Hurricane Ike

[Errant Hothy]

The evac orders have started:
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/...e/5993276.html

As the path of Hurricane Ike became clearer, Brazoria County Judge Joe King early today ordered a mandatory evacuation of coastal residents and a voluntary evacuation of the rest of the county.

Prison officials also are meeting to decide whether inmates in some units in the county should be moved to facilities farther inland. Several units elsewhere along the Texas coast have begun moving prisoners to inland units as a precaution.

Residents of ZIP code 77541, which includes Freeport and other coastal regions, are subject to a mandatory evacuation. The evacuation for special-needs residents of 77541 began at 10 a.m., according to Steve Rosa, the county's assistant emergency management coordinator.

Bay City ISD is closed till Monday as well.

[Brando]

[Hardcore Texan]

I was just looking at that on their website, us here in Austin will get some pretty strong winds if it takes that track. And I am supposed to be coming into Houston area Friday, everything is up in the air at this point.

[Specnatz]

Just got a call from relatives in Port Lavaca ...... looks like I will be having company for the weekend.

[eriadoc]

Here's the latest from my folks, as of 12:30PM CDT:

Hurricane Ike continues to get better organized on satellite and is now a borderline CAT 2 hurricane. Latest AF RECON reported 90 mph winds and 957 mb central pressure. We expect the winds will gradually increase to over 100 mph today and CAT 3 intensity tonight. A rapid intensification process is likely to result in Ike reaching CAT 4 and perhaps CAT 5 (briefly) intensity over the central Gulf on an approach to the TX coast late Friday night and early Saturday morning. The latest 12Z model suite has all shifted to the right and as such, we are lowering threat probabilities to the lower TX coast and east of Sabine Pass…increasing threat probabilities along the middle and upper TX coast. Our highest threat area is from 30 mi south of Matagorda Bay to Freeport, TX. This puts most of the Houston/Galveston on the “dirty” side of the storm (unlike Rita) resulting in heavy rain and very strong winds.

The latest GFDL model presents a particularly dangerous situation with a CAT 4 landfall right into Galveston late Friday night and Saturday morning. The implications of this are VERY significant and I expect NHC will adjust their track and intensity forecasts to be closer to the upper TX coast with landfall as a strong CAT 3 or borderline CAT 4. As a result I expect local emergency management to initiate mandatory evacuations along parts of the Upper Texas Coast including the Galveston area.

From an energy perspective…hurricane force winds are expected to impact the western Production area, but impacts should be limited to crude/natural gas shut-ins. Gas refineries along the upper TX coast are likely to be shut down and evacuated as a result of expected forecast changes later this afternoon.

With a storm of CAT 4 making landfall in the “Highest Threat” area listed below, winds along the upper TX coast are likely to be sustained at hurricane force with gusts to near 100 mph at Galveston. Sustained winds of 60-70 mph with gusts to 80-90 mph are possible in the Houston metro.

Individuals should rush their storm preparedness procedures to completion and review plans for possible evacuation in the event they are recommended by local media or emergency officials.

[Brando]

When I was a kid and had no worries, I loved hurricanes, now I hate to even think about them when they form in the Gulf.

[TexansLucky13]

Originally Posted by Brando

When I was a kid and had no worries, I loved hurricanes, now I hate to even think about them when they form in the Gulf.

I still love them. When I was little in Alabama we would get hit constantly by hurricanes. We sat on the porch at my grandmothers house, and when the eye passed over, we would go out and play until it was gone. Those were the days.

Once I become a homeowner my opinion will undoubtedly change, but for now, I just smile.

P.S. - Yay! 4000 posts!

[Brando]

Originally Posted by TexansLucky13

I still love them. When I was little in Alabama we would get hit constantly by hurricanes. We sat on the porch at my grandmothers house, and when the eye passed over, we would go out and play until it was gone. Those were the days.

Once I become a homeowner my opinion will undoubtedly change, but for now, I just smile.

P.S. - Yay! 4000 posts!

You and me both!

It will change when you get older and if you have chidren. I remember sleeping through Hurricane Alicia.

[Hervoyel]

Originally Posted by Brando

You and me both!

It will change when you get older and if you have chidren. I remember sleeping through Hurricane Alicia.

I went out in it. I drove up to the local Del Taco and had a steak and cheese burrito while I watched signs and stuff blow down the street. It was fun.

Now, not so much.

[TexansLucky13]

Originally Posted by Brando

You and me both!

It will change when you get older and if you have chidren. I remember sleeping through Hurricane Alicia.

We both gained a point of Rep Power with our 4000th post. Interesting....

Yep, come to think of it, my sister didn't really like hurricanes. Maybe it's a guy thing.... just the extreme power of it. I don't know. I've seen trees get snapped in half with my own eyes, though, and that was cool. Kinda scary at the same time too.

[Porky]

Originally Posted by eriadoc

Here's the latest from my folks, as of 12:30PM CDT:

Thanks for posting that. Good info. I'm afraid I am going to be right. I had this just a tad south of Freeport when the NHC was south of Corpus. I am sticking to those guns ata this point. I don't think it will be as powerful as what this guy is saying though. But, you never know. I see a borderline cat 2/3 at landfall, maybe around 120mph. Still pretty darn bad even if that is correct.

[Brando]

Originally Posted by Hervoyel

I went out in it. I drove up to the local Del Taco and had a steak and cheese burrito while I watched signs and stuff blow down the street. It was fun.

Now, not so much.

lol I remember my dad went to the store when the eye passed over Houston. We lived in the 34th/TC Jester area. Like you said it was fun but not now, especially since I live so close to the ocean.

[HOU-TEX]

Originally Posted by Brando

When I was a kid and had no worries, I loved hurricanes, now I hate to even think about them when they form in the Gulf.

Originally Posted by Hervoyel

I went out in it. I drove up to the local Del Taco and had a steak and cheese burrito while I watched signs and stuff blow down the street. It was fun.

Now, not so much.

I agree with y'all. Schools shutting down, devastation and debris is all fun and games until you grow up and have a family and home of your own.

BTW, Rep to Herv for the Del Taco reference. Del Taco>Taco Bell

[Brando]

Originally Posted by HOU-TEX

Schools shutting down, devastation and debris is all fun and games until you grow up and have a family and home of your own.

That was my favorite part!

[Errant Hothy]

[TexanSam]

Originally Posted by Hoth-Boy

Damn...they moved a little closer to Houston

[YellerLotYeller]

Originally Posted by Hoth-Boy

awww poo....if it hits around Freeport my house in Alvin will be an interesting place to be.

[Texan_Bill]

Originally Posted by YellerLotYeller

awww poo....if it hits around Freeport my house in Alvin will be an interesting place to be.

You're darn right "awww poo"... Thats not really what I was hoping to see...

************************************

Del Taco>Taco Bell........... mmmmmm steak and cheese burrito at 2:00am.

[YellerLotYeller]

I loved Del Taco! They served some delicious burgers too.

[drewmar74]

Originally Posted by TexanSam

Damn...they moved a little closer to Houston

And, in turn, a little closer to Lake Charles.

dammit