Hurricane Ike Central Pressure Dropping

Okay everyone--I know I am very late, but I have a good reason and I'll explain later or if you know me, call and I'll fill you in.

Anyway, Aaron, I am not retyping the evacuation info. at the end of this blog to get rid of the caps...I took this evacuation info. from the Houston NWS Hurricane Local Statement. Sorry the format is not better. Bottom line is that if you are at any elevation of 30 feet or lower, you need to see if your location is on this list. Here is the direct link to the entire Hurricane Local Statement as there is a log of information! http://www.srh.noaa.gov/productview.php?pil=HGXHLSHGX

The storm is getting so big...hurricane force winds out 115 miles from the center and tropical storm force winds 130 miles from the center. Although the winds are holding at 100 mph, I think part of the reason is that the eye is still getting itself figured out and also, some of the storm was over some relatively cooler water. In the next 24 hours, the storm will get over warmer water with no big shear and strengthening is possible if not likely.

The forecast tracks are pointing to a near worst case landfall for the Houston/Galveston area. We are still 2 days out from the center striking but because the storm is so large, the effects will be felt starting Thursday night. Again there is still a large margin of error.

With this worst case approach, we could have 130 mph winds along the coast, and 100 mph winds along the 59 corridor west of Houston and the Highway 90 corridor east of Houston. This is a very serious possibility. Please remember that we must allow our evacuation folks to get out. So if you are not in an evacuation zone, unless you have a compelling reason, you need to hide from the wind.

One of the biggest problems will be flying trees/limbs and fence posts. Reinforce your fence posts with nails. But do not at this point cut tree limbs as they may not get picked up in time. Identify the central most reinforced part of your home (on the first floor unless their is catastrophic flooding) and be prepared to go there.

Bring in all loose objects.

Get your 14 gallons of water stocked up. Fill up your gas tank whether you are staying or going. You might try to leave after the storm hits. Get cash. Make sure you have a 2 week supply of prescriptions. Remember that businesses will close too and if power is out for a long time and/or there is a lot of damage, it could be quite a while before you can access these kinds of services/products. Do not turn off gas appliances. The gas company will take care of turning off gas, if needed, at an upstream location.

I will have more tips about what to do as the storm gets closer in my next few blogs.

Be safe everyone.

Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman

CURRENT EVACUATION INFORMATION:CHAMBERS COUNTY:RESIDENTS OF OAK ISLAND AND SMITH POINT FISHING COMMUNITIES AREBEING ASKED TO LEAVE AS ROADWAYS WILL BE SUBMERGED. RESIDENTS OFCEDAR POINT AND WALKER SUBDIVISIONS IN BEACH CITY AND THOSELIVING SOUTH OF FM 1985 ARE ALSO BEING ASKED TO LEAVE.BRAZORIA COUNTY:THE COUNTY JUDGE HAS RECOMMENDED A MANDATORY EVACUATION FOR MOSTOF BRAZORIA COUNTY BEGINNING AT 8 AM THURSDAY. RESIDENTS ACROSSTHE COUNTY SHOULD CONSULT WITH YOUR LOCAL COUNTY OR CITY EMERGENCYMANAGEMENT FOR SPECIFIC DETAILS.A MANDATORY EVACUATION HAS BEEN ORDERED FOR ZIP ZONE 77541. ASPECIAL NEEDS EVACUATION ORDER IS IN PLACE FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTY.RESIDENTS IN THE COASTAL AREAS AND THOSE REQUIRING TRANSPORTATIONFROM BRAZORIA COUNTY TO BELL COUNTY MUST RUSH THEIR PREPARATIONSTO COMPLETION BY 10 AM THURSDAY.GALVESTON COUNTY:A MANDATORY EVACUATION WILL BEGIN AT 7 AM THURSDAY FOR WESTGALVESTON ISLAND...JAMAICA BEACH...BOLIVAR PENINSULA...OMEGABAY...SAN LEON... BACLIFF...AND FREDDIESVILLE. VOLUNTARYEVACUATION SHOULD BE CONSIDERED FOR LOW-LYING AREAS INDICKINSON...KEMAH...CLEAR LAKE SHORES...AND LA MARQUE. CITIZENSSHOULD ALSO CONSIDER EVACUATING IF THEY LIVE IN AREAS SUBJECT TOFLOODING OR IN MOBILE HOMES. IF YOU DECIDE TO EVACUATE...PLEASEREMEMBER TO PACK YOUR DISASTER KIT AND IMPORTANT PAPERS.THE GALVESTON-BOLIVAR FERRY WILL LIKELY CEASE OPERATIONS AT 11 PMTHURSDAY NIGHT.SCHOOL CLOSINGS...THE FOLLOWING SCHOOL DISTRICTS WILL BE CLOSEDON THURSDAY AND FRIDAY...HIGH ISLAND...HITCHCOCK...SANTAFE...CLEAR CREEK AND FRIENDSWOOD. THE FOLLOWING WILL BE CLOSEDSTARTING MIDDAY THURSDAY THROUGH FRIDAY...GALVESTON...ANDDICKINSON. THE FOLLOWING WILL BE CLOSED ON FRIDAY...LAMARQUE...AND TEXAS CITY.THE BOLIVAR S.U.D. HAS INDICATED THEY WILL CEASE WATER SERVICE TOTHE PENINSULA AT 5 PM ON THURSDAY.UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MEDICAL BRANCH HOSPITAL IN GALVESTON WILLBEGIN A COMPLETE EVACUATION OF THE HOSPITAL FACILITIES AT 8 AMTHURSDAY.JACKSON COUNTY:A VOLUNTARY EVACUATION IS UNDERWAY FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTY.SCHOOLS WILL BE CLOSED THURSDAY AND FRIDAY.MATAGORDA COUNTY:A MANDATORY EVACUATION HAS BEEN ORDERED FOR PEOPLE WHO LIVE ANDWORK SOUTH OF HIGHWAY 35. THIS MANDATORY EVACUATION INCLUDES THECOMMUNITIES OF PALACIOS...ASHBY-BUCKEYE...EL MATON...COLLEGEPORT...MATAGORDA...WADSWORTH...SARGENT...CEDAR LANE...CHINQUAPIN...TRESPALACIOS OAKS...AND TIDEWATER OAKS. BLESSING IS ALSO INCLUDED INTHE MANDATORY EVACUATION EVEN THOUGH IT IS NORTH OF HIGHWAY 35.THESE EVACUATIONS MUST BE COMPLETED BY 6 PM THURSDAY.MATAGORDA COUNTY OFFICIALS ARE RECOMMENDING A VOLUNTARYEVACUATION OF RESIDENTS NORTH OF HIGHWAY 35 AND IN BAY CITY ANDVAN VLECK FOR THOSE LIVING IN LOW LYING AREAS AND MANUFACTUREDHOMES THAT ARE NOT PROPERLY TIED DOWN. IT IS RECOMMENDED YOUEVACUATE WITH YOUR PETS. BE SURE TO TAKE A PET CARRIER...LEASH...VACCINATION RECORDS...AND FOOD FOR YOUR PET. IF YOU EVACUATE TO ASHELTER...YOUR PETS WILL BE BOARDED AT A SEPARATE FACILITY.BE SURE TO START YOUR EVACUATION WITH A FULL TANK OF GAS.IF YOU HAVE NO MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION OR CANNOT FIND ANYONE TOHELP YOU EVACUATE AND NEED ASSISTANCE...YOU CAN CONTACT 979-245-3056 OR 979-244-5318