Posted on 09/12/2008 5:12:09 AM PDT by NautiNurse
Large and dangerous Hurricane Ike approaching the Upper Texas coast. Mandatory evacuations began in earnest Thursday as an estimated one million coastal residents headed inland. There were widespread reports of gas stations running out of fuel.
The National Weather Service posted dire storm surge predictions of 20-25 ft storm surge along the coast and bay heads. Hurricane warnings covered a 400 mile swath of the Gulf of Mexico.
Wholesale gasoline prices spiked 30 percent Thursday, or nearly $1 a gallon, out of fear of what Ike might do.
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
KHOU Houston
ABC 13 News Houston
FOX News Houston
KPLC Lake Charles
KFDM 6 Beaumont/Port Arthur
KKBMT 12 Beaumont
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 II
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)
"Houston" covers a VERY large area... most of downtown is 45-50' elevation. Even areas just a few miles from the coast are at 25-30'. That's why, massive evacuation of the whole area isn't really needed.
But.. there are LOTS and LOTS of homes and people who live in areas less than 15' and within a few miles of Galveston Bay and Clear Lake. Anyone staying in those areas is in serious danger.
There’s a good bit around the Golden Triangle (Port Arthur, Beaumont, Orange), other than that, not a lot at all.
According to some reports on this thread it's too late; the roads to Galveston island are already covered by water.
“According to some reports on this thread it’s too late; the roads to Galveston island are already covered by water”
:(
Good link. They were just saying that water has been turned off in Galveston.
Now they're saying the whole city of Galveston has cut off water for drinking and sewerage. The city has also issued curfew, I think he said 8p-5a through September 14th.
I know. Starting to get a bit of a breeze in the Inwood north area. Picked up my yard stuff to avoid breaking windows.
KHOU is saying that some viewer called in about places in Memorial park area where people left out patio furniture, trash and stuff.
The surge models are so very scary. Galveston is going to be completely changed.
Well...not ALL structures... some of the stone buildings survived the 1900 Storm. They'll still be there..
But.. there's not enough of them to protect 30,000 people.
Sigh.... 108 years later.. and, we STILL haven't learned a thing.
KPRC - Channel 2.
I am sure they are streaming, but don’t have the link.
Hey no one is picking on you! we want you safe FReeper FRiend
and McCuda need your vote in November!
Agreed.
Watch now, folks.
This is history that will be spoken of a century from now.
I’m with you on the tent-pitching thing!
;-)
I would think even in the upland areas there is a pretty big threat from flash floods. I have been through winds in the 200MPH area and no real structural damage to my house (I designed it to withstand a nucular attack - well almost). The problem is stupidity (i.e. trying to get 100% reliability 100% of the time from a levee system AKA N.O. LA ) or be in an area that gets consistent steady head on winds in the 30-50 MPH range with a gradual bottom off shore and elevations below 20 feet or so.
I am not in imminent danger. I’m am high and dry. Most of my neighbors are still here, only about 10% have left the area. We’re in a good spot. Rita was nothing here, not a single thing. We’ve had worse afternoon thunderstorms that that. Alicia was a non-event also. Alison, a little flooding around us but we were high and dry. I would not stay if I thought I was in danger. I did evacuate for Rita but my mother rode it out and it hit her (east of us) instead of us. Her house was over 40 years old and she had some limbs down but no damage to the house. I am not worried about this one either. We have a big truck if flooding started too early, we could be out of here in a few minutes.
Andthey have had .... WARNING!
Your tax dollars are NOT enough to place another person in danger’s way - TSK TSK!
I understand. Your husband and you are independent and very well-prepared. But your own example of a life-threatening injury is what prompted me to ask for a clarification. I hope things turn out well for you. I'll be thinking of you.
150 people trapped on Bolivar now.
Trying helicopter rescue.
Hope none of the rescuers are hurt.
What’s things look like in your area?
I just went out to procure a little more cash (no problem, incidentally), and took Kirkwood south to Westheimer, then Westheimer west to Dairy Ashford, whence north to Briar Forest, then back home.
Houses are being boarded up all along Briar Forest, but they’re the ones with the big plate-glass windows.
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