KEY WEST, Fla. (AP) -- Rita strengthened rapidly on Tuesday to a Category 2 hurricane as it lashed the Florida Keys with flooding rain and strong wind and sparked fears the storm could eventually bring new misery to the Gulf Coast.
Rita went from a tropical storm with top sustained wind of 70 mph early Tuesday to a hurricane with 100 mph wind by early afternoon as it passed just south of the Keys, the National Hurricane Center said.
Question For All Gulf Coast Residents:
Q. What have we learned?
A. Be prepared to get the hell out, and get out, if necessary.
There is no substitute for life. There is no material possession that is worth the risk of it. So as you contemplate your personal plan, think about that. Things can be replaced or rebuilt. Lives, when lost, are gone forever.
If you don't have a plan yet, now would be a good time to get one. There can be no excuses, no one can say they didn't know.
UPDATE 9-20-05 4:40PM
Rita Expected To Strengthen To Category 4
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