Hurricane Ike

[octagon]

Just read this warning from http://forecast.weather.gov/showsigwx.p ... ne+Warning

LIFE THREATENING INUNDATION LIKELY!

ALL NEIGHBORHOODS...AND POSSIBLY ENTIRE COASTAL COMMUNITIES...
WILL BE INUNDATED DURING THE PERIOD OF PEAK STORM TIDE. PERSONS
NOT HEEDING EVACUATION ORDERS IN SINGLE FAMILY ONE OR TWO STORY
HOMES WILL FACE CERTAIN DEATH. MANY RESIDENCES OF AVERAGE
CONSTRUCTION DIRECTLY ON THE COAST WILL BE DESTROYED. WIDESPREAD
AND DEVASTATING PERSONAL PROPERTY DAMAGE IS LIKELY ELSEWHERE.
VEHICLES LEFT BEHIND WILL LIKELY BE SWEPT AWAY. NUMEROUS ROADS
WILL BE SWAMPED...SOME MAY BE WASHED AWAY BY THE WATER. ENTIRE
FLOOD PRONE COASTAL COMMUNITIES WILL BE CUTOFF. WATER LEVELS MAY
EXCEED 9 FEET FOR MORE THAN A MILE INLAND. COASTAL RESIDENTS IN
MULTI-STORY FACILITIES RISK BEING CUTOFF. CONDITIONS WILL BE
WORSENED BY BATTERING WAVES. SUCH WAVES WILL EXACERBATE PROPERTY
DAMAGE...WITH MASSIVE DESTRUCTION OF HOMES...INCLUDING THOSE OF
BLOCK CONSTRUCTION. DAMAGE FROM BEACH EROSION COULD TAKE YEARS TO
REPAIR.

[wmthor]

Thanks for everyone's concerns. Since I am not in a flood zone nor in a mandatory evacuation zone, I'm going to doing what city, county, & state leaders recommend, a Shelter In Place. In other words, I'm staying at home.

I've got enough food & water to last several days if need be. I've also have plenty of extra batteries, and gas for my camp stove. My biggest concern is the loss of power, along roof and/or window damage. I've taken the steps to minimize any window damage, the roof is another story. All the utilities in this area are underground and that's minimized power outages in the past.

The latest update has shifted the storm's track to my east and that's a good sign. However, I'd feel a lot better if it would shift even a little further eastward.

[wmthor]

This is my local forecast (based on Zip Code) from the National Weather Service:

Friday: Tropical storm conditions expected, with hurricane conditions possible. Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 90. North wind 15 to 20 mph increasing to between 30 and 40 mph. Winds could gust as high as 55 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Friday Night: Hurricane conditions expected. Showers and thunderstorms. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Low around 78. North wind 50 to 60 mph increasing to between 60 and 80 mph. Winds could gust as high as 100 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%.

Saturday: Tropical storm conditions expected, with hurricane conditions possible. Showers and thunderstorms. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. High near 85. Southwest wind 45 to 65 mph decreasing to between 25 and 30 mph. Winds could gust as high as 75 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%.

Saturday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Cloudy, with a low around 78. South wind between 15 and 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Sunday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 1pm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 84. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

[octagon]

Hey Richard,hope you will be safe.My prayers are with you and everyone else in Ike's path. Found this link to streaming video coverage from all Houston TV stations .

[JakeK]

Our school is making certain classes go to the gym, and the whole school is on lockdown. I sneaked off to my computer class! Yay me!

[beatlefreak]

I've got enough food & water to last several days if need be. I've also have plenty of extra batteries, and gas for my camp stove. My biggest concern is the loss of power, along roof and/or window damage.

Toilet paper?

[deaconblues]

Good luck, Richard...stay safe. Tie down the Rickenbackers!

[wints]

Best wishes to all.

Stay safe!

[wmthor]

So far so good. It's breezy outside with winds in the 35 to 45 mph range. However no rain just yet. However, it's a coming. The Rics are snug in their cases in an interior closet.

[kiramdear]

My prayers are with you one and all.

[ajish4]

So far so good. It's breezy outside with winds in the 35 to 45 mph range. However no rain just yet. However, it's a coming. The Rics are snug in their cases in an interior closet.

Hang tight Richard.

Hopefully, the brunt of it passes you .

I hope it isn't TOO long a night for you guys there in Texas.

[johnallg]

+1 So far so good - lets hope it does pass quickly and passively.

Looks like Austin is getting a lot of rain... How's it over there, Sean?

[jdogric12]

Landfall was about 2:10am this morning on Galveston Island, with winds 1 mph shy of a cat3. The footage I'm seeing on TV looks pretty bad, but at least it is moving quickly due north and shouldn't dump the excess of rain a slow mover does. All the best to all in TX, please keep us posted, although no doubt power will be out for many and who knows how long.

[Darkhollow]

Stay safe and dry everyone.

Wishing you guys the best.

~Justin

[wj350]

How are you all making out this morning--one big mother of a storm, no?

Bill