Hurricane Ike Live Thread IV

NOAA/NHC ^ | 14 September 2008 | NOAA/NHC

[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

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

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 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)

[shield]

Living in the area and working in those areas for years I’m receiving first hand reports from them.

[LA Woman3]

From Leigh Jones Twitter reports....

Beachfront erosion severe. Estimates of at least 200 feet.
4 minutes ago from web

Random updates: 11 people rescued from Flagship last night. They've been there this whole time.
6 minutes ago from web

10 reporters headed to West End with Asst. City Manager Brandon Wade.
8 minutes ago from web

All Daily News reporters and photographers back on the island. We're all headed out to get info. I'm going to West End.
22 minutes ago from web

The southbound lanes of broadway are finally clear of boats and trash.
about 2 hours ago from web

[NautiNurse]

I believe the Associated Press fell for that photo, and the U.K. bought it as news from the AP.

[af_vet_rr]

Why do you think there was a news blackout? It seems strange to me.

I had heard the blackout/restrictions mentioned both on Channel 11 and Channel 13. Once I saw Perry in the press conference confirming that there was a restriction on media access and and then he played around with who had control over those restrictions and the blackout, (local officials, not knowing why the feds restricted access, etc.), that left me feeling uneasy.

Then hearing that the Galveston County Judge had declared that 90% of Bolivar Peninsula had been destroyed and that survivors were going to be removed from Bolivar Peninsula.

That left me really uneasy.

My guess is that many didn't survive. It was already pretty much cut off from flooding before Ike and the surge even got there (and in fact many houses were destroyed by flooding before Ike and the surge got there).

It also bothers me, because we've never seen such restrictions placed on the media by the government (and in this instance it's both local/county government and FEMA/DHS).

If the government doesn't want us to know, they don't need to treat us like children and play around with who has control over access and hem and haw and play dumb. Just tell us up front. Many of us Texans are not liberals - we can handle the truth.

[SE Mom]

The way Bolivar is being handled is pretty weird. I’ve been reading over at the forums on KHOU and it’s all a mystery.

There’s an interview last night with a Gilchrist Fire Dept official who said Gilchrist is literally gone- nothing left standing- the Rollover Pass Bridge is destroyed...I’m not sure if any of the aerials show part of Bolivar- but is does seem there’s a blackout there.

A judge has issued an order to vacate Bolivar Peninsula (is this the judge you’re talking about?)- which seems an odd thing to do- given it’s already been under a mandatory evac order- why is he NOW issuing this order..what’s really going on over there?

http://www.khou.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=27862

[LA Woman3]

Here is the link if anyone wants to keep up the first hand reports. I actually have to work today.
LINK

[shield]

The storm surge area residents who evacuated are being told not to come back yet....tomorrow if water is down and roads are passable.

People are having a hard time finding gas in the Houston area. If you talk to your friends let them know to fill up outside of Houston.

[af_vet_rr]

The way Bolivar is being handled is pretty weird. I’ve been reading over at the forums on KHOU and it’s all a mystery.

It is very mysterious. Putting aside Perry's performance at the press conference (and Perry's acknowledgment that the media isn't being allowed access), it's really weird.

There’s an interview last night with a Gilchrist Fire Dept official who said Gilchrist is literally gone- nothing left standing- the Rollover Pass Bridge is destroyed...I’m not sure if any of the aerials show part of Bolivar- but is does seem there’s a blackout there.

KHOU has interviews with people who talked to US Post Office officials who surveyed Gilchrist and they said Gilchrist is a lost cause, nothing is left.

[STARWISE]

Along with the Ike energy/recovery issues
impacted by Ike, I was including the serious
financial events that were being reported last
night and now in more disturbing detail today.

[NautiNurse]

Looking at the Hi Res Sat Images, there are gaps in the images for Oak Island and San Leon.

[af_vet_rr]

A judge has issued an order to vacate Bolivar Peninsula (is this the judge you’re talking about?)- which seems an odd thing to do- given it’s already been under a mandatory evac order- why is he NOW issuing this order..what’s really going on over there?

This is the judge I'm talking about, and you are absolutely right, it's bizarre that he's ordering a mandatory evacuation (yesterday, the 14th) even though it was already under mandatory evacuation.

Ike Emergency Announcements
Galveston County Office of Emergency Management
News Release Sunday, September 14, 2008
HURRICANE IKE:
ORDER TO VACATE BOLIVAR PENINSULA, GALVESTON COUNTY, TEXAS

Whereas, Hurricane Ike struck Galveston County, Texas on September 12, 2008 and on September 13, 2008 with catastrophic winds and storm surge, inflicting widespread and severe damage, injury, loss of life and property;

Whereas, Bolivar Peninsula in Galveston County, Texas, has suffered extreme and extensive damage from Hurricane Ike and is estimated to be 90% destroyed;

Whereas, the storm surge on Bolivar Peninsula has led to extreme and massive damage;

Whereas, on this day, Bolivar Peninsula remains under water, impassable, inaccessible, and isolated;

Whereas, there is no water, power, or other utility services on Bolivar Peninsula;

Whereas, there are no open stores, other amenities, or means of communication functioning on Bolivar Peninsula;

Whereas, there is no usable infrastructure on Bolivar Peninsula;

Whereas, Galveston County recognizes its obligation under law to preserve and protect public health, safety, and welfare;

Whereas, the County Judge of Galveston County, Texas, has declared a local state of disaster for Galveston County, Texas;

Whereas, the Governor of the State of Texas has proclaimed a state of disaster for Galveston County, Texas;

Whereas, the President of the United States of America has declared a state of disaster covering Galveston County, Texas;

Whereas, on September 11, 2008, the Health and Human Services Secretary of the United States of America, Mike Leavitt, declared a public health emergency in the State of Texas due to Hurricane Ike;

Whereas, rescue efforts are underway on Bolivar Peninsula to continue to locate and rescue survivors;

Whereas, the continuing presence of survivors located on Bolivar Peninsula will hamper and impede ongoing rescue efforts;

Whereas, the continuing presence of survivors located on Bolivar Peninsula will contribute to or exacerbate a public health emergency on Bolivar Peninsula; and

Whereas, Galveston County is facing extraordinary circumstances in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike.

Now Therefore, it is hereby ORDERED by the County Judge of Galveston County, Texas, that:

all survivors located on Bolivar Peninsula shall be and are hereby ORDERED to vacate Bolivar Peninsula; and

this Order shall take effect immediately from and after its issuance.

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, on this, the 14th day of September, 2008.

Signed
James D. Yarbrough,
County Judge of Galveston County, Texas

[texasredtop]

They’ve been watching the news and were aware. They’re bringing back supplies from SATX for themselves and some of the neighbors. Their area has people returning and cleaning up already.

[af_vet_rr]

Here's a link for the order (site can't stay up, it's a local news site):
http://www.guidrynews.com/story.aspx?id=1000011948

[af_vet_rr]

Whoops, that was the same order you had read - KHOU’s site wasn’t coming up for me when I looked, but it’s back now.

[American Quilter]

Those are amazing pics, IM2MAD. Thanks for posting them.

[A knight without armor]

“unbearable” is so relative.

I would never leave my pets behind. I’d be willing to bear a terrible horrible amount. Some of us are goofy like that.

[metmom]

I can’t imagine why that one house remained when everything else was OBLITERATED.

I wonder how many people tried to ride out the storm in that area and if they’ll ever find the bodies.

[shield]

Good.

[NautiNurse]

150 people plus their animals...no water, no sewer...that’s a lot of biological waste products piling up and stench in the air for a small area after two days.

[SE Mom]

There are a few possibilities I guess.

1- Worst case scenario- mass casualities.

2- Because the damage is SO extensive out there- they have decided it is truly unsafe for anyone to try to go back and will result in more emergency rescues being necessary- tying up busy SAR crews for no good reason.

3- Communication is confused and even the officials/authorities are in shock- resulting in weird behavior by everyone.

I can’t think of other reasons- but I’m probably missing something(s).