Rita does mild damage as it slides past South Florida, but strengthens as it enters the gulf, where it could become a Category 4 monster.
By SHANNON TAN and CARRIE JOHNSON
Published September 21, 2005
KEY WEST - Hurricane Rita downed power lines and flooded roads but largely spared the Florida Keys on Tuesday, passing south on its way into the Gulf of Mexico, where it was expected to grow into a Category 4 hurricane that could strike the west Gulf Coast by the end of the week.
As it crossed the Florida Straits between Key West and Cuba, Rita quickly grew from a tropical storm into a Category 2 hurricane with winds of 100 mph.
Some streets in the Keys were flooded and the main highway was blocked in several spots. Nearly 25,000 homes and businesses lost power but the island chain was spared the destruction of a direct hit.
"I've toured part of the city and saw no major damage," Key West Mayor Jimmy Weekley said. "There were some trees down, not large trees, mainly just debris and tree branches in the street."
Gusts of up to 50 mph were reported around the Tampa Bay area Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service in Ruskin.
There were some scattered showers, although most areas received less than a quarter inch of rain.
More showers are likely today and Thursday, as Rita stirs up tropical moisture in the area, said meteorologist Rick Davis.
The storm is expected to gain intensity as it begins a slow spin across the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Forecasters said Rita could become a Category 4 storm with winds of at least 131 mph today.
"There's not much out there to hold it back," said Colin McAdie, a meteorologist with the National Hurricane Center.
At 8 p.m., Hurricane Rita's eye was about 65 miles west-southwest of Key West and was moving to the west at 12 mph with winds of 100 mph. Its coordinates were 24 N and 82.6 west.
The most likely destination by week's end was Texas, although Hurricane Katrina-ravaged Louisiana was also a possibility for landfall, as was northern Mexico, according to the hurricane center.
Officials in Galveston, Texas, called for mandatory evacuations beginning tonight. "Today is boarding up and decision day," city spokeswoman Mary Jo Naschke said Tuesday.
Texas Gov. Rick Perry recalled all emergency personnel helping with recovery from Hurricane Katrina to prepare for Rita.
"We're preparing for potential inland flooding and tornadoes," governor's office spokeswoman Kathy Walt said.
After weeks of watching horrific images from Hurricane Katrina, usually stalwart Keys residents headed north in droves. Officials estimated more than 50 percent of residents left the area, compared with the typical evacuation rate of 20 or 30 percent.
More than 1,300 people crowded shelters in Miami-Dade and Broward counties, while others filled hotels or stayed with friends.
Those who stayed were defiant.
Emmaus Walter, 28, donned snorkel gear and rode his bike during the storm. A Key West resident for 12 years, he has yet to evacuate. He said the mayor stopped him Tuesday and asked him why he didn't leave.
"This isn't New Orleans," he said. "We aren't in a fish bowl."
Bored, drenched and barefoot, people streamed into the Waterfront Market, one of the few stores in Key West that was open and had power.
The Market has stayed open during hurricanes for as long as anyone can remember. The store's back entrance opens onto docks where a handful of residents insist on riding out storms on their boats.
Rhon Opiela, 55, sneaked inside Tuesday afternoon for a cup of coffee and to watch the news.
"This isn't our first rodeo," said Opiela, who built a 68-foot schooner, named Bliss, with his wife, Tencha.
This was his 20th storm on a boat, he said. The couple survived Hurricane Katrina in the gulf without a scratch.
"This is kind of exciting," Opiela, said. "It's a fun way to live in Key West."
As Mariah Carey sang on the radio, residents browsed the shelves for Key Lime coconut patties, Red Bull and booze. A man nearly fell down in the pelting rain to get to the store, where he bought a six-pack of beer.
"They know if the power is on, we'll be open for them," said manager Brendan McAloon, 56.
As the hurricane slammed the Keys, the lights flickered briefly and the generators went on. But about 5:30 p.m., a half-hour before closing time, the store went dark.
Gov. Jeb Bush said more than 2,000 National Guard troops and dozens of law enforcement officers were prepared for Rita's aftermath. More than 200 truckloads of ice and water were ready for delivery to the Keys and helicopters were in place for search and rescue, he said.
He also cautioned evacuees to stay away until told it was safe to return home.
"We say this for each one of the storms that we have to deal with in our state. It is more dangerous after a storm than during a storm," Bush said.
Along the Keys island chain, at least eight segments of U.S. 1 were flooded and covered with debris, including one impassable section near Islamorada that was closed, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Monroe County officials said residents could return to the Keys Wednesday morning, while tourists could come back Friday.
President Bush declared a federal emergency in Broward, Collier, Miami-Dade and Monroe counties, which authorizes the Federal Emergency Management Agency to mobilize assets and provides federal money for storm-related costs borne by local governments.
It was another near miss for the Keys, which were threatened by Hurricane Dennis in July. The last hurricane to directly hit Key West was 1998's Georges, which slammed the city with 105 mph winds.
Texas isn't expecting to be as lucky.
Gov. Perry issued a disaster declaration and activated 5,500 Army and Texas National Guard troops to begin staging to respond to an emergency.
Water, ice and other essentials were being stockpiled so they could be rapidly deployed.
Buses and ambulances were lined up to transport residents of nursing homes, hospitals and others with special needs, especially in the Houston and Galveston areas.
And federal, state, county and city officials began conferring three times a day by telephone to coordinate evacuation and security plans.
"It's time to leave now, right now, and stay gone until we say it's okay to come back," said Galveston Mayor Lyda Ann Thomas, after the City Council declared a state of emergency, giving her emergency powers.
For the newly evacuated residents of New Orleans who sought shelter in Texas, it was an especially difficult blow.
Alicia Baxter - chased into the Superdome in New Orleans, then the Astrodome in Houston by Hurricane Katrina - said she couldn't believe her luck.
"I'm about to go kill myself," she said as relatives packed up behind her. "This is unbelievable."
Times staff writer Lucy Morgan contributed to this report which contains information from the Associated Press and Dallas Morning News.
