Yoda

. As of January of 2006 Americorps plans to continue to send relief to the affected areas. Yogurt teaches Lone Star the ways of the "Schwartz" (parody of the Force; "Schwartz" is a common Ashkenazi Jewish surname). The crews performed a number of relief tasks free of charge for hurricane survivors in need, including but not limited to support on the Fema/Carnival Cruise Lines shelter ship, tarping damaged roofs, and debris removal. In the Mel Brooks movie Spaceballs, the character Yogurt, who is played by Mel Brooks himself, is an obvious spoof on Yoda, but is also considered to be a spoof on Obi-Wan Kenobi. The crews originated from two main organizations, the National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) and the Washington Conservation Corps (WCC). The footage showed Yoda denying the allegations, and then being shown in a videotape using cocaine and making indecent sexual proposals to a young Jedi student. Americorps sent several crews to Texas, Mississippi, and Louisiana in response to the Gulf Storms of 2005, namely Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Dave Chappelle did a Parody on Chappelle's Show that accused the Jedi Masters of sexually assaulting their traineees, featuring Yoda as a prime offender. The Red Cross also expanded their Hurricane Katrina internet "Safe List" for use by those affected by Hurricane Rita. Todd Downing parodies Ricky Martin's "Livin' La Vida Loca" with the song "Livin' La Vida Yoda." More recently, "The Great Luke Ski" parodied the song "YMCA" by the Village People with a version titled "Y.O.D.A." included on the albums Fanboys ‘n Da Hood (1996) and Carpe Dementia (1999). The American Red Cross continued to provide disaster relief to Hurricane Katrina affected areas, but as a result of Hurricane Rita, had to open additional shelters in other gulf states. The comedy musician "Weird Al" Yankovic parodied the song "Lola" by the Kinks with a remake titled "Yoda", included on the album Dare to Be Stupid (1985). It is their mission to provide relief support for all of the areas in Texas and Louisiana effected by the two storms and to remove obstructions that might otherwise hinder help to those affected. According to many Lucasfilm reports, Yoda has been redone in CGI for a later release of The Phantom Menace. This edition will most likely be part of a prequel trilogy pack. ^{[50] [51]} The 1,400 Oregonian soldiers and airmen, including the 1st Batallion of the 186th Infantry which is designated a quick response unit, are joined by engineers and military police from Louisiana, a Stryker brigade from Pennsylvania, and an engineering batallion from Missouri.

Despite the use of advanced technology, his performance was deliberately designed to match the puppet version, with some "mistakes" made such as the occasional ear-jiggling. Douglas Pritt of the 41st Brigade Combat Team, Oregon Army National Guard, head of Joint Task Force Rita (formally called JTF Ponchartrain). In Revenge of the Sith his face appears in several big close-ups, demanding highly-detailed CGI work. Gen. Rendered with computer animation in Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith, Yoda appeared in ways not previously possible, including his participation in elaborate fight scenes. On September 24, 2005, following the havoc caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the National Guard named Brig. He was computer-generated for two distant shots, but remained mostly a puppet. Refineries directly impacted by the storm include:.

In The Phantom Menace, he was redesigned to look younger. Due to the impending oil shortage and increasing gas prices, Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue declared what he termed "snow days," closing all Georgia public primary and secondary schools on September 26 and 27 to conserve fuel for buses. In the original Star Wars trilogy, he is realized as a puppet (controlled by Oz). Some economists argue that the rebuilding effort could buoy the economy in 2006, while others argue that the energy spike could decrease consumer confidence by enough to send the economy into a full-fledged recession when combined with the Federal Reserve's recent increases in interest rates. Yoda is voiced by Frank Oz. The most pessimistic projections have GDP growth cut by 1% on an annualized basis in the United States in the second half of 2005, with as many as 500,000 people made unemployed. Yoda's appearance was originally designed by British makeup artist Stuart Freeborn, who based Yoda's face partly on his own and partly on Albert Einstein's, as his eyes are supposedly inspired by the latter. With some 200,000 jobless claims attributed to Katrina, Rita could be a further drag on a weakened US economy.

Moreover, like Yoda, they were master teachers and devoted their lives to preserving the ways of their martial-arts for the good of mankind. However the oil industry escaped essentially unscathed from the storm and post-storm predictions estimated only minor price rises. Their arts both centered on Aiki and the ever present ki (the Force) in their techniques. With over half of Gulf production still shut down in the wake of Katrina, some economists have stated that a worst case scenario is for gasoline prices to briefly touch $5/US gallon ($1.30/L), which would be easily the highest real price for gasoline paid in the United States during the internal combustion era. Like Yoda, they were very short; this did not hinder their extraordinary martial ability, however. Rita's path takes it through a dense area of offshore pipelines and oil platforms, and on land to an area with large refineries. Similarly, Gozo, martial-master of Yoshinkan Aikido, stood just under 4'11". Currently, there is very little spare crude oil capacity in the United States, and the Gulf of Mexico produces some 2 million barrels per day (300,000 m³) total, as well has having some 30% of the total refining capacity of the United States, which is the world's largest consumer of gasoline and crude oil.

The master swordsman Takeda, standing just under 4'11", earned the nickname Aizu no Kotengu (the little goblin). The heavy concentration of oil infrastructure in the Gulf of Mexico makes hurricanes of Rita's intensity very problematic. This art, Daito-ryu, is accepted as the primary ancestral art to Aikido. Bolivar Peninsula between Galveston and Sabine Pass had only a small ocean surge, in contrast to the eastern side of Rita's center which sent a 20 foot ocean surge through Louisiana's unprotected towns. Takeda is credited with introducing the once privately practiced martial-art of the Takeda samurai family to the world. Rita's ocean surge was easily handled by Port Arthur's extensive levee system. Basis for this assumption points to the late Sokaku Takeda and Gozo Shioda. This placed most of the coastal community to the left of the eye and in the least damaging hurricane quadrant.

The basis for Yoda's character may be derived as a duality between two, since passed, Japanese martial masters. The "Golden Triangle" area was spared a more devastating ocean surge by the redirection of Rita's path hours before landfall. His food is never named but it is mentioned as a stew, but it is also said there was "stewed tendon" in it. Those displaced by Rita were offered up to 60 days of hotel rooms, generators, chainsaws, and monetary assistance by FEMA. Yoda is seen eating in the Clone Wars novel Yoda: Dark Rendezvous. A mandatory evacuation was issued before Rita's landfall. Yoda is never shown eating what is easily recognizable as a meat product; however, we only see Yoda for a relatively short period of time in the Star Wars films, and in that time, see him eat only twice. Some areas did not have power for more than six weeks.

Some have suggested that this is due to the strong empathy he feels with all living beings through the Force. The water treatment plant in Port Neches was heavily damaged. Though he lives in a world teeming with animal life, his choice of food has led some to believe that he adheres to a vegetarian or vegan diet. An enormous number of houses and businesses suffered extensive damage due to falling trees and directly from Rita's winds. When we first meet Yoda, he cooks up a stew of roots and leaves to share with Luke Skywalker. In Groves, the home of Texas' Pecan Festival, an equal number of the pecan trees were leveled. Another item unique to Master Yoda is a blissl, an instrument similar to a panflute, which he wears around his neck while on Dagobah. In Beaumont an estimated 25% of the trees in the heavily wooded neighborhoods were uprooted.

In the Expanded Universe, it is revealed that one of his canes is a gift from the Wookiees, and that his gimer stick cane contains nutrients that can sustain him were he to chew on it. Texas Governor Rick Perry declared a nine county disaster area. When not actively using the Force, the elderly Yoda walks with a cane. All communities in the "Golden Triangle" formed by Beaumont, Port Arthur, and Orange sustained enormous damage from Rita's winds. This is due to the fact that once translated into Italian, Yoda's manner of speaking is very close to the Sardinian accent that in Italy is considered humorous, even slightly ridiculous. ^[48]. For Italian fans of the Star Wars series, especially children, Yoda is often referred as "The Sardinian One" or "The One Who Speaks Sardinian". ^[47] After water levels were lowered and an inspection was conducted by national and local experts, the dam was declared stable late on Monday, September 26, 2005.

A typical example of Yoda's speech pattern is from Return of the Jedi: "When 900 years old you reach, look as good you will not." This speech pattern has been the source of much parody. Repairs to the dam are expected to take months to complete. In linguistic typology this is the "Object Subject Verb" format. As reported by the a number of news outlets, on Sunday, September 25, 2005, this discharge put lives at risk downstream and threatened a major bridge as well due to a sizable barge coming adrift. Yoda speaks "Galactic Basic" in a distinctive manner by placing verbs (and more frequently, auxiliary verbs) after the object and subject. North of Houston, the 2.5 mile Lake Livingston dam sustained substantial damage from powerful waves driven by 117 mph winds ^[46] and had to conduct an emergency release in order to lessen pressure on the dam. To all of them, the humble Yoda, who offers enlightened leadership, epitomizes the ideals of the Jedi Order; the grandmaster of that august body is widely known as a sage instructor. ^[45].

(In the beginning of their training, students may not see eye-to-eye with him, but eventually come to see the significance of his teachings.) Among his colleagues on the Jedi Council, he is known to have a penchant for mischief and practical jokes. ^[44] Thirty one deaths have been reported in Harris County, of which all of them were indirect (mostly related to the evacuation and cleanup). To his students, the elfin Yoda can appear as either very strict or like a grandfather, testing them to mental and physical extremes one moment and showing warmth the next. Some windows blew out of some downtown skyscrapers, and some trees and signals were down. These skills, in particular, show a far more profound knowledge of the Force than most Jedi Masters or Sith Lords of his time possess. For the most part, Houston escaped major damage, apart from extensive loss of power. He can purge dark side manifestations through the use of Force Light and feel the deaths of individual people and can identify them. ^[43].

Yoda is even able to use Battle Meditation to win battles by lifting the morale of thousands of companions while simultaneously dampening the spirits of thousands of his opponents. Around midnight, a vacant restaurant collapsed nearby, which was reportedly as a result of the fire that weakened the walls. Master Yoda can dissipate and deflect Force Lightning, telekinetically lift enormous objects, including an X-wing starfighter, and use Force Push to an untold degree. No serious injuries were reported in the fire. Yoda is a great contributor to the highest level of Jedi strategy, and is also a worldly diplomat comparable to Windu. However, the fire department was able to fight the blaze and prevent it from spreading through the city. He is an exceptional swordsman, displaying amazing speed and dexterity, leaping through the air and twirling as he batters at an opponent's defenses. In the late evening, a fire broke out in the Strand District of Galveston, Texas, gutting several homes.

His mastery in Form IV Ataru lightsaber combat enables him to overcome the limitations of his height and reach. ^[42]. Yoda, having mastered all seven forms of lightsaber combat, is considered one of the best duelists in the Jedi Order of his day; Jedi Master Mace Windu seems to be the only Jedi who can equal Yoda in that regard. ^[40][41] Many of the passengers were mobility-impaired making escape difficult or impossible. Later that night, Luke sees his father's spirit looking at him with pride and gratitude, in the company of Obi-Wan Kenobi and their once and future master, Yoda. The fire started in the brake system, and the passengers' therapeutic oxygen tanks may have caused the bus to explode. Anakin dies in his son's arms as the Empire crumbles around them. Twenty three people were killed as a result of that incident.

When the Emperor tries to kill Luke with Force lightning, Vader redeems himself, and once again becomes Anakin Skywalker, by killing his master to save his son. On the morning of September 23, a bus carrying 45 nursing home evacuees from Brighton Gardens in Bellaire, Texas erupted into flames and exploded on Interstate 45 southeast of Dallas in Wilmer. Yoda's teachings eventually save Luke from giving in to his anger and falling to the dark side; he remembers to control his feelings just as he is seconds away from killing Vader and becoming the Emperor's new apprentice. This poor area was just getting back of their feet after feeling Category 2 winds when Hurricane Katrina moved through the area. Every single death before and after occurs violently and unnaturally. Also Lauderdale County which is in east central Mississippi reported several confirmed and unconfirmed tornado touch downs in and near the cities of Marion and Meridian. Yoda then dies at the age of 900 and becomes "one with the Force." Yoda's death is unique within the Star Wars universe as he is the only character to die peacefully from natural causes. There were several non-life threatening injuries.

When Luke returns to Dagobah in 4 ABY (Return of the Jedi), Yoda, sick and greatly weakened by old age, informs Luke that he has completed his training but will not be a Jedi until he defeats his father, Darth Vader. There were also numerous mobile homes damaged at the University Hills trailer park just off the campus. Luke promises to return to complete his training. MSU officials do not have specific damage assesments available; however, they do note there was significant damage to some buildings. Prior to finishing his training, however, Luke chooses to leave Dagobah in order to confront Darth Vader and save his friends from the Empire's grasp at Bespin. A tornado touched down on Mississippi State University's campus. After initial reluctance, Yoda agrees to teach him in the ways of the Force. ^[39].

22 years after Yoda's exile, in 3 ABY (The Empire Strikes Back), Luke Skywalker arrives at Dagobah to seek Yoda's guidance after being told by the ghost of Obi-Wan Kenobi, who died during a duel with Darth Vader in A New Hope. Another death was reported in Wilkinson County, although it has not been confirmed if it was storm-related. Yoda does not appear and isn't even mentioned in A New Hope. Another unconfirmed tornado was reported in Bolivar County. Yoda then retreats to Dagobah, a swampy and deserted planet, patiently waiting for a new hope. At least 40 homes and an industrial plant were damaged from one tornado in Humphreys County in central Mississippi, in which one person was killed. As we know from later films, this strategy certainly pays off. Several tornadoes from Rita's outer bands affected the state.

In addition, the twins' anonymity would be more difficult to protect if the Sith were to discover the remaining Jedi Knights before Luke and/or Leia were ready. ^[38]. Other than the ancient Jedi Master, only the Organas, the Lars, and Obi-Wan know of their placement (it is unlikely that the Lars were fully aware of Leia's existence, however.) Originally, Obi-Wan wants to have both Yoda and himself take one child each to separate spots and train the children in the ways of the Force, but Yoda realizes that there are other ways to learn discipline than just Jedi training, and that Luke and Leia will need to be trained differently if they are going to defeat the Empire. 250 people were rescued on Saturday, September 24. He is also instrumental in deciding the fate of the Skywalker children after Padmé dies in childbirth, recommending that Luke and Leia be hidden from Darth Vader and his Emperor in unsuspecting and remote locations. In Vermilion Parish south of Abbeville, rescue efforts were undertaken for up to 1,000 people stranded by local flooding. Although this is given little attention in the film, in the novelization it is revealed that Yoda actually becomes Padawan to the deceased Jedi Master's Force ghost, learning the secret of immortality from him and passing it onto Obi-Wan. ^[37].

At the end, it is revealed that Yoda has been in contact with Qui-Gon's spirit. Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco reported that 700,000 homes had lost power in 41 of the state's 64 parishes. His transformation into a fearsome cyborg serves as a grim fulfillment to Yoda's words to Obi-Wan upon learning of Anakin's fall from grace: "The boy you trained, gone he is, consumed by Darth Vader.". ^[36]. Anakin, meanwhile, loses his limbs and nearly burns to death while battling Obi-Wan; these injuries cost him much of his Force-potential, and the cybernetic enhancements Palpatine administers to save his life render him (seemingly) less than human. It has been reported that at least 100 people needed to be rescued from rooftops, and at least 25 more remain stranded. Yoda then goes into exile to hide from the Empire and to wait for another opportunity to destroy the Sith. ^[35] Some people were stranded in flooded communities, and boats had to be used for rescues.

With Clone Troopers about to arrive and the Sith's near-destruction of the Jedi Order, Yoda is weakened and realizes that he cannot defeat Palpatine. In Terrebonne Parish, virtually every levee was breached. Yoda, unable to maintain his grasp, falls to the floor of the Senate chamber. Widespread flooding was reported in coastal parishes. Both Masters are able to grasp the edge of nearby Senate pods, with Palpatine barely managing to hold on. In Vinton, several fires were burning, the roof was torn off the town's recreation center and many homes were damaged by fallen trees. Just as it seems that Yoda is about to gain the upperhand however, the fight ends in a stalemate, an explosion caused by the clash of energies hurling Palpatine and Yoda apart. ^[34] Damage to the city's electrical system was so severe that authorities warned that power would not return for two weeks, if not longer.

Without his lightsaber, Yoda resorts to using his palms to absorb the dark energy, managing to even reflect some of its power back at a surprised Palpatine. There was also extensive damage to its regional airport. Palpatine counters with a barrage of Force Lightning, taking the elderly Jedi Master off guard, and disarming him. At a hotel on the Contraband Bayou, water was reportedly up to the second floor. As Palpatine lands, Yoda reappears suddenly with a Force Jump, brandishing his lightsaber. Lake Charles experienced severe flooding, with reports of water rising 6-8 feet in areas around the lake itself. In an attempt to end the contest, Palpatine takes the higher ground, and uses the Force to hurl heavy Senate pods at Yoda, who in turn deftly dodges most of them, and sends one back at Palpatine, forcing the latter to jump to a lower level. A casino boat and several barges were floating loose in Lake Charles and damaged a bridge spanning Interstate 10 across the Calcasieu River.

The fight seems evenly matched between the two patriarchs of both sides of the Force, with neither Form IV master able to overcome the other. In Cameron Parish, the communities of Hackberry ^[33], Cameron, Creole, Grand Chenier, and Holly Beach were heavily damaged or entirely destroyed. Subsequently, Yoda battles Palpatine in a titanic struggle that wrecks the Senate building. Damage in southwestern Louisiana was extensive. Yoda refuses, saying, "To fight this Lord Sidious, strong enough you are not.". ^[32]. Kenobi wants to switch opponents, as he would rather not have to fight with his beloved pupil. As of Saturday night, September 24, water from a 150-foot gap in the Industrial Canal levee had some areas of the Ninth Ward under eight feet of water.

Upon discovering a holographic recording revealing Anakin as the assassin, Yoda sends Kenobi to kill his former Padawan. Some pumping stations were abandoned. This gives him ample warning, and he swiftly kills the clone troopers sent to dispatch him, escapes with the help of Wookiee leaders Tarfful and Chewbacca, and returns to Coruscant, where he and Obi-Wan fight their way into the Jedi Temple to stop a trap for any Jedi who also survived Order 66. CDT, water had begun gushing through another leak in the patched London Avenue Canal into the surrounding Gentilly neighborhood. He feels the deaths of each of the Jedi as they are cut down by the very troops they led. By approximately 5 p.m. When Palpatine, now self-appointed Emperor of the Galactic Empire, implements Order 66, Yoda is on Kashyyyk, overseeing the battle between the Separatist forces and a combined command of clone troopers and Wookiees. CDT on Friday.

For all his mastery of the Force, however, Yoda does not foresee Anakin's fall to the dark side of the Force. Water in the Ninth Ward was reported to be waist-deep at 11 a.m. Yoda uses his incredible sensitivity and power with the Force to sense the Sith Lord's presence, finally concluding that Sidious is someone within Palpatine's inner circle. CDT on Friday, September 23. It is at about this time that Yoda leads the Council in pursuing the mysterious Sith Lord Darth Sidious. Water entered the Ninth Ward over two 32-foot (10 m) wide patches in the levee as of about 9 a.m. They know that to give him the rank of Master will also give him a vote in all Council matters, and would be the same as giving Palpatine a vote in the Council — something they were not willing to allow. On Friday, September 23, the day prior to landfall, rising water due to Hurricane Rita was pouring through breaches in the patched Industrial Canal levee in New Orleans' already hard-hit Ninth Ward, as reported by the Army Corps of Engineers.

Yoda and Mace Windu continue to be powerful forces in the young Jedi's ascension in the order, as they deny him the rank of Jedi Master. New Orleans levee system had already sustained heavy damage from Hurricane Katrina before Rita's outer bands of rain fell on the city. Again, the Council is hesitant about Anakin's temperament but acquiesces to the request. ^[31]. In 19 BBY (Revenge of the Sith), Chancellor Palpatine, who by now has near-absolute power in the Galactic Senate, appoints Anakin to the Jedi Council as his own representative. Both were due to high surf and rip currents caused by Rita's distant waves. Although seemingly frail, the ancient Yoda demonstrates a legendary mastery of lightsaber combat (Form IV lightsaber combat, known for using the Force to achieve extreme acrobatics - see the seven forms of lightsaber combat). While the Florida Panhandle escaped most of the land effects from Rita, two deaths were reported on beaches.

This confrontation ends with Dooku narrowly escaping by threatening Yoda's injured comrades Anakin and Obi-Wan. No deaths were reported in either Florida or Cuba from the initial impact. At the climax of the battle, Yoda duels with Separatist leader and Sith Lord Count Dooku, who was once Yoda's Jedi apprentice. ^[30]. He leads the group which rescues Obi-Wan, Anakin and Padmé Amidala from execution at the hands of the Confederacy of Independent Systems, aka the Separatists. More than 2,000 National Guard troops and dozens of law enforcement officers were brought in and are on standby. In 22 BBY (Attack of the Clones), Yoda is a key Republic general at the Battle of Geonosis, when the clone trooper Army of the Republic is first deployed. Bush in four counties: Broward, Collier, Miami-Dade and Monroe.

It could also be that since it was Qui-Gon's dying request and Obi-Wan said he would train him regardless of what the council said, and losing Obi-Wan would be far worse than the risk of training the boy. A state of emergency was declared by Florida Governor Jeb Bush and a federal emergency by President George W. Another reason suggested is that, with Anakin showing such strength in the Force by destroying the droid control ship, the Council feels that it would be a shame and a waste (perhaps also a danger) to not train someone so strong in the Force. ^[29]. One possible explanation for this retraction is that Yoda trusts Kenobi more than his notoriously unorthodox teacher. EDT on Tuesday, September 20, about 25,000 customers were without electricity in Broward and Miami-Dade counties, plus another 2,100 in the Keys. Yoda somewhat disagrees with the decision. As of 8 p.m.

After Qui-Gon's death at the hands of Darth Maul, however, the Council rescinds its previous decision, although the reasons are unclear. The Overseas Highway (US 1) connecting the islands was impassable in some sections as a result of the flooding. His future, Yoda thinks, is clouded. Flooding was reported along the Florida Keys as a result of the storm surge. Yoda believes that the boy is clearly affected by his years as a slave, and that he still clings too tightly to the memory of his mother to be trained safely. More than 340,000 people were under voluntary or mandatory evacuation orders in Florida and Cuba. Yoda, as the teacher of many of those on the Council, and its most venerable and respected member, plays a key role in that body's initial decision to deny the request. No deaths were reported in Arkansas due to Rita.

In 32 BBY (The Phantom Menace), Qui-Gon brings a young slave named Anakin Skywalker to the Jedi Council, claiming that the boy is the Chosen One who will bring balance to the Force, and requests to train him once Obi-Wan has completed the trials necessary to become a Jedi Knight (Jedi can only have one apprentice at a time). ^[28]. He was one of the Jedi Masters who ran the mobile academy aboard the starship Chu'unthor about 200 years before A New Hope, leaving the ship's data tapes in the care of one of the natives when the vessel crashed on Dathomir. Most tornadoes move northeast. Following his training, Yoda is said to have spent 100 years in self-imposed solitude, attempting to attain a higher level of understanding of the Force. The tornadoes were unusual in that they moved in a northwestern direction due to the direction in which Rita was moving. It is speculated from the Expanded Universe that he achieved the status of Jedi Knight at the age of 50 and the rank of Jedi Master at 100. ^[27].

(Yoda, Yaddle, and Vandar Tokare are sometimes erroneously referred to as Whills, despite Lucas' insistence that they are not.) In fact, very little is reported of Yoda's life before the events of The Phantom Menace. In addition, significant flooding has been reported in several areas. George Lucas has intentionally kept the name of Yoda's race a secret. While Rita weakened to a tropical depression, the outer bands continued to spawn numerous tornadoes in Arkansas, including one in Lonoke County and another in Conway County, damaging many homes and businesses in several communities. 800 BBY to 19 BBY). poisoning, illnesses, waiting for help). Moreover, he has trained almost every Jedi in the Galaxy since he instructs all younglings in the Jedi Temple before they are assigned to a master (c. Indirect deaths indicate those caused by hurricane-related accidents (including car accidents, fires or other incidents), as well as clean-up and evacuation incidents and health issues (i.e.

Over his lifetime, Yoda trains several notable Jedi, including Count Dooku, Mace Windu, Obi-Wan Kenobi (partially, before Qui-Gon Jinn took over with Obi-Wan's training), Ki-Adi-Mundi and Luke Skywalker. Direct deaths indicate those caused by the direct effects of the winds, flooding, tornadoes, storm surge or oceanic effects of Rita. Yoda, standing only 2' 2" (66cm) tall, is one of the senior members of the Jedi Council and arguably the wisest and most powerful Jedi of his time, even toward his demise, though the toll of his great age is noticeable. The two Florida deaths were both in rip currents on beaches caused by Rita's distant waves. . One was caused by a hurricane-related tornado in the outer bands, and three others were caused by fallen trees during the storm. Yoda's character is believed by some to have been inspired by the title character in the 1975 Russian-Japanese film Dersu Uzala directed by Akira Kurosawa. Only six of them were direct deaths.

Like many names in Star Wars, the name "Yoda" has been supposed to be etymologically derived from some ancient language - in this case possibly from the Sanskrit yoddha ("warrior") and/or the Hebrew yodea ("one who knows"). CDT on October 3 (0300 UTC October 4) stands at 119. He appears in all of the franchise's installments except for Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. The reported death toll as of 10 p.m. The Jedi Master known as Yoda (896 BBY–4 ABY), voiced by Frank Oz, is a fictional character in the Star Wars universe. Also gas prices fell in the U.S instead of rising as feared. Stephens, James Maliszewski, ISBN 0-786-92781-X. ^[9].

Michael Mikaelian, Jeff Grubb, Owen K.C. ^[8] Total damage is estimated $9.4 billion, which makes Rita the ninth costliest storm in US history. Star Wars Roleplaying Game: Power of the Jedi Sourcebook, hardcover, 2002. In total, it is estimated that well over 2 million customers were without electricity. Wiker, ISBN 0-786-92876-X. ^[7] Calcasieu Parish, with the communities of Lake Charles, Sulphur, Westlake and Vinton also suffered heavy damage. Bill Slavicsek, Andy Collins, J.D. Cameron Parish was heavily damaged, with the communities of Holly Beach, Hackberry and Cameron being essentially destroyed.

Star Wars Roleplaying Game: Revised Core Rulebook, hardcover, 2002. However, local storm surges of 15 to 20 feet (4.5-6.1 m) in southwestern Louisiana were reported, and in from coastal parishes, damage was extensive. James Luceno, ISBN 0-756-61128-8. The 5 inches (130 mm) of rain expected to fall overnight in New Orleans also did not happen, and the pressure on the levee system was eased. Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith: The Visual Dictionary, hardcover, 2005. The storm surge feared in Galveston did not materialize, as the city was well to the west of the storm's center; the strong winds actually flattened the surge, which was only seven feet (2 m), and the seawall was easily able to handle it. David West Reynolds, ISBN 0-789-43481-4. The effects of Hurricane Rita were not nearly as severe as expected.

Star Wars: The Visual Dictionary, hardcover, 1998. Valero Energy Corp, the nation's largest refiner, stated on September 21 that Rita could have caused gasoline prices to rise well above $3 per US gallon ($0.79/L). Daniel Wallace, Michael Sutfin, ISBN 0-345-44900-2. While no potential storm path would threaten all of the capacity at once, a direct strike on Houston could disable up to 8% of the nation's refining capacity. The New Essential Guide to Characters, 1st edition, 2002. The Texas Gulf Coast is home to 23% of the United States' refining capacity, and numerous offshore production platforms were in Rita's path. Andy Mangels, ISBN 0-245-39535-2. The storm threatened a large amount of oil infrastructure that was left undamaged by Katrina.

The Essential guide to Characters (Star Wars), 1st edition, 1995. Concerns had been raised over the state of the oil industry in response to Rita. Bill Slavicsek, ISBN 0-345-38625-6. As part of the evacuation, Johnson Space Center in Houston handed off control of the International Space Station to their Russian counterparts. A Guide to the Star Wars Universe, 2nd edition, 1994. Many motorists ran out of gas despite turning off their air conditioners in the 98 degree record temperatures. Paul Davids, Hollace Davids, ISBN 0-553-15890-2. Evacuees fought traffic all day and only moved about one hundred to one-hundred and fifty miles.

Mission from Mount Yoda, 1993. The Texas Department of Transportation was unprepared to execute this in an efficient way and in many cases without a release point to the North traffic would only speed up for a short time. Dave Wolverton, ISBN 0-553-56937-6. Contraflow lanes were instigated after it was realized that a the state's highway system had become gridlocked. The Courtship of Princess Leia, 1995. Distances that usually took 2-3 hours of travel time took some passengers upwards of 24 hours. George Lucas, Leigh Brackett, Lawrence Kasdan, Laurent Bouzereau, ISBN 0-345-40981-7. Designated evacuation routes slowed to a pace far worse than with any previous hurricane.

The Annotated Screenplays, softcover, 1997. By the time Jefferson County began their mandatory evacuation up Highway 69, 96 and others, Houstonians had already clogged up these highway arteries to the North. Matthew Woodring Stover, George Lucas, ISBN 0-7126-8427-1. During the Rita evacuation these preperations and their execution were overwhelmed by the enormous and unprecedented numbers of people fleeing from the Houston area prior to the residents of the "Golden Triangle". Episode III: Revenge of the Sith - Novelisation, 1st edition hardcover, 2005. Plans were put in place to open up these intersections. Terry Brooks, George Lucas, ISBN 0-345-43411-0. After Lili, citizens came back with complaints of long lines of cars caused by stop lights and stop signs along evacuation routes unattended by anyone from law enforcement.

Episode I: The Phantom Menace, 1st edition paperback, 1999. Highway 73 between Port Arthur and Winnie was also widened to facilitate future evacuations in response to an even earlier hurricane. The Jedi Apprentice series by Dave Wolverton and Jude Watson. Officials in the "Golden Triangle" area had set up evacuation routes and a shelter system of sorts in response to the slow evacuation of residents prior to Hurricane Lili. "If you're not in the evacuation zone, follow the news," he said, advising people to use common sense. After heavy traffic snarled roads leading out of town and gas shortages left numerous vehicles stranded, he backed off on this.

On Wednesday, Houston mayor Bill White urged residents to evacuate the city, telling residents, "Don't wait; the time for waiting is over," and reminding residents of the disaster in New Orleans. These evacuation-destination cities included Austin, College Station, San Antonio, Dallas, Huntsville, and Lufkin, Texas. Also, different zones were to be forced to go to certain cities in Texas and were not allowed to exit their designated routes except for food and gas - another feature of the evacuation plan which hoped to keep traffic and flow orderly throughout this timeframe. Officials of Harris County hoped that the designation of zones A, B, and C would be able to prevent bottlenecks leaving the area such as those seen out of New Orleans prior to Katrina and Hurricane Dennis this year.

Nonetheless, many residents remained in the county because they were either unaware of the danger of the storm or believed that it was more important to protect their belongings, particularly in the wake of looting following Hurricane Katrina. Officials in Galveston County (which includes the city of Galveston), which was devastated by the Galveston Hurricane of 1900, ordered mandatory evacuations, effective September 21 at 6 p.m., in a staggered sequence setting different zones in the area which were due to leave at different times over 24 hours, well in advance of the storm's possible landfall later in the week but not enough in advance to ensure that all residents could evacuate safely in advance of the storm. Highway 290 northwest to Bryan/College Station. ^[6] On September 22, Governor Perry and the Texas Department of Transportation implemented a contraflow lane reversal on Interstate 45 north towards Dallas, on Interstate 10 west towards San Antonio and U.S.

Texas Governor Rick Perry recalled all emergency personnel, including almost 1,200 Texas National Guard from Katrina recovery efforts, in anticipation of Hurricane Rita's arrival. In addition, residents of Cameron Parish, Calcasieu Parish, and parts of Jefferson Davis Parish and Vermillion Parish were told to evacuate ahead of the storm. ^[5]. The original breaches had occurred a month earlier as a result of Hurricane Katrina.

Although Rita remained well to the south and west of New Orleans, a pre-landfall storm surge overwhelmed a levee protecting the lower 9th Ward ^[3], a part of a fragile and already compromised levee system as repairs continued ^[4] At landfall, more parts of the levee wall were breached causing major reflooding in New Orleans. ^[2] However, as Rita developed in the Gulf of Mexico, the reopening was cancelled and a re-evacuation of the city was initiated on September 21 as the storm was initially forecast to make landfall much closer to the city. Before Rita, the mayor of New Orleans, Ray Nagin, had planned to begin reopening the city after the damage caused by Hurricane Katrina on September 19. Hurricane Rita was the third (now fourth) most intense hurricane on record in the Atlantic basin and the most intense hurricane on record in the Gulf of Mexico, taking over the latter record set by Hurricane Katrina only three weeks earlier.

Rita has broken multiple records, being the earliest 17th named storm, the third (now fourth) most intense storm, and quickest drop of pressure in one hour. The Hydrometeorological Prediction Center ceased monitoring Tropical Depression Rita early on September 26. Rita's remnants -- technically an extensive low pressure area -- moved quickly out of the lower Mississippi Valley region and were absorbed by a cold front. Rita lost both hurricane and tropical storm status on the same day as its landfall.

Rita's wind field was so intense that it destroyed or disabled several weather buoys. "Rita is the strongest storm that I've ever been in," he commented. Warren Madden, a Hurricane Hunter and meteorologist for The Weather Channel, recorded a peak wind gust of 235 mph (380 km/h) while in the eye of the storm. Col.

Lt. (NASA clip depicting the history of the storm before landfall). Hurricane Rita's rapid intensification may in part be attributed to its encounter with the Gulf Loop Current and Eddy Vortex. CDT, the advisory said that Rita's maximum sustained winds had increased to 175 mph (280 km/h) with an estimated minimum pressure of 897 mbar (hPa), (26.59 inHg).

At 10:00 p.m. CDT, a reconnaissance aircraft recorded a pressure reading of 899 mbar (hPa), but it was thought to actually be lower since the reading was not from the center. At 6:50 p.m. CDT (19:55 UTC), another update was issued, saying Rita had strengthened into a Category 5 storm with maximum wind speeds of 165 mph (265 km/h).

Less than two hours later, at 3:55 p.m. CDT (1815 UTC) said that Rita's maximum winds had increased to 150 mph (240 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 920 mbar (hPa). An update issued at 2:15 p.m. Rita continued to gain strength unabated.

At that advisory, Rita's maximum sustained winds increased to 140 mph (225 km/h). EDT on September 21. EDT on September 20 to 11 a.m. The National Hurricane Center's official advisories, issued every three hours, showed strengthening at every single advisory from 5 p.m.

As Hurricane Rita entered the Gulf of Mexico, it rapidly increased in intensity. The warm water in the Gulf of Mexico, which was at the time 1 °F (0.5 °C) above average, was very favorable for hurricane development. Four hours later, another special update stated that Rita had reached Category 2 strength with 100 mph (160 km/h) maximum sustained winds. EDT that morning showed that Rita had closed the eyewall and winds clearly reached hurricane strength.

Aerial reconnaissance data released at 9:45 a.m. Rita was slow to become a hurricane; discussions early on September 20 showed that wind translations to surface level were indeed at 75 mph (120 km/h), however, the lack of a complete eyewall meant that the National Hurricane Center kept Rita as a tropical storm with 70 mph (110 km/h) winds overnight. A mandatory evacuation had been ordered for the entire Florida Keys. It became the 17th tropical storm of the season on September 18, less than a day after forming.

A surface low formed near it, and the season's 18th tropical depression formed soon thereafter east of the Turks and Caicos Islands. The storm formed at the tail end of an old frontal boundary, where convection and low level circulation around an upper level low steadily developed for over two days. Rita was in fact the third seventeenth storm of any season to form since naming of tropical storms began in 1950, but in the 1969 season many tropical storms went unnamed due to the lack of sophisticated forecasting systems; the seventeenth storm of 1969 was Hurricane Martha. Rita's name itself is a significant indicator of the activity of the 2005 hurricane season: only once before had a name starting with 'R' been used for an Atlantic storm, in 1995 for Hurricane Roxanne.

. The storm killed just 6 people but caused 113 indirect deaths; damage estimates are around $9 billion (2005 US dollars). Post-landfall damage was extensive in the coastal areas in southwestern Louisiana and extreme southeastern Texas. A day prior to landfall, the resultant storm surge also reopened some of the levee breaches caused by Hurricane Katrina a month earlier, and reflooded parts of New Orleans.

The storm first struck Florida after making an approach near Cuba and went on to strike Texas and Louisiana. It was the second-most powerful hurricane of the season (behind Hurricane Wilma) and the fourth most intense hurricane ever in the Atlantic Basin. Hurricane Rita was the seventeenth named tropical storm, tenth hurricane, fifth major hurricane, and second Category 5 hurricane of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season. Estimated repair time: two weeks to a month.

Damage: two cooling towers and a flare stack. Valero, Port Arthur, Texas, 250,000 b/d