TS Edouard obs/preparations,web cams -SE Texas / SW LA

[southerngale]

Lots of rain and wind in Beaumont so far. It's really whipping out there almost nonstop, but nothing too severe.

I'm at my parent's house now... no electricity at my house. Update from Entergy:


(7:15 a.m. Update) - BEAUMONT - Mike Rodgers, spokesman from Entergy reported 8,000 customers in the Golden Triangle and a total of 17,586 in the Entergy Texas service area without power in Southeast Texas. The total is more than 18,000 when taking into account outages in Louisiana.

That includes:

737 - Beaumont network

3,779 - Orange network

12,331 - Port Arthur

67 - Silsbee

60 - Winnie

Click Here to see Edouard move through the coast on our Gulf Of Mexico Satellite loop.

The number is fluid and will more than likely increase as the day goes on.

Rodgers added that some people may be without power for days but crews will be on the scene to restore energy soon.

[jordanmills]

This might help entergy customers
http://entergy-texas.com/outages/tx.aspx

Pearland has no wind or rain right now.

[Bornfree]

I'm at work in Mt Belvieu and we are getting some pretty good winds right now. So far we have had just over an inch of rain since 5AM.

[southerngale]

Hurricane Watch

TROPICAL STORM EDOUARD INTERMEDIATE LOCAL STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
758 AM CDT TUE AUG 5 2008

...EDOUARD MAKES LANDFALL IN JEFFERSON COUNTY TEXAS...

.AT 700 AM CDT...1200Z...THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM EDOUARD WAS
LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 29.6 NORTH...LONGITUDE 94.2 WEST. THIS
POSITION IS ON THE UPPER TEXAS COAST ABOUT HALFWAY BETWEEN HIGH
ISLAND AND SABINE PASS IN THE MCFADDIN NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE.

EDOUARD IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST NEAR 14 MPH...
23 KM/HR...AND THIS MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE FOR THE NEXT
DAY OR TWO.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 65 MPH...100 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER
GUSTS. EDOUARD IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN WEAKENING LATER TODAY AS IT
MOVES INLAND.

TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 70 MILES...110 KM
FROM THE CENTER.

AN AIR FORCE HURRICANE HUNTER AIRCRAFT REPORTED A MINIMUM CENTRAL
PRESSURE OF 997 MB...29.44 INCHES.

A STORM SURGE OF 2 TO 4 FT ABOVE NORMAL TIDE LEVELS CAN BE
EXPECTED IN THE WARNING AREA IN AREAS OF ONSHORE WINDS.

EDOUARD IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE TOTAL RAIN ACCUMULATIONS OF 3 TO
5 INCHES IN SOME SOUTHWESTERN LOUISIANA COASTAL PARISHES AND
SOUTHEASTERN TEXAS. ISOLATED MAXIMUM AMOUNTS OF 10 INCHES ARE
POSSIBLE OVER PORTIONS OF SOUTHEASTERN TEXAS.

ISOLATED TORNADOES ARE POSSIBLE OVER PORTIONS OF SOUTHWESTERN
LOUISIANA AND SOUTHEASTERN TEXAS TODAY.

LAZ051-TXZ215-216-052100-
/O.CON.KLCH.TR.W.1005.000000T0000Z-000000T0000Z/
/O.CON.KLCH.HU.A.1005.000000T0000Z-000000T0000Z/
CAMERON-JEFFERSON-ORANGE-
758 AM CDT TUE AUG 5 2008

...TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT...
...HURRICANE WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT...

...NEW INFORMATION...

EDOUARD MAKES LANDFALL IN JEFFERSON COUNTY.

POWER OUTAGES REPORTED IN JEFFERSON AND ORANGE COUNTIES...AS WELL
AS CAMERON PARISH.

...AREAS AFFECTED...

THIS STATEMENT RECOMMENDS ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN BY PERSONS IN...
SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA AND SOUTHEAST TEXAS.

...WATCHES/WARNINGS...

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THESE ADDITIONAL HAZARDS.

FLASH FLOOD WATCH.

...PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

CAMERON OEP HAS ORDERED AN EVACUATION FOR RESIDENTS OF LOWER
CAMERON PARISH. A SHELTER WILL BE SET UP AT THE PURPLE HEART
RECREATION CENTER...AT 4305 AVENUE H IN LAKE CHARLES NEAR
CHENAULT AIRPORT.

RESIDENTS SHOULD PREPARE FOR TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS.

MINOR DAMAGE MAY OCCUR TO MOBILE HOMES. A FEW HOUSES MAY ALSO
HAVE MINOR DAMAGE TO ROOF SHINGLES AND SIDING. UNSECURED
LIGHTWEIGHT ITEMS MAY BECOME PROJECTILES. SOME ELECTRICAL WIRES
COULD BE BLOWN DOWN...AND LOCAL POWER OUTAGES ARE POSSIBLE.

SCATTERED POWER OUTAGES HAVE BEEN REPORTED IN PORTIONS OF
JEFFERSON COUNTY...ORANGE COUNTY...AND CAMERON PARISH.

LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT ANY ADDITIONAL HAZARDS.

...STORM SURGE AND STORM TIDE...

A STORM SURGE OF 2 TO 3 FT ABOVE NORMAL TIDE LEVELS CAN BE EXPECTED
ALONG THE COAST THROUGH THE AFTERNOON. BELOW IS A TABLE OF RECORDED
WATER LEVELS IN MLLW SO FAR:

SABINE PASS NORTH...3.75 FEET AT 6:36 AM
CALCASIEU PASS...4.31 FEET AT 6:36 AM

PORTIONS OF HIGHWAY 82...AS WELL AS SECONDARY ROADS...WILL BE
FLOODED WITH DEPTHS OF 6 INCHES TO A FOOT DEEP. FLOODING ALONG
SECTIONS OF MAIN STREET IN FRONT OF THE CAMERON COURTHOUSE CAN BE
EXPECTED.

SOME FLOODING WITH DEPTHS OF 6 INCHES TO A FOOT OF WATER POSSIBLE
ACROSS HIGHWAY 87 BETWEEN SABINE PASS AND PORT ARTHUR...ALONG
WITH SEVERAL STREETS IN SABINE PASS FLOODED.

...WINDS...

HERE ARE THE HIGHEST WIND GUSTS THAT HAVE BEEN REPORTED SO FAR:

CAMERON TIDE GAGE...62 MPH...AT 3:48 AM
SABINE PASS TIDE GAGE...60 MPH...AT 4:06 AM
SOUTHEAST TEXAS REGIONAL AIRPORT...56 MPH...6:06 AM
ORANGE AIRPORT...49 MPH...AT 6:05 AM

HERE ARE THE FORECAST FOR THE REMAINDER OF THIS MORNING...

FOR CAMERON PARISH...SUSTAINED WINDS FOR THE REMAINDER OF THIS
MORNING WILL BE 30 TO 40 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 50 MPH ALONG THE COAST.

OVER SOUTHERN ORANGE AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES...SUSTAINED WINDS
FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE MORNING WILL BE 35 TO 45 MPH WITH GUSTS
TO 60 MPH ALONG THE COAST. FURTHER INLAND ACROSS NORTHERN
JEFFERSON AND ORANGE COUNTIES...SUSTAINED WINDS WILL BE 30 TO 40
MPH WITH GUSTS TO 50 MPH THROUGH THIS MORNING.

WIND GUSTS WILL LIKELY BE ABOUT 10 TO 15 MPH STRONGER ON THE TOP
OF HIGH RISE BRIDGES...SUCH AS THE RAINBOW AND VETERAN`S MEMORIAL
BRIDGE. THESE BRIDGES HAVE NOW BEEN CLOSED.

...INLAND FLOODING...

AREA-AVERAGED RAINFALL AMOUNTS THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON WILL BE
AROUND 3 TO 5 INCHES...WITH LOCALIZED AMOUNTS TO 8 INCHES.

SOME FLOODING OF STREETS AND LOW LYING URBAN AREAS...ESPECIALLY
UNDERPASSES...WILL BE POSSIBLE.

...TORNADOES...

ISOLATED TORNADOES WILL BE POSSIBLE WITHIN THE RAIN BANDS THIS MORNING.

...NEXT UPDATE...

THIS STATEMENT WILL BE UPDATED AROUND 11 AM CDT.

$$

[Smurfwicked]

This might help entergy customers
http://entergy-texas.com/outages/tx.aspx

Pearland has no wind or rain right now.

Yall be sure when you using that map that you put it on areas so you can see the outages for the entire county. Jefferson county has 27052 customers without power according to when I just checked.

[eyesurvivor]

We have steady rain here and the winds are about 20 mph sustained with gusts up to about 30 and 35.

[Johnny]

Just another passing summertime type shower up here in Conroe. I'll tell ya what, next time we get a tropical storm like this...I will remember what I am seeing now. No big deal what so ever.

[GoldenTriangle]

I lost my power this AM about 5:30...and one tree...the power was back on by 10:00.

It looks like it made landfall at McFaddin Beach...(outskirts of Sabine Pass...Sabine Pass is part of the city of Port Arthur.)

[GoldenTriangle]

Anytime they predict landfall in Galveston I pretty much know it's going to be closer to Bmt/Pt Arthur

[galvbay]

3" of rain in Deer Park and still coming down hard. Minor street flooding in the area. Gust maybe to 25mph out of the NW.
10:36am gb

[bvigal]

radar estimate rain totals - since 6:40amCDT Monday

[jordanmills]

I risked my life in 10 mph gusting winds to get this action shot of catastrophic storm damage.

[jabman98]

LOL! That's pretty much what it looks like in my neighborhood too. There are puddles(!) on the sidewalk! Not sure it's safe to leave the house.

[GoldenTriangle]

Jordan, my trees aren't that scrawny but you still shouldn't have any big problems with Edouard.

The lights have gone out a couple more times but the wind and rain aren't bad at all.

[southerngale]

Edouard Knocks Out Power to More Than 36,000

August 5, 2008 - 10:33AM
posted by: Scott Lawrence

NEWS RELEASE FROM ENTERGY

Beaumont, TX - Tropical Storm Edouard made landfall earlier than expected, further east than expected and at mid-morning was cutting a swath through the heart of Entergy Texas, Inc.'s Southeast Texas service territory.

Click Here to see Entergy's Power Interactive Outage Map

"As part of our preparation, we began calling for additional workers to deal with outages from this storm Monday," said Joe Domino, Entergy Texas president and chief executive officer. "Those crews will be out restoring power as soon as it is safe to do so."

Edouard made landfall at 6 a.m. today at High Island, bringing with it high winds and rain. Wind gusts of up to 65 miles per hour were reported offshore. At 9 a.m., almost 36,000 customers were without electricity, the bulk of them in Port Arthur, Beaumont, Winnie and Orange.

More than 1,720 restoration workers and tree trimmers, plus support, are either coming to Entergy Texas to help restore power or are already here. Crews and contractors are en route from Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and from companies outside the Entergy service territory.

The storm is expected to move through parts of Houston and north to the College Station area later today.

Customers without power may call 1-800-9-OUTAGE to report their loss of electricity. They are also encouraged to call the number should they see any downed power lines.

Entergy Texas provides electricity to 395,000 customers in 26 counties. It is a subsidiary of Entergy Corporation. Entergy Corp. is an integrated energy company engaged primarily in electric power production and retail distribution operations. Entergy owns and operates power plants with approximately 30,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity, and it is the second-largest nuclear generator in the United States. Entergy delivers electricity to 2.7 million utility customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Entergy has annual revenues of more than $11 billion and approximately 14,300 employees.

(Noon Update) - BEAUMONT - Entergy Texas President & CEO Joe Domino told KFDM News in a live interview that the number of people without power has been cut from about 37,000 at the height of Edouard to about 18,000 Tuesday afternoon.

Most of the outages are in Port Arthur, Beaumont, Winnie and Orange.

Domino spoke with KFDM reporter Jennifer Heathcock. She'll update the effort to restore power tonight at 5,6 and 10.

Click Here to see Edouard move onshore on our Gulf Of Mexico Satellite loop.

The number is fluid and will more than likely increase as the day goes on.

Derrick added that some people may be without power for days, but crews will be on the scene to restore energy soon.

Mine is still out. I'll save what I can from my refrigerators and bring it here to my parent's house if it doesn't come back on by tonight.

*crosses fingers*

[bvigal]

Kelly, sure hope you and the others effected get your power back on quickly!! As one who suffers from daily power outages ("load balancing") during the peak heat of the day, almost EVERY DAY (NO FANS!!), I can sure sympathize!!!

[swampdude]

I was more than happy to see that Edouard was a very mild T.S. We had 35-45mph winds and a few higher gusts but very little rain (about 3/4 "). That little stealth dynamo Humberto was much wilder last year. Our little corner of Texas must have some giant tropical cyclone magnet going on. Since Rita in '05, this makes 3 direct hits. We will be more than happy to share any future tropical excitement with anyone else as long as you live at least 200 miles from us!

[southerngale]

I hear ya, swampdude. I heard Greg mention the magnet thing last night too. Crazy, isn't it?

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Wednesday Morning Power Outage Update
August 6, 2008 - 8:55AM
Lance Edwards

About 2,800 Southeast Texans were without air conditioning or lights Tuesday night, following the tropical storm.

This morning, just a little over 1,700 customers in Jefferson County were still without power according to Entergy-Texas.com.

At the height of the storm Tuesday, Entergy reported more than 37,000 customers were without power.

One tree fell on power lines at Gladys near East Street in Beaumont, shutting down electricity to that street.

Customers may call 1-800-OUTAGE to report a power outage or to report downed power lines.

Check back with KFDM.com for the latest numbers as they come in from Entergy on Wednesday.

[southerngale]

The Salvation Army is always there to lend a helping hand.


People Line Up for Ice in Beaumont

August 6, 2008 - 5:58PM
Jennifer Heathcock

Those still without power today got some help from the Salvation Army.

The agency made free ice available for those who needed it.

The effort quickly became a community project.

Volunteers pack the trunks of cars, while dark skies linger overhead. But the rain didn't keep drivers away from the Salvation Army's warehouse in Beaumont.

"There's still a lot of people without utilities, possibly up," says Barbara LeDay with Salvation Army.

Barbara LeDay says a few people came by after their power went out a second time.

But she says there are still plenty of people who have been without power for more than a day, like Perry Savoy, who lost his electricity Monday.

"It is, my mom's lights out and mine, probably the whole neighborhood," says Perry Savoy, who came to pick up ice.

And while many people came for just a trunk full, others came to help.

"He's going to drive through, put his lights on and honk his horn. Everyone doesn't have a way to get here," says LeDay.

A worker from Spanky's Wrecker Service filled the bed of his truck, and left the Salvation Army with the man power to keep everyone else cool.

those who came by say the handout eases more than the heat.

"I can use it for food, drinking water and stuff and help the neighborhood out because they need some too. And just help everyone I can," says Savoy.

"Just drive up and pop your trunk," says LeDay.

And the Salvation Army says they'll do the rest.

Helping ease the pains of a power outage one bag at a time.

If you would like ice, there's still plenty available. You can stop by the Salvation Army's warehouse at 1490 North Seventh Street in Beaumont tomorrow and Friday.