The good news on now-Tropical Depression Rita: she’s not going to stall out, as previously predicted, but instead will move away to the northeast, according to the 11:00 PM EDT NHC discussion:

THE DEPRESSION IS CERTAINLY CAPABLE OF PRODUCING LARGE RAINFALL TOTALS FOR AT LEAST THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS… EVEN THOUGH IT IS FORECAST TO MOVE A LITTLE FASTER TOWARD THE NORTHEAST THAN THE PREVIOUS ADVISORY…AND PERHAPS MERGE WITH A FRONT IN ABOUT THREE DAYS AS SUGGESTED BY MOST OF THE GLOBAL MODELS.

If that new forecast pans out, there will be less inland flooding than expected, and no sequel. Here’s the official track:

The 11:00 PM was the National Hurricane Center’s final advisory on Rita. Further advisories will come from the Hydrometeorological Prediction Center.

The bad news: In coastal towns in southern Louisiana, the water is still rising for some reason — in some cases 6-12 inches per hour — and people are getting stuck in their flooded homes, including some people who evacuated and then returned too soon! According to Anderson Cooper on CNN, Governor Blanco says as many as 300 people may still be trapped. A major search-and-rescue operation is underway.

CNN also obtained some incredible video taken by a guy whose home was invaded by flood waters this morning. You could see all sorts of household appliances floating around.