in Ennis for a feast. All-in-all a relatively easy chase close to home for your average hurricane. Now back to surveying Katrina damage.
TIM MARSHALL
Hurricane #15
cdcollura
EF5
To Share Or Not To Share
Good day everyone,
Hope all had success with chasing Rita. My chase with Rita as in the FL Keys (I did not do the landfall in TX).
Today was a very sad day for me ... Posting it here since it is related to chasing Rita in some way. I was dating someone in the OKC area as a long distance fashion since June. She was really into my storm stuff and quite interested. I visited her a few times and she was even planning to go to FL for school.
After seeing my video of Rita in the FL keys, she saw the seawall and tropical cyclone wave shots. Something happened, and we got into it as she said I am too "foolish" to get that close (not as close as Jeff P though). She told me flat out she did not know she could handle "worrying" about me when I go out. She changed her ming about FL, and will be going to NY instead.
I was EXTREMELY sad and down ALL day today because of this. I kicked myself so many times for showing her the footage (You wanna see it, check below)...
http://www.sky-chaser.com/rit05vid.htm
Today was my birthday too ... Nearly in tears on it, and I am now 36, and alone, thanks to storm chasing (actually sea walls and hurricane chasing). The "downs" of storm chasing = singularity. Again.
Well, gotta go, get a drink, and go to sleep.
Chris C - KG4PJN
Good day everyone,
Hope all had success with chasing Rita. My chase with Rita as in the FL Keys (I did not do the landfall in TX).
Today was a very sad day for me ... Posting it here since it is related to chasing Rita in some way. I was dating someone in the OKC area as a long distance fashion since June. She was really into my storm stuff and quite interested. I visited her a few times and she was even planning to go to FL for school.
After seeing my video of Rita in the FL keys, she saw the seawall and tropical cyclone wave shots. Something happened, and we got into it as she said I am too "foolish" to get that close (not as close as Jeff P though). She told me flat out she did not know she could handle "worrying" about me when I go out. She changed her ming about FL, and will be going to NY instead.
I was EXTREMELY sad and down ALL day today because of this. I kicked myself so many times for showing her the footage (You wanna see it, check below)...
http://www.sky-chaser.com/rit05vid.htm
Today was my birthday too ... Nearly in tears on it, and I am now 36, and alone, thanks to storm chasing (actually sea walls and hurricane chasing). The "downs" of storm chasing = singularity. Again.
Well, gotta go, get a drink, and go to sleep.
Chris C - KG4PJN
Shane Adams
Chris,
Sorry to hear about your break-up. Yes, chasing can be a lonely business. However, consider the opposite scenario; you inherit a good woman, but lose the ability to ever chase again. Sure, this might not sound so bad during long, cold winters....but imagine how this would feel come Spring or (as in your case) Summer/Fall? Never being able to chase again would be a far more torturous existence (for me anyway) than growing old alone.
Besides...any person who thinks you're a fool for doing what you love doesn't really "get you" anyway.
Sorry to hear about your break-up. Yes, chasing can be a lonely business. However, consider the opposite scenario; you inherit a good woman, but lose the ability to ever chase again. Sure, this might not sound so bad during long, cold winters....but imagine how this would feel come Spring or (as in your case) Summer/Fall? Never being able to chase again would be a far more torturous existence (for me anyway) than growing old alone.
Besides...any person who thinks you're a fool for doing what you love doesn't really "get you" anyway.
David Dildine
EF1
Sorry, man. I've been single for as long as I haven't seen any SHREAD of a decent storm. At least you're getting some action.
BTW, I was entirely joking about the gas can post in this thread... didn't really think anyone would take me seriously. I didn't make it to Houston. The arpt closed as my connection was coming into DFW.
Ok time to get the tornado-in-a-jar out again, to pacify myself to sleep.
BTW, I was entirely joking about the gas can post in this thread... didn't really think anyone would take me seriously. I didn't make it to Houston. The arpt closed as my connection was coming into DFW.
Ok time to get the tornado-in-a-jar out again, to pacify myself to sleep.
