Thanks for posting that storm surge graphic, it is especially useful for Beaumont and western LA. Unfortunately it is somewhat incomplete in the Houston area. Here are links to more detailed storm surge risk maps for each county in the Houston area.
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/hgx/tropical/evac_map/gifs/
I'm afraid from some posts last night that there still are freepers living deep within the storm surge areas who either don't realize that or understand the actual dangers.
Nautinurse, will you please add the above links and one to the map in post #934 to the storm surge maps at the start of the next thread? Very important info. Houston's Office of Emergency Mgmt estimates that there are more than 100,000 homes in these storm surge areas that would be destroyed (not just damaged) by a Cat. 5 hit somewhere between Freeport and 20 miles east of Galveston.
I actually do think most Houston/Galveston residents realize the storm surge in these areas. Unless they have never turned on the radio or TV, they have seen this graphic. These areas are on the mandatory evacuation areas. Houston is prepared. I just don't think they were prepared for the amount of traffic that would be coming out of Houston.