ATL: IKE Discussion

[txag2005]

Wow all of the video of flooding along the coast is scaring me. I'm on the northeast side of town out of a local flood zone, so I assume I'm safe outside of tornados and wind damage, but its still scary to say the least.

I have family calling me frantically to get out NOW.

With all the talk of this being such a massive storm damage wise, what specifically are people referring to? Is this referring to the storm surge, or winds as well? Guess I'm just wondering if evacuating from SE Houston in a mandatory evac zone to the northeast side of town was enough.

[RL3AO]

CNN estimating 20,000 still in Galveston. Unreal.

[pablolopez26]

Ike is looking ragged though right now.

[HurricaneHunter914]

Ike is looking ragged though right now.

That is far from ragged my friend.

[CronkPSU]

I can see why Houston folks love this guy, he is very good at breaking this stuff down on why there may be a cat 5 surge with a cat 2 storm and the whole surge being basically a dome of water, in this case 50-75 miles long

[bayoubebe]

To my VERY untrained eye, it looks like the bad stuff could go where the TX/LA borderline is.
Am I viewing this wrong?

http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/goes/flt/t3/loop-avn.html

[jinftl]

Surge is going to be the disatrous element....winds will be bad but sounds like you are safe. The level of surge event is not reflective of the storms winds....please don't think you need to risk your safety by getting on the road now if you are out of surge zone in safe structure.

Wow all of the video of flooding along the coast is scaring me. I'm on the northeast side of town out of a local flood zone, so I assume I'm safe outside of tornados and wind damage, but its still scary to say the least.

I have family calling me frantically to get out NOW.

With all the talk of this being such a massive storm damage wise, what specifically are people referring to? Is this referring to the storm surge, or winds as well? Guess I'm just wondering if evacuating from SE Houston in a mandatory evac zone to the northeast side of town was enough.

[dhweather]

CNN estimating 20,000 still in Galveston. Unreal.

What? Do they want to break the record number of deaths from 1900 ?

What infuriates me - when these people realize they are screwed, they'll call 911 and expect first responders to save them.

[TCmet]

CNN estimating 20,000 still in Galveston. Unreal.

This is going to be bad.

[CronkPSU]

KHOU-police shut down seawall avenue to anyone but reporters

and a pier has already collapsed

[Bunkertor]

dr neil frank is on...

talking about how some areas should have never been developed because of the risk of storm surge there...calling the storm surge basically a dome of water 50-75 miles long

Could you provide a link, please ?

[NEXRAD]

Wow all of the video of flooding along the coast is scaring me. I'm on the northeast side of town out of a local flood zone, so I assume I'm safe outside of tornados and wind damage, but its still scary to say the least.

I have family calling me frantically to get out NOW.

With all the talk of this being such a massive storm damage wise, what specifically are people referring to? Is this referring to the storm surge, or winds as well? Guess I'm just wondering if evacuating from SE Houston in a mandatory evac zone to the northeast side of town was enough.

The references to Ike's potential to cause damage is mainly a result of the storm's immense size. For comparison, Ike's hurricane force winds extend across an area that's as large as the entire size of most typical hurricanes. The storm's large wind radius will bring the high winds onshore long before the center reaches the coast and this will allow the storm to bring the strong winds much farther inland. Also, with the large storm radius, Ike is displacing much more water than a usual Category 2 hurricane, and because of this the storm surge will be greater.

If you've heeded the evacuation orders and recommendations of local authorities, then you will be safe provided you are in a permanent building in Northeast Houston. Do not stay in a mobile home. Your area is forecast to feel hurricane force winds, so it's a good idea to prepare a safe room, especially if where you are staying is not boarded up. If you are staying at a shelter, then you will be safe, too.

- Jay

[stayawaynow]

dr neil frank is on...

talking about how some areas should have never been developed because of the risk of storm surge there...calling the storm surge basically a dome of water 50-75 miles long

Could you provide a link, please ?

http://flhurricane.com/ikecoverage.html

[dhweather]

KHOU - The department of homeland security believe the entire island (Galveston) will be under water.

[RL3AO]

dr neil frank is on...

talking about how some areas should have never been developed because of the risk of storm surge there...calling the storm surge basically a dome of water 50-75 miles long

Could you provide a link, please ?

http://www.khou.com/video/?nvid=178826& ... s&noad=yes

[pablolopez26]

That is far from ragged my friend.

I just hope that everyone who was told to leave has left! The window has pretty much closed!

[Dean4Storms]

I'm afraid there is going to be a major loss of life with this one, people got fooled at the Cat 2 winds and probably comparing it to storms past. Add the fact that so much of that population has probably been transplants from outside of hurricane prone areas and you have a recipe for disaster.

[vbhoutex]

Anyone know if there are plans to close the Galveston Causeway due to surge, wave height. and wind?

I don't think they close it due to surge, but from memory, they'll close it when the winds pick up. That said, I don't know how deep the water will be at the Galveston entrance to the causeway.

I'm currently watching KHOU on Austin's digital channel 24.2 (KVUE's second channel) if you have a station owned by Belo they may be doing that too - WFAA in Dallas, WWL-TV in New Orleans etc.

The causeway bridge itself closes due to winds above TS force iirc. Surge on the other hand used to close the approaches at 6.5 feet. I think it has been raised some, but if the projected surge does happen Interstate 45 will go under water in that area. Surge is already onto the access roads in some areas and I 45 and 61st street in Galveston is already inundated(not sure if it is still passable or not).

[PhillyWX]

CNN estimating 20,000 still in Galveston. Unreal.

W. T. F.

That's not good.

[Brent]

CNN estimating 20,000 still in Galveston. Unreal.

Sadly I'm not surprised. I was watching the local news feeds last night and people just didn't care.