GALVESTON, Texas - Hurricane Rita grew into a monster storm with 170
mph sustained winds as it swirled toward the Gulf Coast, prompting
more than 1.3 million residents in Texas and Louisiana to flee in
hopes of avoiding a deadly repeat of Katrina.
The storm surge could reach 30-50 feet in Galveston. Galveston is
not under sea level but the highest point in Galveston is about 5-8
above sea level so the storm surge will flood all of Galveston which
is a island.
Only three Category 5 hurricanes, the highest on the scale, are
known to have hit the U.S. mainland
