Hurricane Rita Downgraded

Friday, September 23, 2005

The national weather service has downgraded Hurricane Rita to a category 3 hurricane. This means that there are maximum sustained winds of 125 MPH, however the hurricane's gusts may be stronger. It is expected to make landfall near southwest Louisiana and upper Texas on early Saturday. This area includes the already hurricane battered New Orleans.

While Hurricane Rita has been downgraded to a category 3, it will still be a strong hurricane. The national weather service report that there will probably be isolated tornados in southeastern Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama.

An explosion of a bus carrying elderly evacuees from Houston killed 24 people as it was engulfed with flames. When it caught on fire the driver pulled off to the side of the road and as passengers were getting off, the bus exploded.

The aide process for this hurricane has already begun. The National Guard sent to tanker trucks carrying 5,000 gallons of gas each this morning to aide the evacuation of Hurricane Rita.