ATL: IKE Discussion

[dixiebreeze]

I have seen some video of large oaks downed in parts of downtown Houston. They also interviewed a man who lives downtown on CNN who said that this (so far) appears to be worse and more extensive than Alicia was. He specifically noted that the downtown tree damage was worse.

A call this morning from the grandson in Houston. He said he is still in his attic appartment in a 3-story building. Food and water gone. Major glass damage everywhere and trees down all over his area. Hoping for a Red Cross meal eventually.

Grandson in Houma is ok and ready to help with the recovery work, though areas there are flooded.

hopefully next time he gets more than a day of water and food

He had more, but shared with others in the apartment building. Early 20's and NO experience with hurricanes.

[Enzo Aquarius]

BOSSIER LA-WEBSTER LA-BIENVILLE LA-
1039 AM CDT SAT SEP 13 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1100 AM CDT FOR WEST
CENTRAL BIENVILLE...SOUTHERN WEBSTER AND EAST CENTRAL BOSSIER
PARISHES...

AT 1035 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO. THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR HEFLIN...OR ABOUT
13 MILES SOUTH OF MINDEN...MOVING NORTHWEST AT 50 MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
DIXIE INN BY 1045 AM CDT...

CNN reports a TON of blown-out windows in the Houston area.

[hazmat]

Listening to live reports from emergency mngmnt on the flhurricane links.
Terrible reports of flooding, fire, and a backlog of 911 calls on Galveston Island.

[Time Traveller]

Watching KHOU right now. They are showing downtown Houston skyscrapers with almost all the windows completely blown out, even on the first floor. Looks like a war zone.

[Mello1]

Click 2 Houston is finally on Galveston Island. Massive, massive damage. Some businesses totally destroyed and the debris swept on the main drag. Massive holes in hotel...

Ballineeis (sp?) room destroyed...

[edit] West end completely under water.

[DESTRUCTION5]

http://www.click2houston.com/video/10903347/index.html

Bump..
Live at gal right now

[Mello1]

http://www.click2houston.com/video/10903347/index.html

Bump..
Live at gal right now

Thanks. Forgot to add link. Bridge linking hotel destroyed. People cannot get out...

[MBryant]

Watching KHOU right now. They are showing downtown Houston skyscrapers with almost all the windows completely blown out, even on the first floor. Looks like a war zone.

The Emergency Management thought they had found the problem with downtown glass breakage after Alecia. It was thought to have been caused by the pea gravel roof construction. They banned it's use and require retrofitting.

I guess there was more to it.

[Mello1]

Watching KHOU right now. They are showing downtown Houston skyscrapers with almost all the windows completely blown out, even on the first floor. Looks like a war zone.

The Emergency Management thought they had found the problem with downtown glass breakage after Alecia. It was thought to have been caused by the pea gravel roof construction. They banned it's use and require retrofitting.

I guess there was more to it.

Sounds strange that they would say that. The tornado in downtown ATL did the same thing...

[Mello1]

Someone was on a forum was asking about friends of theirs...who apparently tried to ride out the storm on their boat moored at Galveston Island.

Reporters on main drag in GAL. Says that some people who rode it out are now out and about surveying damage.

Probably depends on where they are, but on a boat? I dunno....

[artist]

has anyone heard from southerngale? I just saw some pics of downtown Beaumont. I think that is where she lives?

[Eddy Gurge]

Yeah, the Balinese Room is gone. Historic, even had its own Wiki page.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balinese_Room

[HURAKAN]

Yeah, the Balinese Room is gone. Historic, even had its own Wiki page.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balinese_Room

"As of Saturday, September 13th KPRC in Houston is reporting that the Balinese Room was destroyed by Hurricane Ike."

One of its many victims.

[southerngale]

After being up all night and only a couple of hours of sleep the previous 2 nights, I finally slept some this morning. Anyway, just now hearing about damage where I live.

The city of Beaumont experienced storm surge in some areas. There are unconfirmed reports of several tornadoes that struck Beaumont. There are downed trees, downed and hanging power lines, structural damage to homes and businesses. There is no power anywhere in the area. Reports of trees through homes, roofs blown off, etc.

Orange County has experienced significant storm surge damage with some people reported to be trapped in their homes. Downtown Orange is experiencing storm surge flooding. Bridge City in particular has reports of high water in some homes with citizens needing assistance. They have downed trees, power lines, some structural damage to businesses and homes, windows blown out, etc.

Unconfirmed report that "Port Arthur is under water" but the levees held, so I don't know how much, to what extent, etc.

My friend's FIL works for Entergy. We can hope, but he told her, "you're looking at about a month, 3 to 4 weeks range"

Everything I'm hearing about the Beaumont/Port Arthur/Orange area... much worse than I expected.

[Frank2]

Per an Associated Press article (and their quoting the US Geological Survey), the storm surge topped out at 13.5 feet, far less than the 22 or 25 feet or higher that many feared.

As for damage in downtown Houston, so far it seems very similar to what we had in downtown Fort Lauderdale after Wilma (2005) - lots of broken glass, power outages and downed trees, but, damage very simliar to a Cat 2 wind-wise...

Hopefully, as the Galveston Mayor said this morning, everyone will be found well and safe...

Frank

[VeniceInlet]

I want to know if the Poop Deck made it. (This is the place directly on Seawall Boulevard in the video taken the night before showing all the drunk macho rednecks vowing to stay.)

[RL3AO]

That last minute wobble probably saved Galveston a lot of surge.

[Mello1]

After being up all night and only a couple of hours of sleep the previous 2 nights, I finally slept some this morning. Anyway, just now hearing about damage where I live.

The city of Beaumont experienced storm surge in some areas. There are unconfirmed reports of several tornadoes that struck Beaumont. There are downed trees, downed and hanging power lines, structural damage to homes and businesses. There is no power anywhere in the area. Reports of trees through homes, roofs blown off, etc.

Orange County has experienced significant storm surge damage with some people reported to be trapped in their homes. Downtown Orange is experiencing storm surge flooding. Bridge City in particular has reports of high water in some homes with citizens needing assistance. They have downed trees, power lines, some structural damage to businesses and homes, etc.

Unconfirmed report that "Port Arthur is under water" but the levees held, so I don't know how much, to what extent, etc.

My friend's FIL works for Entergy. We can hope, but he told her, "you're looking at about a month, 3 to 4 weeks range"

Everything I'm hearing about the Beaumont/Port Arthur/Orange area... much worse than I expected.

Hang in there. We are with you. Early damage pictures are just getting out.

News copters still grounded .mil and medical only. So reports are still sketchy, but it's not looking good at all.

[MBryant]

My son, an EMT in Port Arthur, left this brief message. "Beaumont is in bad shape." He and other EMTs in Port Arthur were evacuated to Beaumont when it got too bad there.

[mathwhizz]

Reliant Stadium damaged. Houston Texans game is called off.

http://blogs.chron.com/hurricanes/2008/ ... onday.html

The Houston Texas will not be playing their home opener against the Baltimore Ravens on Monday night at Reliant Stadium.

The game was supposed to have been played at 7:30 p.m., but Hurricane Ike has caused damage to the stadium that has made it unsuitable for hosting the game.

``The facility will not be usable,'' said Shey Guinn, president of SMG, the company that manages Reliant Park.

``There's some structural damage to the roof. Part of it is off,'' Guinn said.
``There's also some other damage on the property caused by wind and water. We're in the process of assessing the damage,'' he said. ``As far as the game being postponed again or played, that will be up to the NFL.''