Posted on 09/10/2008 2:18:37 PM PDT by 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
Houston/Galveston Long Range Radar
Corpus Christi Long Range Radar
Brownsville Long Range Radar Lake Charles Long Range Radar
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Additional Resources:
Navy Tropical Cyclone
Storm Pulse Very cool site
ABC 13 News Houston
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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)
I’ve got family that left Corpus last night for Houston. So, now they are headed to Louisiana and relatives in Kinder. My sister in law and nieces in Houston are headed towards Louisiana as well. I was really hoping this thing would go a lot further south and hit in cow country. :(
SH Rider High School( Wichita Falls) and Sulfer Springs are on national tv @ espn tonight playin football
If the storm comes ashore, as predicted, with ~ 120-130 mph winds... where you are, you can expect Tropical Storm force winds...(>35 mph) continuously for more than 24 hours straight.
You will have hurricane force wind (>74 Mph) continuously for ~8 hours straight.
And, your maximum sustained winds will probably top out at ~ 100-110 MPH.
Most well constructed brick homes can withstand that... Although, you could have a little roof, fence, or other type damage. You WILL lose power... probably, for a LONG time... (at least 1 week...perhaps 1-2 weeks)
Unless you live in a mobile home, an apartment, or are surrounded by HUGE trees, or have a medical condition that leaves you unable to do without power... you're probably better off staying where you are than trying to go anywhere now.
But... you NEED to be prepared.. for NO stores... NO gas stations.. NO power...for several days.. up to a week.
I can promise you... it will be scary as hell ALL NIGHT.... the sound that wind makes is unbelievable.. and, the "not knowing" how bad it will get makes it quite a mental strain. But...you'll probably live. :-)
changing my tagline as well.
The grocery stores are crazy here. Bought the normal groceries plus some extra beer and snacks for the kiddos.
I suppose I am as ready as I can be - need to clean up the backyard and what not.
I am kinda hoping my fence blows down - it needs replacing and an insurance deductible is cheaper than a new fence :)
on a side note - Why do people buy cases and cases of bottled water, I have six 6 gallon water jugs that I fill up for plenty of drinking water.
I have to begin storing the stuff in my backyard in the garage.
Do you think my concrete figures (about 2 to 3 ft) will be okay if I just lay them down. How about very heavy large pots with dirt and plants? I have alot of garden yard art and I sure don’t feel like lugging everything into the garage that I don’t have to. The lighter items of course, baskets, etc., I will store.
It is hard to predict for sure though...
The storm seems to be having some trouble getting it’s act together. Time is running out for Ike.. so, maybe he comes on ashore before getting that much stronger...
If so.. you may only lose power for a couple of hours.. or, not at all.
From where you are though... it’ll mostly be like a really bad thunderstorm that just goes on for a really long time.
One thing for sure though, you’ll have a memory and and a story that you’ll NEVER forget! :-)
yes... 2-3 ft concrete items should be safe...
Gnomes don’t travel far, even in high wind.
LOL! Thanks, gnomes and angels with wings!
I wish my parents had bought me beer to go with my snacks when i was a kiddo.
And here comes Ike.
“The Galveston sea wall is 17 feet high, so may get overtopped.”
... Which means the West End is... gone.
Wrap it up. The liquor store aint staying open all day.
/Clayton Williams has some advice for Houston
:)to keep from :(
the question is, how "gone" is "gone"? The erosion could potentially leave those mansions on stilts beyond the new tideline. of course, those houses are built up about 12 feet so a 15 foot surge would mean they would be taking the waves head on. Potentially thousands of beach houses could be reduced to nothing but the pilings.
That should keep the kids quiet!
Sounds like the humblegunner school of parenting.
Who’da thought we’d have to start making hurricane preparations in Arkansas, but after four days without electricity from Gustav, that’s what I’m doing.
Keeps the little buggers quiet and happy.
I think I’ll fill up a gas can or two tonight (already have 10 gallons in the shed). Chain saw is ready. Looks like gas prices are already rising locally.
No, we won't get drunk. Four folks and one bottle of champagne? Not likely.
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