Fergie's Tech Blog

Update: Rita strengthens to a Category 4 storm

Update: CNN reports that the mayor of Houston is callinig for voluntary evacuations of low-lying areas as Hurricane Rita strengthens in the Gulf. Details soon.


Earlier: An AP newswire article, via MSNBC, reports that:

With winds reaching 135 mph, Hurricane Rita grew into a Category 4 storm Wednesday as it churned toward landfall later this week on the Gulf Coast.

Mandatory evacuations have already been ordered for New Orleans and Galveston, Texas, one day after Rita skirted past the Florida Keys as a Category 2 storm, causing minimal damage.

Federal officials told Gulf Coast residents to begin bracing for a blockbuster storm. "Up and down the coastline, people are now preparing for what is anticipated to be another significant storm," President Bush said.

Acting FEMA Director R. David Paulison told reporters that the agency has aircraft and buses available to evacuate residents of areas the hurricane might hit. Rescue teams and truckloads of ice, water and prepared meals were being sent to Texas and Florida.

"I strongly urge Gulf coast residents to pay attention" to the storm, he said.

posted by Fergie @ 9/21/2005 07:54:00 AM