As Hurricane Rita Nears, The Devastation begins

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As Hurricane Rita closed in on landfall the wrath of her destruction was already being felt in the previously battered areas of New Orleans. The rain soaked and flooded areas of New Orleans were simply no match for Hurricane Rita as the steady rains created a breach in the patched levees that sent flood waters back into New Orleans.

Hurricane Rita’s steady rains sent water pouring through breaches in a patched levee Friday, cascading into one of the city’s lowest-lying neighborhoods in a devastating repeat of New Orleans’ flooding nightmare. “Our worst fears came true,” said Maj. Barry Guidry of the Georgia National Guard. “We have three significant breaches in the levee and the water is rising rapidly,” he said. “At daybreak I found substantial breaks and they’ve grown larger.”

The main concern from The Army Corp of Engineers is the following:

Forecasters say anywhere from 3 to 5 inches of rain could fall in New Orleans as Rita passes Friday and Saturday, dangerously close to the 6 inches of rain that Corps officials say the patched levees can withstand.

CNN: New Orleans’ 9th Ward floods. Storm surge pours over damaged levees; 30 city blocks inundated.

CNN photojournalist Alfredo DeLara echoed his observations. “We’re talking 5 to 10 inches in the one to two minutes we were standing in this one spot,” he said. “There’s nothing stopping that water from just pouring in.”

Fox News: Hurricane Rita Bearing Down on Gulf Coast

AP: Hurricane Rita will produce extreme rainfall

Fires in Galveston, TX as Hurricane Rita approaches. GALVESTON In downtown Galveston, at least three buildings were on fire in the historic

Strand District after the early winds of Hurricane Rita downed power lines and trees tonight. One of the buildings was totally engulfed in flames in the district. The Strand District is made up of historic buildings, night clubs, shops and restaurants.

Discussion Forum for Hurricane Rita

Others Hurricane Rita Blogging:
Michelle Malkin, IN THE EYE OF THE STORM
Oh How I Love Jesus, Looks Like Rita May Hit Beaumont/Port Arthur
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