[jeffers]

What worries me now are localized pockets of very heavy damage, with attendant casualties. West end of Galveston, potential breaching, west coast of the Bay, up past Port Arthur over to Lake Charles, Orange especially has some serious reports and the water is still rising...

No massive widespread catastrophe, but the potential for tens of casualties in one location remains.

That beats the predictions of thousands dead we were hearing last night, by a long long way.

[lainie]

the Houston Chronicle spoke with Galveston Fire Department Chief Michael A. Varela, Sr., who says the west end of town will be their first stop for rescues. "For us, one to 10, I'd say it's a 10," Varela says of the potential damage to Galveston.

crossing my fingers..

[AFPhys]

Despite having hit land starting over 12 hours ago, Ike still looks like a very well organized hurricane over placid waters, in the 1730 satellite visible. Quite remarkable.