Posted on 09/12/2008 11:29:13 PM PDT by NautiNurse
The eyewall of Hurricane Ike crossed Galveston Island in the early hours of Saturday morning. Reports indicate as many as 20,000 residents of Galveston Island chose not to evacuate as storm surge engulfed the island. The Freeport Chief of Police reported as many as 2000 residents did not evacuate as flood waters swamped coastal communities. There are widespread reports of power outages and coastal flooding throughout the Texas/Louisiana region. The U.S. Coast Guard received hundreds of calls Friday afternoon to rescue people stranded by flood waters along the barrier islands and Galveston Bay communities.
Multiple fires broke out in the Greater Houston area fueled by strong winds. Fire fighting efforts were hampered by flood waters. Brennan's Restaurant, a landmark in Houston, burned to the ground. A 584-foot freighter crippled in the Gulf of Mexico and its crew of 22 survived the storm after The U.S. Coast Guard was forced to abort rescue efforts Friday afternoon due to foul weather
Gulf Coast wholesale gasoline prices jumped to nearly $5 a gallon over fears that water and wind damage could keep the facilities closed for days or longer. Oil companies had shut down 97.5 percent of production in the Gulf of Mexico by Friday morning and were battening down refineries and petrochemical plants in an area that accounts for one-fifth of U.S. refining capacity.
Exxon Mobil reported evacuating workers from its Gulf Coast offshore platforms and onshore facilities in the anticipated path of Ike, shutting down daily production of about 36,000 barrels of oil and 270 million cubic feet of gas..
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 |
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Previous Threads:
Hurricane Ike Live Thread III
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)
Not sure what time this was posted, but
I’m assuming it was after the worst. It
looks and seems to be the sturdiest structure
in Galveston, and they had the top floor
areas for safety. Lots of updates on the site.
~~~~
http://www.texas-fire.com/2008/09/13/ike-fire-updates-from-around-texas/
“In Galveston, Fire Chief Michael Varela, speaking to reporters in the San Luis Hotel, where the city’s mayor and emergency personnel are staying, said they would respond to needs on the west end of the island first, since it was hardest hit.
At least eight to 10 feet of water was on the streets when they ceased operations, and the second half of the storm, which came after that point, was far worse than the first, he said.
Asked how hard he believed Galveston had been hit, Varela said: ”For us, one to 10, I’d say it’s a 10.”
~~~~
Galveston city officials continue to huddle in the San Luis Hotel, a lavish property along the beach. This afternoon, employees had placed towels on the floor of the lobby, which was drenched with flood waters.
~~~~
Officials have not assessed damages yet but FOX 26 reports Cars parked on the first level of the San Luis Hotel were completed submerged in water at one point. Meanwhile, trees lay on the floor from the winds that toppled them over.
Not trying to convience you. People make mistakes though. I wish the women would have been putting the puppies in a pillow slip while the men were getting the boat though.
No.
I am listening to Fox News Radio via foxnews.com, and there are people calling talking about how neighbors are pulling together in some of the areas Ike hit. They are sharing supplies, helping their neighbors remove trees so they can get out of their homes, neighbors that were formerly strangers to each other taking each other in...some inspiring calls coming in...Shows the resourcefulness and the real American spirit.
” ... to turn back because of ‘fog’” I’m hoping that is why they turned them back.”
You have a suspicious mind... me too... I hope so, too.
No, it didn’t sound right at the time either. People listening to them on the radio simulcast started to phone in asking them to go to the end and they said they could not because of the visibility. I did see a little low hanging scud type clouds, but after hearing about the disappearing islands I wonder if they were told to get out by the authorities?
Hm, note to self: Figure out some way to make a kitty lifejacket.
Isn’t it normally crystal clear after a storm? I’ve never heard of post hurricane fog.
Are they from Galveston or Houston?
Are you getting the rain from this system that has been over us in IL all day yet? If not, we would be happy to send you some:)
I haven't heard from them since Monday. I'm guessing they went to stay with their kids in Houston, although they all may have moved more inland to get out of the way of the storm.
Prayers up to everyone in the path of the storm, and hoping my friends - Pat and Chrissy - got through it safely.
prisoner6
I bought bathing suits with floats built into the top for my grandkids. They make clothes for pets. Just sew some panels in :’)
Every time when hurricane season is upon us I look at this generator.
Ask a Texan about the weather there. I know when MY eyes have a tendency to get fogged up, though...
Such behavior is not at all uncommon in Texas and has been observed after many disasters here.
OK... I didn’t realize that such grills are quite that ubiquitous in Texas.
Only houses and a few businesses.
And an old lighthouse on the west end that survived the storm of 1900.
You may want to look into a solar-powered battery charger as well. Those are relatively inexpensive.
I’m sure hope “fog” isn’t code for “Frightful On top of Ghastly”
I’m sorry, I have no idea. I believe it’s Houston as they are saying “the Houston area”. The news station is identified as KTRH, and they are talking a lot about Harris County & High Water. Sorry I can’t be of more help as I don’t know Texas geography.
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