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:
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KHOU Houston
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KFDM 6 Beaumont/Port Arthur
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KRIS-TV Corpus Christi
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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)
Weren’t snakes the serpent?
I’m sorry, God didn’t give me nerves enough to attempt a rattlesnake rescue under any circumstances.
It was on the porch in the pics she sent me over the phone. When we had an ice storm last winter, my grandbabies Dr. put his generater in his garage and just about killed his whole family. Book smart, not common sense.
Lehman Bros .. see Drudge Report.... global financial impact.
Ice storm? What’s that? :’)
It doesn’t matter now. All we can do is get things running again ASAP.
Perhaps so, but God didn’t make exceptions in what we were supposed to take care of, even after the Fall.
Besides, it’s not *exactly* that dangerous with armor on. :D God didn’t say we had to be stupid about it.
It’s everywhere ... major and historic flooding this weekend in Chicago and worse in suburbs. County mgr (Cook Cty .. a jerk) has declared it a a disaster zone ... wanting Fed bucks.
Gotta feel and pray for all the folks suffering with big loss and troubles, especially in TX, and all the other places that storms, wind and floods are affecting.
Got .04" inch of rain, max sustained wind a bit less than 30 MPH.
Austin got less of both. Wife had driven down from Sherman Friday night, and then went on to Austin to see the grandbabies. Tried to talk her out of it, but we had lots of alternate plans depending on what the storm did. As it worked out, I drove down just after lunch on Saturday. We were both back in Killeen about 9:30 PM or so.
Had to go to the Killeen airport to gather up my luggage from a TDY to San Diego. I made the flight from Dallas on Friday, albeit about 45 minutes late, but my luggage did not. I wasn't alone in that. One guy was going to pick his up as he went into work on Monday (we work about 1,000 yards from the north end of the runway).
OK .. I thought you said it wasn’t down for you.
Glad I found out about this beta site ... bookmarked it pronto.
I guess it is our natural disaster, after tornadoes of course. Does tornado have an e on it? Dan Quail taught me to read and write. Ha
Actually that's more like two million customers. A customer can be an entire apartment complex. There are actually about five million people in the area without power, and also many without water.
I made the decision today to leave town. It might be some time before things return to normal - even for those of us who live several miles north of downtown Houston.
Checking in.....
We have lights and water.
Lost a few tree many limbs and part of a fence. In the hood a few houses lost siding and shingles. Everyone lost part of a fence. Most had broken tree limbs. One very large tree fell in to the street on the main street in the subdivision. The amazing thing beyond that was the fact that none of the many cars parked in driveways were not damaged.
I much prefer the storm during the day. I was okay until the lights went out and I lost FR(really). The howling winds bothered me alot. At about 2 I looked out side to see 3 incredibly tall pine trees dancing. I know that sounds bizarre, but that’s the only way to explain it.
Background then rant....
I’m 46 dwf. Live with 70 year old mother. 10 miles from the water in LaPorte and in the flight path of Ellington Field
Some of the menfolk neighbors helped secure the house and made sure we were okay. Before and after the hurricane.
The lights were out for 38 hours and water was out/low for about 4.
As soon as the winds died down and the rain slowed cargo planes began landing at Ellington. They are still landing today. Several neighbors commented on it.
This morning there were people selling generators at retail near my home. The local police (3) were there to help keep things moving. There will be another semi with generators there in the morning. I know, I bought one. (the old one wouldn’t work)
Several miles away on 45 there were several semi loads of ice and water being delivered.
It is estimated that 97% of Centerpoint’s customers were with out power. On Friday, to Centerpoint’s credit they had staging areas set up and ready to go after the storm.
Several stores opened in limited capacity to provide for people who couldn’t be bothered before hand. To be fair open for others who required different things.
All that said...
This has been some of the most hysterical irresponsible reporting I have ever seen. KTRK’s (ABC) Wayne Dolcifino ranks near Geraldo for being a complete a$$. Since when does Dolcifino have a right to photograph dead bodies and call it information? He is absolute contemptible scum.
The local officials starting with Sheila Jackson Lee and Mayor Bill White have drawn the usual political line in the death and destruction of Ike.
The call ins to radio and tv were predictable. One person called early Saturday morning to complain that she was out of power and where were the crews. I heard a lady blathering about she had no food, water or ice for her chirens and where was the government to help. (we had a battery operated radio that I wanted to throw against the wall. I was the picture of self restraint.)
I’m so disgusted with the media and democratic leadership I can’t see straight.
Glad you heard from her. Where is she staying?
The remnants of Ike are being blamed for the death of two golfers on the eastern side of Nashville this morning. I can see this golf course from my neighborhood. I knew it was windy this morning, but I had no idea it was killer gusts! I had already left for worship services when it happened, so I didn’t hear or see the commotion.
http://www.newschannel5.com/Global/story.asp?S=9006849
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Strong winds are being blamed for the deaths of two golfers. At the Hermitage Golf Course, a tree fell on their golf cart. The golf course was closed as police investigated what happened.
Strong winds across middle Tennessee caused a lot damaged and the death of two men. Jason Proffitt, 32, and Joseph Carter, 63, both of Pleasant View, Tennessee, were found dead after a tree fell on their golf cart while both were inside.
This tragic accident has sadden a lot of people and shows how dangerous mother nature can be.
It was shortly before 9:00 a.m. Sunday, when strong winds at Hermitage Golf course caused the massive tree to fall.
“We saw people running, but we didn’t know that anybody was hurt until we got down. We were about 500 yard away from where the tree fell,” said witness Denny Kilmo.
Sky 5 captured video above the accident on the General’s Retreat section of the course.
“We went over there and tried to get to them, but we couldn’t get to them,” said a man who saw the accident as it was happening and tried to help the victims.
“There were a number of people coming to render aid, but there was nothing we could do because we couldn’t move the tree,” said Kilmo.
Fire fighters, ambulances, and police rushed to the golf course, forcing all golfers off the course. It was sad for many people as the news spread about the accident.
Firefighters said when winds are as strong as they were Sunday morning, everyone should try to stay clear from possible falling debris.
“If you’re in a wooded area, or if you’re outside, I would be extremely cautious where I am, especially with the wind this high,” said Rick Taylor, Fire Chief with the Metro Fire Department.
Strong winds also caused damaged in other parts of the metro area. There were also some heavy downpours throughout the afternoon. Several other areas, including Montgomery, Stewart, Henry, and Rutherford counties had reports of downed trees and power lines.
We have Texas ice storms here too. Frozen baseballs just fall out of the sky:')
It surely is horrible damage. Wow .. you must have a BIG hacienda for all that family .. LOL.
Wonderful that you’ve got an open house and heart for them. Whatta guy .... !
Galveston Island is beyond description. Have you seen this?
http://snarkfood.com/coast-guard-fly-over-of-galveston-island-texas/
I pray for them all ... and so many hundreds and hundreds of thousands of folks who’ve been so wounded by Ike. God be with them.
Take care ... and keep us posted on the doings with your group.
I’d read on the Chron website... someone who had gone to San Antonio today said that the inbound traffic to Houston was horrible starting at Columbus. He said that it was hampering the supply trucks coming in to the gulf coast.
She is at her mother’s house with her aunt, her mother’s friend, and a family that lives next to her that had to leave their home because of the water. did you read my private reply to you?
A big ground level Housing Project in East St. Louis (on the Illinois side) got flooded today also - It won’t be long before they start asking for their $2500.00 Hurricane Ike FEMA Money Card. The East St. Louis Mayor was on the news showing off all the damage to the housing project.
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