Rita back to Cat 4

Not that it's going to make a huge amount of difference when it hits the house. We are still looking at 75 miles of hurricane winds away from the eye of Rita and tropical force winds for 160 miles.

That's the good news.

The bad news:

Category 4

• Winds of 131-155 mph
• Shrubs and trees down, all signs down
• Extensive damage to roofing, windows and doors
• Roof collapse
• Complete destruction of mobile homes
• Storm surge 13 to 18 feet above normal
• Flat terrain 10 feet or less above sea level flooded inland as far as six miles
• Major damage to lower floors of structure near shore due to flooding, waves and floating debris
• Low lying water three to five hours before hurricane center arrives
• Major erosion of beaches
• Massive evacuation of all residences within 500 yards of shore possibly required, and of single-story residences on low ground within two miles of shore

Once the storm hits the coast it's going to take a huge hit. If we are lucky we may only get hit with a Cat 1. At times like this . . . lucky is redefined.