Houston and a cat 5... how bad could it get?

[Houstonia]

Obviously, since I live in Houston or close enough - I would be concerned with a dangerous storm baring (bearing?) down on our city.

We've heard talk about NOLa going under - we've heard talk about Miami being devastated.

What would happen to Houston? Remember, it's still a good 50 miles from Galveston. Unless the storm came straight up the ship channel, a la Alicia, would we feel all that much in the way of effects from it?

I live outside the city, in the county, on the northwest side. Would Katy, Tomball, or Hempstead feel severe effects from a Cat 5 storm?

Someone said there was a link to an article discussing the potential damage... anyone have that link?

[gkrangers]

I don't know the lay of the coastline, so I don't know about flooding along Houston/Galveston.

But a Category 5 hurricane would do significant wind damage 50 miles from the coast, for sure.

[jasons2k]

It will be one here:

http://www.chron.com/content/chronicle/ ... index.html

[Houstonia]

It will be one here:

http://www.chron.com/content/chronicle/ ... index.html

Thansk - that's what I was looking for...

[jasons2k]

Actually here:

http://www.hcoem.org/videos.htm

[Houstonia]

It will be one here:

http://www.chron.com/content/chronicle/ ... index.html

Thansk - that's what I was looking for...

part of one the articles reads:

Order of evacuation

The first to be evacuated would be residents of western Galveston and southern Harris counties, who would have to begin evacuating at least 33 hours before the storm's outer bands (containing winds of about 40 mph) are expected to come ashore. Next would be residents of eastern Chambers, eastern Galveston and eastern Harris counties (19-20 hours in advance), followed by Brazoria County (15 hours), central Harris County (10 hours), west Chambers County (eight hours) and Liberty County (seven hours).

Man, I can't even imagine a storm so huge that central Harris County would have to be evacuated. Would that include Houston?!? Would I have my Mom, Dad and dog coming to stay with me and my three cats in my one-bedroom apartment?!?

[Swimdude]

Yeah, I live in western Harris... And... Wow... I can't imagine. In other words, downtown would get some kick of bashing... Whew. Especially with the wind between the tall buildings!

[Hurricaneman]

It would be utter chaos

[jasons2k]

It will be one here:

http://www.chron.com/content/chronicle/ ... index.html

Thansk - that's what I was looking for...

part of one the articles reads:

Order of evacuation

The first to be evacuated would be residents of western Galveston and southern Harris counties, who would have to begin evacuating at least 33 hours before the storm's outer bands (containing winds of about 40 mph) are expected to come ashore. Next would be residents of eastern Chambers, eastern Galveston and eastern Harris counties (19-20 hours in advance), followed by Brazoria County (15 hours), central Harris County (10 hours), west Chambers County (eight hours) and Liberty County (seven hours).

Man, I can't even imagine a storm so huge that central Harris County would have to be evacuated. Would that include Houston?!? Would I have my Mom, Dad and dog coming to stay with me and my three cats in my one-bedroom apartment?!?

Here are the SE TX evacuation maps, including Harris:

http://www.srh.noaa.gov/hgx/tropical/maps.htm

[Houstonia]

It will be one here:

http://www.chron.com/content/chronicle/ ... index.html

Thansk - that's what I was looking for...

part of one the articles reads:

Order of evacuation

The first to be evacuated would be residents of western Galveston and southern Harris counties, who would have to begin evacuating at least 33 hours before the storm's outer bands (containing winds of about 40 mph) are expected to come ashore. Next would be residents of eastern Chambers, eastern Galveston and eastern Harris counties (19-20 hours in advance), followed by Brazoria County (15 hours), central Harris County (10 hours), west Chambers County (eight hours) and Liberty County (seven hours).

Man, I can't even imagine a storm so huge that central Harris County would have to be evacuated. Would that include Houston?!? Would I have my Mom, Dad and dog coming to stay with me and my three cats in my one-bedroom apartment?!?

Here are the SE TX evacuation maps, including Harris:

http://www.srh.noaa.gov/hgx/tropical/maps.htm

Those evacuation maps don't say anything about evacuating CENTRAL Harris County. The article implies that during a cat 5 hurricane - even the central part of the county (which includes the whole of Houston) would have to be evacuated. That is what I find so amazing. I can't even imagine how huge a storm would have to be to require the city of Houston to evacuate.

How far is Miami from water? Isn't it right on the ocean (I don't know ANYthing about Florida)? Again, Houston is 50 miles from Galveston island - though I suppose much closer as the bird flies.

[vbhoutex]

A CAT5 would devastate the entire Houston metro area and I am not talking about the surge. Winds could conceivably be well over 100 mph up to near Huntsville and definitely would be that strong all over Harris County. I am talking sustained, which means gusts could be in the CAT4 range even into your area of NW Harris county. I would give strong consideration to evacing to the hill country if we had a CAT5 coming in on us.

I saw entire forests laid over and giant signs with 18" steel girders laid over like spaghetti after Camille and I was 60 miles inland.

[Houstonia]

I saw entire forests laid over and giant signs with 18" steel girders laid over like spaghetti after Camille and I was 60 miles inland.

That would give me nightmares VB... I mean, you were there during Allison and I was freaking out all evening long (online)!!

I would be suffering from post-traumatic-stress-disorder if I had to go through that!!

[Normandy]

I dont think one can comprehend the damage....it would be that bad.

[jasons2k]

A CAT5 would devastate the entire Houston metro area and I am not talking about the surge. Winds could conceivably be well over 100 mph up to near Huntsville and definitely would be that strong all over Harris County. I am talking sustained, which means gusts could be in the CAT4 range even into your area of NW Harris county. I would give strong consideration to evacing to the hill country if we had a CAT5 coming in on us.

I saw entire forests laid over and giant signs with 18" steel girders laid over like spaghetti after Camille and I was 60 miles inland.

Well, I certainly pray we don't have that on our plate. Especially since the freeways here are not engineered to handle reverse-flow traffic - it would truly be a mess.

I live near The Woodlands. I have 100' pine trees surrounding my house.

[vbhoutex]

I saw entire forests laid over and giant signs with 18" steel girders laid over like spaghetti after Camille and I was 60 miles inland.

That would give me nightmares VB... I mean, you were there during Allison and I was freaking out all evening long (online)!!

I would be suffering from post-traumatic-stress-disorder if I had to go through that!!

Many would be after going through something as horrible as a direct hit by a CAT5. After what I saw during and after Camille, it is not something I would wish on my worst enemy.

[Patrick99]

It will be one here:

http://www.chron.com/content/chronicle/ ... index.html

Thansk - that's what I was looking for...

part of one the articles reads:

Order of evacuation

The first to be evacuated would be residents of western Galveston and southern Harris counties, who would have to begin evacuating at least 33 hours before the storm's outer bands (containing winds of about 40 mph) are expected to come ashore. Next would be residents of eastern Chambers, eastern Galveston and eastern Harris counties (19-20 hours in advance), followed by Brazoria County (15 hours), central Harris County (10 hours), west Chambers County (eight hours) and Liberty County (seven hours).

Man, I can't even imagine a storm so huge that central Harris County would have to be evacuated. Would that include Houston?!? Would I have my Mom, Dad and dog coming to stay with me and my three cats in my one-bedroom apartment?!?

Here are the SE TX evacuation maps, including Harris:

http://www.srh.noaa.gov/hgx/tropical/maps.htm

Those evacuation maps don't say anything about evacuating CENTRAL Harris County. The article implies that during a cat 5 hurricane - even the central part of the county (which includes the whole of Houston) would have to be evacuated. That is what I find so amazing. I can't even imagine how huge a storm would have to be to require the city of Houston to evacuate.

How far is Miami from water? Isn't it right on the ocean (I don't know ANYthing about Florida)? Again, Houston is 50 miles from Galveston island - though I suppose much closer as the bird flies.

How far is Miami from water? You could stand on top of the downtown buildings, give a stone a nice heave, and it would fall into Biscayne Bay. It's that close. With any direct hit on Miami, Miami Beach (just a short jaunt across causeways) would be first to go under water, but bayside Miami will *not* be far behind. A repeat of the enormous 1926 hurricane wouldn't be too pretty.

[Brent]

A CAT5 would devastate the entire Houston metro area and I am not talking about the surge. Winds could conceivably be well over 100 mph up to near Huntsville and definitely would be that strong all over Harris County. I am talking sustained, which means gusts could be in the CAT4 range even into your area of NW Harris county. I would give strong consideration to evacing to the hill country if we had a CAT5 coming in on us.

I saw entire forests laid over and giant signs with 18" steel girders laid over like spaghetti after Camille and I was 60 miles inland.

Exactly. I would MAKE a way to get out if I couldn't get out by vehicle. Would not want to be anywhere remotely close to that place. The surge would destroy everything else.

[Brent]

How far is Miami from water? Isn't it right on the ocean (I don't know ANYthing about Florida)? Again, Houston is 50 miles from Galveston island - though I suppose much closer as the bird flies.

Miami *is* on the water. There's a barrier island with Miami Beach and then there's Biscayne Bay and then there's downtown... nothing in between.

The problem for Houston is the bays southeast of the city and the fact that Houston is low-lying(flooding just yesterday from slow-moving storms), a 15-20 foot surge into the bays would flood much of the city... and anyone still there would drown. One of the mets from the Houston area here drew up a map a few months ago and it was somewhere in the neighborhood of 3 million live in what would be the affected area.

[stormie_skies]

How far is Miami from water? Isn't it right on the ocean (I don't know ANYthing about Florida)? Again, Houston is 50 miles from Galveston island - though I suppose much closer as the bird flies.

Miami *is* on the water. There's a barrier island with Miami Beach and then there's Biscayne Bay and then there's downtown... nothing in between.

The problem for Houston is the bays southeast of the city and the fact that Houston is low-lying(flooding just yesterday from slow-moving storms), a 15-20 foot surge into the bays would flood much of the city... and anyone still there would drown. One of the mets from the Houston area here drew up a map a few months ago and it was somewhere in the neighborhood of 3 million live in what would be the affected area.

Exactly, Brent. A number of our bayous and creeks are easily flooded anyways...and several are connected to coastal waters....can you imagine what Clear Creek (and all the bayous attached to it) would look like if it surged 20 feet? Ackkkkkk..... Storm surge doesn't stop at the coast....

[Stormcenter]

Obviously, since I live in Houston or close enough - I would be concerned with a dangerous storm baring (bearing?) down on our city.

We've heard talk about NOLa going under - we've heard talk about Miami being devastated.

What would happen to Houston? Remember, it's still a good 50 miles from Galveston. Unless the storm came straight up the ship channel, a la Alicia, would we feel all that much in the way of effects from it?

I live outside the city, in the county, on the northwest side. Would Katy, Tomball, or Hempstead feel severe effects from a Cat 5 storm?

Someone said there was a link to an article discussing the potential damage... anyone have that link?

I don't want to know or ever find out.