Hurricane Ike Live Thread Part II

NOAA/NHC ^ | 10 September 2008 | NOAA/NHC

[NautiNurse]

Texas began issuing mandatory and voluntary evacuations as Hurricane Ike continued to strengthen and slowly moved toward an uncertain landfall destination in the western Gulf of Mexico. Texas Governor Rick Perry issued a disaster declaration in advance of the storm. Louisiana Governor Jindal released several hundred buses to Texas for evacuation assistance.

Reports from Cuba indicate widespread damage from Hurricane Ike, which raked the length of the island nation. The U.S. State Department again offered Cuba humanitarian assistance after a previous offer was declined by the Cuban government.

The stock market Wednesday rose as investors bought oil stocks and and oill futures fell.

Public Advisory Updated every 3 hours

Discussion Updated every 6 hours

Buoy data: Western Gulf of Mexico

Forecast Models

Houston/Galveston Long Range Radar
Corpus Christi Long Range Radar
Brownsville Long Range Radar Lake Charles Long Range Radar

Ike
Single Image		Image Loop
Lat/Lon	No Lat/Lon	Short	Long
Visible	Visible	Visible	Visible
Shortwave	Shortwave	Shortwave	Shortwave
Water Vapor	Water Vapor	Water Vapor	Water Vapor
Infrared Channel 4 Enhancements
None	None	None	None
AVN	AVN	AVN	AVN
Dvorak	Dvorak	Dvorak	Dvorak
JSL	JSL	JSL	JSL
RGB	RGB	RGB	RGB
Funktop	Funktop	Funktop	Funktop
Rainbow	Rainbow	Rainbow	Rainbow

Additional Resources:

Navy Tropical Cyclone
Storm Pulse Very cool site

ABC 13 News Houston
FOX News Houston
KRIS-TV Corpus Christi
KZTV Corpus Christi

Brazoria County Emergency Management
Galveston County Emergency Management
Chambers Country Emergency Management
Liberty County Emergency Management

Category	Wind Speed	Barometric Pressure	Storm Surge	Damage Potential
Tropical Depression	< 39 mph < 34 kts			Minimal
Tropical Storm	39 - 73 mph 34 - 63 kts			Minimal
Hurricane 1 (Weak)	74 - 95 mph 64 - 82 kts	28.94" or more 980.02 mb or more	4.0' - 5.0' 1.2 m - 1.5 m	Minimal damage to vegetation
Hurricane 2 (Moderate)	96 - 110 mph 83 - 95 kts	28.50" - 28.93" 965.12 mb - 979.68 mb	6.0' - 8.0' 1.8 m - 2.4 m	Moderate damage to houses
Hurricane 3 (Strong)	111 - 130 mph 96 - 112 kts	27.91" - 28.49" 945.14 mb - 964.78 mb	9.0' - 12.0' 2.7 m - 3.7 m	Extensive damage to small buildings
Hurricane 4 (Very strong)	131 - 155 mph 113 - 135 kts	27.17" - 27.90" 920.08 mb - 944.80 mb	13.0' - 18.0' 3.9 m - 5.5 m	Extreme structural damage
Hurricane 5 (Devastating)	Greater than 155 mph Greater than 135 kts	Less than 27.17" Less than 920.08 mb	Greater than 18.0' Greater than 5.5m	Catastrophic building failures possible

Previous Threads:
Hurricane Ike Live Thread I
TS Hanna, Hurricane Ike & TS Josephine [Other than that, the tropics are calm]
Tropical Storms Hanna, Ike and Josephine, TD Gustav (Other than that, the tropics are calm)

[alancarp]

Then there's the 1900 Galveston hurricane --- this track is strikingly (no pun intended) similar to Ike.

http://www.photolib.noaa.gov/htmls/wea00590.htm

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

I wish NHC could correct or note that somehow in their graphic.”

Maybe regression analysis?

[TheMom]

AMEN to the hurricane being the reason for a new roof.

Tell your friend not to hold their breath . . . Eaker luck will be involved, which means they are sh$t outta luck.

[lonestar]

That’s why I don’t watch TWC anymore—it’s more political than accurate.

[Xenalyte]

Hey, Brady, where in West Houston, if you don’t my asking?

I’m at Briar Forest and Kirkwood, so Westchase, and a few other FReepers are in this vicinity.

[Xenalyte]

So we get no new AC? Dammit. Oh, well, perhaps we can at least justify a new back deck after the carnage.

[Xenalyte]

So we get no new AC? Dammit. Oh, well, perhaps we can at least justify a new back deck after the carnage.

[SouthTexas]

Keep your head down, looks like you’re more in the line of fire than we are anymore.

[Xenalyte]

So we get no new AC? Dammit. Oh, well, perhaps we can at least justify a new back deck after the carnage.

[figgers3036]

I’m halfway between downtown Houston and Galveston, and thinking this gives me a good excuse to go visit friends up in Dallas.

I’m in an apartment, though, any suggestions on what I can do to prepare? It’s looking like the complex isn’t boarding up, so I’m moving everything away from windows, of course, but I’m mainly worried about a tree nailing my windows.

I’m fortunate to have a place to go to. I’ll keep everyone in my prayers, and I hope you’ll do the same for us here.

[BradyBug]

I am at Westheimer and Westerland (2 blocks east of Gessner).

I have been working on my Spec’s list to make sure we have everything we need (Gin, Vodka, Beer)

I already have plenty of ammo, propane and other stuff.

Worst case we can all hunker down somewhere and pool resources. I have enough camping stuff should we lose power for and extended time frame.

Take care and good luck - Stephen (BradyBug is my 5 year old son)

[TheMom]

When Beulah hit my parents were in the middle of a divorce (which was unheard of back then). Mother was in a “it’s about me” and “screw their father” phase. We were kids ~ we did not get it. We were excited to be staying in a hotel - something really new to us. Till the day I die, I will never forget my younger brother saying, “Whoa cool, the roof is coming up.”

Truly we were lucky, because that storm caused a whole lot of damage to that area.

[Jaded]

The absolute worst part of Rita was evacuating. I won’t do that nightmare again. I know many many people who left Pasadena/Deer Park the last time who won’t be leaving either.

[Xenalyte]

You are right around the corner from us! My grandpa used to live at Treemont.

If you get any chance tomorrow or Friday, you should head to the downtown Spec’s — it’s the annual Cheesefest! I am making a special trip, because one cannot have enough cheese.

BTW, Eaker and TheMom are also close to us. Bacon Man and Hap (my best friends IRL) are a bit further out, but are always well-set-up for munitions. We have quite the zombie-defense cabal.

[Xenalyte]

Holy cat! I can just hear my brother (seven years behind me) saying something like that, and me being JUST old enough to freak out.

[TheMom]

Hey Star - We are watching the forecast very closely; Eaker & I live in far west Houston, an area that is not known for receiving hurricane damage or high water.

[Jaded]

All kinds of people are in place along the coast. Because the media doesn’t cover it don’t mean.... you know the drill.

[TheMom]

I am hoping that you guys get a new A/C . . . that might mean we get a new roof.

[Xenalyte]

I would promise to keep my fingers crossed, but I got more combat rehearsal Friday night and that makes handling a rapier very difficult.

[NautiNurse]

I would recommend putting electronics and other personally valuable items that you aren’t taking with you into garbage bags, and put them in your bathtub/shower.