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Hurricane Ike

Only about 3 people in our neighborhood boarded up their windows so I feel a little better about not having our house boarded up.

Of those 3 people, 2 of them boarded it up from the inside lol.

I hope we don't go a long time without power...
 
National Weather Service just said if you live on the coast, and attempt to "ride this out" you will be facing "Certain Death"

Please everyone, be safe

As Hurricane Ike makes its way to the Texas Gulf Coast, the National Weather Service issued a blunt warning to residents of Galveston. "Persons not heeding evacuation orders in single-family, one- or two-story homes, will face certain death."
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With all the talk of hurricanes, wind, rain, and quitting smoking, I thought this joke was funny. Hope it helps relax some of you guys:

Two old ladies were waiting for a bus and one of them was smoking a cigarette. It started to rain, so the old lady reached into her purse, took out a condom, cut off the tip and slipped it over her cigarette and continued to smoke.

Her friend saw this and said, "Hey that's a good idea! But, what is that thing you put over your cigarette?"

The other old lady said, "It's a condom."

"A condom? Where do you get those?"

The lady with the cigarette told her friend that you could purchase condoms at the pharmacy. When the two old ladies arrived downtown, the old lady with all the questions went into the pharmacy and asked the pharmacist if he sold condoms. The pharmacist said yes, but looked a little surprised that this old woman was interested in condoms, so he asked her, "What size do you want?"

The old lady thought for a minute and said, "One that will fit a Camel."
 
That brought a good chuckle this morning gt. I think we all needed that too.

My concern right now is that they got all the mandatory zip codes correct, and didn't leave some out that might need to be there. My family decided to "hunker down" because we are not in the mandatory areas, but, I have to admit I'm a little nervous living so close to the ship channel.
 
gtexan02 said:
With all the talk of hurricanes, wind, rain, and quitting smoking, I thought this joke was funny. Hope it helps relax some of you guys:

Two old ladies were waiting for a bus and one of them was smoking a cigarette. It started to rain, so the old lady reached into her purse, took out a condom, cut off the tip and slipped it over her cigarette and continued to smoke.

Her friend saw this and said, "Hey that's a good idea! But, what is that thing you put over your cigarette?"

The other old lady said, "It's a condom."

"A condom? Where do you get those?"

The lady with the cigarette told her friend that you could purchase condoms at the pharmacy. When the two old ladies arrived downtown, the old lady with all the questions went into the pharmacy and asked the pharmacist if he sold condoms. The pharmacist said yes, but looked a little surprised that this old woman was interested in condoms, so he asked her, "What size do you want?"

The old lady thought for a minute and said, "One that will fit a Camel."
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lol:
 
Regarding the tape on the windows, it's a good idea just to keep the glass from shattering. As for removing the tape afterward, any petroleum product will cut the adhesive quite easily. They sell adhesive removers, but to be honest, WD40 does about as good a job as anything.

If it sticks, and it's not supposed to, use WD40. If it doesn't stick, and it's supposed to, use duct tape - all you ever need to know about home repair :D
 
I'm wondering then, and this is an honest question here, why does taping your windows show up as a no-no in my list of hurricane preperations?
 
There is an urban legend that putting a big X on your window with tape will prevent it from breaking.

Thats just incorrect.

HOWEVER, taping your windows up WILL prevent the glass from shattering if it gets hit. The glass will still break, but you won't have shards all over your home. It will break "safely" like a windshield
 
As for windows - here's what we do (works if you only have 2 or 3 windows). We put folded up boxes against out windows, pull the blinds down, and nail the bottom into the window sill.

I figure anything hitting the window hard enough will still come through, but it should puncture the cardboard and blinds leaving most of the glass outside.

Completely untested on a broken window.
 
man watching CNN....

this storm looks just brutal.

the shots of the storm surge are already unreal, and this is just the beginning. I remember Alicia as a kid, and remember being without power for 10 days or so....

Figures, I was happy, no school.
 
IlliniJen said:
What's worse, the dirty side or the center? The models are still tracking a little to the east, so we could be on the east side or in the center if trends continue. Ike isn't getting stronger, though, and could come ashore as a Cat 2.
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The closer to the eye you are, the worse it is no matter which side of it you are on.

The "dirty" side just means that the winds are typically a little stronger than the opposite side because the forward motion of the storm adds 8-12 mph (however fast the storm is moving) to that side of the storm, where it would be the opposite on the other side.

The "dirty" side is also the side that has the most activity further away from the center. But as I said, the closer to the eye you are, the less any of that matters.

gtexan02 said:
The Sci Guy on his blog said that a direct hit from a cat 3 will result in around 2 weeks of no power for Houston. Not good at all
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We were without power for 2 weeks with Alicia.
 
I just finished boarding up as I'm only a few miles from a beach and the Houston Yacht club....so Mayor Bill White tells me I'm facing certain death...so it's just about time to stop screwing in masonry screws and hit the road. Good luck to everyone and thanks to all who wished me good luck in PMs and whatnot. Thanks for the offers to help me relocate/shelter also....you guys are great. Many of us won't have power for a week or so, so make sure to get a few good books and catch up on your reading.
 
khou news is sometimes showing zip codes with predicted max sustained winds. the next time they do, I'll try and write some of them down and post.
 
At this point, everyone is getting the same info. Nonetheless, here's the latest from my folks, 8:45AM CDT:

Latest satellite now shows that after may attempts an eye is forming and Ike continues to strengthen. This is already a dangerous situation and going to get worse. Max winds are reported near 105 mph but an instrumented platform over 50 mi from the center found max winds of 125 mph at 400 ft elevation. The development of an eye suggests that further strengthening is likely and our forecast still calls for a moderate CAT 3 with 120 mph and higher gusts with landfall on Jamaica Beach late tonight. Tidal flooding is already overspreading roads in Galveston and waves are crashing over the sea wall depositing debris all the way on the other side. There remains many people on the island and their opportunity to leave is almost over, even though strong winds/rains are just approaching the coast.

Tropical storm force winds should reach the coast by noon and in the Houston area after 3pm. Rain bands will start moving inland later this morning.

Coast guard reporting a Cypriot freighter loaded with industrial coke is wallowing helplessly in growing seas after losing power about 90 mi SE of Galveston.

This storm is starting to grow massive in size, more than the “max winds” suggest. The impacts will feel like almost 1 full category more than the max winds suggest. In many ways, it’s starting to look like a large west Pacific large typhoon. Storms like this can do erratic things near landfall. While I expect strengthening to 120 mph CAT 3, I maintain a 10% CAT 4 possibility given evolution of the storm and improving satellite presentation this morning.

One final note…in addition to widespread loss of power, you can expect loss of cell coverage and cable services as the storm comes inland. A radio powered radio or conventional radio powered TV will become the only way to maintain information flow once the storm makes landfall.

Catastrophic damage is possible in Galveston.
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TexanSam said:
Of those 3 people, 2 of them boarded it up from the inside lol.
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The idea of boarding it up from the inside is that while your glass may break, it (and anything else) probably won't enter into your house.

My understanding is you have to be careful hanging plywood outside--winds can come up under any cracks you leave and rip it off, especially if it is hung outside the flush inset of your window.

I'm still going back and forth on the taping thing. We're in West Houston (BW 8 and Westheimer) and I guess my only concern is flying objects, which tape won't stop, but I'm curious about whether or not it really does help contain flying glass (my big concern.)

I should've spent a weekend building plywood shutters back in Februrary but it's too late for that now. Nothing to do but cross my fingers and pray for the best.
 
SheTexan said:
My concern right now is that they got all the mandatory zip codes correct, and didn't leave some out that might need to be there. My family decided to "hunker down" because we are not in the mandatory areas, but, I have to admit I'm a little nervous living so close to the ship channel.
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That's my concern as well. I'm over in Deer Park, and we're outside the mandatory evacuation zones. However, we're not that far from those mandatory evacuation zones. I'm fully anticipating that we'll see quite a bit of damage from this storm, but hopefully the storm surge doesn't make it's way into our area.
 
gtexan02 said:
National Weather Service just said if you live on the coast, and attempt to "ride this out" you will be facing "Certain Death"

Please everyone, be safe
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My wife had class last night at UNT, she is studying this kind of stuff (disaster planning, and such) and both of her professors (who work with FEMA on a regular basis here in North Texas) took time out of the classes to talk about the language in the warnings.
 
After checking the satellite images, the clounds that are currently over DFW are part of Ike. The size of this storm is bordering on epic.
 
jerek said:
The idea of boarding it up from the inside is that while your glass may break, it (and anything else) probably won't enter into your house.

My understanding is you have to be careful hanging plywood outside--winds can come up under any cracks you leave and rip it off, especially if it is hung outside the flush inset of your window.

I'm still going back and forth on the taping thing. We're in West Houston (BW 8 and Westheimer) and I guess my only concern is flying objects, which tape won't stop, but I'm curious about whether or not it really does help contain flying glass (my big concern.)

I should've spent a weekend building plywood shutters back in Februrary but it's too late for that now. Nothing to do but cross my fingers and pray for the best.
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It absolutely helps. I speak from experience. As you said, it won't stop the panes from breaking, either from debris or from pressure, but it will ameliorate the effects of flying glass.
 
jerek said:
I'm still going back and forth on the taping thing. We're in West Houston (BW 8 and Westheimer) and I guess my only concern is flying objects, which tape won't stop, but I'm curious about whether or not it really does help contain flying glass (my big concern.)
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I've got a sliding glass door by the hot tub that I need to tape...

Sincerely,

Hunter Pence
 
eriadoc said:
It absolutely helps. I speak from experience. As you said, it won't stop the panes from breaking, either from debris or from pressure, but it will ameliorate the effects of flying glass.
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Fair enough, you've convinced me. I'll tape up later in the day depending on how this forecast shakes out. I'm still hoping for (no offense, my east side brothers and sisters) an easterly turn.

If you speak from experience, are Cat 1/low Cat 2 winds likely to shatter glass? We have a fairly sturdy picket fence directly in front of our downstairs that I am concerned about, as well as a community pool in which they (our ***** condo association, which I am already considering planning litigation against--they failed to drain our pool after promising they would) battoned down the pool chairs with a measly roof-rack cable.
 
Just seen a report that power in New Orleans has been knocked out.

Hang tight folks.

Also, a ocean tanker with 20 some people aboard is broke down and stranded 90 miles south of Galveston. It's going to be a long afternoon and night.
 
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LOL and simultaneously sad for the morons on the Galveston beach and people who refuse to leave the mandatory evac zones. I consider myself pretty adventurous but no thanks to *******ing with Mother Nature.
 
Doesn't like there is too much doubt with the path anymore.... All the major models are in tight agreement. It's coming to Houston via Galveston weather we like it or not.

Don't give too much credence to the wind speed. This is probably one of the most powerful storms the Gulf has ever seen, and it's surge will be shocking. Already Galveston is getting the crap beat out of it even though the storm is hours away.

Pic from downtown Galveston, an hour ago:

GalvestonStrand.jpg


Give some stream-age from all the news stations plus radar and satellite coverage.

http://flhurricane.com/ikecoverage.html
 
They've got an interview on channel 11 where a lady is saying she is staying behind because she has faith "God will protect her."

Not one to judge, but maybe God is telling you to leave?
 
CTWade said:
Doesn't like there is too much doubt with the path anymore.... All the major models are in tight agreement. It's coming to Houston via Galveston weather we like it or not.

Don't give too much credence to the wind speed. This is probably one of the most powerful storms the Gulf has ever seen, and it's surge will be shocking. Already Galveston is getting the crap beat out of it even though the storm is hours away.

Pic from downtown Galveston, an hour ago:

GalvestonStrand.jpg


Give some stream-age from all the news stations plus radar and satellite coverage.

http://flhurricane.com/ikecoverage.html
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That's a higher part of the island too. Water is already crashing over the seawall in Galveston, that whole island is going under water.
 
CTWade said:
Don't give too much credence to the wind speed. This is probably one of the most powerful storms the Gulf has ever seen, and it's surge will be shocking.
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The ominous tone of the voices from the Weather Channel folks is a pretty good indicator of that.

Storm surges are being felt as far away as Florida! The photos are amazing, and it's hundreds of miles away!
 
jerek said:
Fair enough, you've convinced me. I'll tape up later in the day depending on how this forecast shakes out. I'm still hoping for (no offense, my east side brothers and sisters) an easterly turn.

If you speak from experience, are Cat 1/low Cat 2 winds likely to shatter glass? We have a fairly sturdy picket fence directly in front of our downstairs that I am concerned about, as well as a community pool in which they (our ***** condo association, which I am already considering planning litigation against--they failed to drain our pool after promising they would) battoned down the pool chairs with a measly roof-rack cable.
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950mb is low enough pressure to break windows, technically, but that's not what I'd be worried about. If a tornado forms, that will pressure pop windows, among other things, but really flying debris crashing into windows is the top threat this far away from the coast. I'm in the same boat as you, BTW. As long as I can dodge trees, I feel OK about my chances. That's a big if, of course.
 
Exact projections seem to widely vary (which is understandable.) A lot of them have the eye passing over downtown or just east of it, others have it significantly further west. Any ideas?
 
Prepare a place in your house NOW that you and your loved ones can go to in case you hear the dreaded 'freight train' sound from a tornado. If you have stairs, the stairwell beneath is the safest spot. Otherwise, a windowless room or bathroom are good spots. I remember my dad would even have the mattress nearby to cover us for protection in a worst case scenario.

And don't forget to put shoes for each of you in this place, because if something does happen, you don't want to have bare feet to get out of the scene when it calms downs. Lots of glass and other dangerous objects.
 
Sad to see that Galveston is going to get donkey punched. My wife and I shot our engagement photos there last spring and we've had several memorable trips there. Hoping and praying for the best for all.
 
CTWade said:
Doesn't like there is too much doubt with the path anymore.... All the major models are in tight agreement. It's coming to Houston via Galveston weather we like it or not.

Don't give too much credence to the wind speed. This is probably one of the most powerful storms the Gulf has ever seen, and it's surge will be shocking. Already Galveston is getting the crap beat out of it even though the storm is hours away.

Pic from downtown Galveston, an hour ago:

GalvestonStrand.jpg


Give some stream-age from all the news stations plus radar and satellite coverage.

http://flhurricane.com/ikecoverage.html
Click to expand...

Well The Strand survived the 1900 'cane, so here's to hoping it makes it through Ike.
 
Double Barrel said:
Prepare a place in your house NOW that you and your loved ones can go to in case you hear the dreaded 'freight train' sound from a tornado. If you have stairs, the stairwell beneath is the safest spot. Otherwise, a windowless room or bathroom are good spots. I remember my dad would even have the mattress nearby to cover us for protection in a worst case scenario.

And don't forget to put shoes for each of you in this place, because if something does happen, you don't want to have bare feet to get out of the scene when it calms downs. Lots of glass and other dangerous objects.
Click to expand...

Already thought about the shoes ... plan on wearing mine until tomorrow!

We have an interior bathroom on the first floor ... just hope my wife and I don't have to spend 12 hours in there (it's about 5x6 feet, including sink and toilet!)
 
eriadoc said:
950mb is low enough pressure to break windows, technically, but that's not what I'd be worried about. If a tornado forms, that will pressure pop windows, among other things, but really flying debris crashing into windows is the top threat this far away from the coast. I'm in the same boat as you, BTW. As long as I can dodge trees, I feel OK about my chances. That's a big if, of course.
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Same here. Surrounded by huge oak trees & some very tall palms.
Not looking forward to any long power outages either. Sorta kicking myself for not getting a small generator and cheap a/c window unit just in case.
 
jerek said:
Already thought about the shoes ... plan on wearing mine until tomorrow!

We have an interior bathroom on the first floor ... just hope my wife and I don't have to spend 12 hours in there (it's about 5x6 feet, including sink and toilet!)
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I'm doing the same thing, though with two cats, which will be the most challenging thing. I gotta catch both at the same time and crate them up, otherwise it'll be tough.

I'm going to put my couch cushions in my bathtub. My foot supply will consist of bread and peanut butter, with tuna and Chef Boyardee if necessary. I'm trying to treat this like a little camp out, but this storm is not doing any of the things I thought it might do to mitigate some of the risk.

I woke up this morning at 9am and there was a dead quiet outside. No trash trucks, no traffic...reminds me of what it was like during Rita when everything was a ghost town.
 
Out of our entire condo complex, only maybe 2-3 are actually boarding their windows. A lot of these folks have lived here for decades. I'm hoping they--and I--are right.
 
jerek said:
LOL and simultaneously sad for the morons on the Galveston beach and people who refuse to leave the mandatory evac zones. I consider myself pretty adventurous but no thanks to *******ing with Mother Nature.
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Yeah they were interviewing on by phone on Channel 11. Poor woman. She said she's not scared because of her faith, which I guess is good. If I saw a huge hurricane out my window and I lived in Galveston, I would be scared regardless. Hope those that decided to remain are okay though.
 
Its coming right for Houston, but the city is far enough inland that hopefully everyone will be ok. Hope it passes over quickly and that everyone and their property remains safe. Good luck everybody.
 
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