Printable ProductProvided by - NWS Southern Region HQ - Print 000 WTUS84 KHGX 102228 HLSHGX URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED HURRICANE IKE LOCAL STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX 528 PM CDT WED SEP 10 2008 ...HURRICANE WATCHES ISSUED FOR THE GULF COAST... .AT 400 PM CDT...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE IKE WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 24.5 NORTH...LONGITUDE 86.1 WEST OR ABOUT 625 MILES SOUTHEAST OF GALVESTON. IKE IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHWEST NEAR 8 MPH. A TURN BACK TO A WEST-NORTHWESTWARD MOTION IS EXPECTED TONIGHT...AND A MOSTLY WEST-NORTHWESTWARD MOTION THROUGH THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN GULF OF MEXICO IS EXPECTED OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 100 MPH. IKE IS A CATEGORY TWO HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON SCALE. IKE IS EXPECTED TO BECOME A MAJOR HURRICANE WITHIN THE NEXT 24 HOURS. IKE IS A VERY LARGE TROPICAL CYCLONE. HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 90 MILES FROM THE CENTER...AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 200 MILES. THE LATEST MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE REPORTED BY AN AIR FORCE RESERVE UNIT RECONNAISSANCE AIRCRAFT WAS 958 MB...28.29 INCHES. TXZ200-213-214-235>238-112230- /O.CAN.KHGX.HU.S.0002.000000T0000Z-000000T0000Z/ /O.NEW.KHGX.HU.A.1009.080910T2228Z-000000T0000Z/ BRAZORIA-CHAMBERS-GALVESTON-HARRIS-JACKSON-LIBERTY-MATAGORDA- 528 PM CDT WED SEP 10 2008 ...HURRICANE WATCH IN EFFECT... ...NEW INFORMATION... HURRICANE WATCHES HAVE BEEN ISSUED FOR THE TEXAS COAST WELL IN ADVANCE OF THE USUAL 36 HOUR LEAD TIME. THIS HAS BEEN DONE TO GIVE PERSONS ACROSS SOUTHEAST TEXAS MORE TIME TO MAKE PREPARATIONS. THE STORM IS EXPECTED TO STRENGTHEN TO CATEGORY 4 INTENSITY WITH WINDS PEAKING NEAR 130 MPH CLOSE TO THE EYE OF THE STORM. THE STORM WILL LIKELY BE A VERY LARGE STORM WITH A WIND FIELD OF SUSTAINED TROPICAL FORCE WINDS THAT COULD BLANKET A LARGE SWATH OF THE TEXAS COAST AHEAD OF AND AT LANDFALL. THE STORM IS EXPECTED TO MAKE LANDFALL BETWEEN MIDNIGHT AND 6 AM FRIDAY NIGHT INTO SATURDAY. ...AREAS AFFECTED... THIS STATEMENT RECOMMENDS ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN BY PERSONS IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES OR MARINE AREAS: BRAZORIA...CHAMBERS...GALVESTON...HARRIS...JACKSON...LIBERTY... MATAGORDA. ...WATCHES/WARNINGS... A HURRICANE WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THE UPPER TEXAS COAST. NO ADDITIONAL HAZARDS ARE IN EFFECT. ...PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... CURRENT EVACUATION INFORMATION: ADDITIONAL EVACUATIONS MAY BE ISSUED BEFORE 630 PM...STAY TUNED. BRAZORIA COUNTY: A MANDATORY EVACUATION HAS BEEN ORDERED FOR ZIP ZONE 77541. A SPECIAL NEEDS EVACUATION ORDER IS IN PLACE FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTY. A VOLUNTARY EVACUATION IS IN PLACE FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTY. RESIDENTS IN THE COASTAL AREAS AND THOSE REQUIRING TRANSPORTATION FROM BRAZORIA COUNTY TO BELL COUNTY MUST RUSH THEIR PREPARATIONS TO COMPLETION. GALVESTON COUNTY: A VOLUNTARY EVACUATION BEGAN THIS AFTERNOON FOR BOLIVAR PENINSULA...THE WEST END OF GALVESTON ISLAND INCLUDING JAMAICA BEACH...SAN LEON...BACLIFF...BAYOU VISTA...OMEGA BAY...TIKI ISLAND...DICKINSON...KEMAH...AND CLEAR LAKE SHORES. CITIZENS MAY ALSO CONSIDER EVACUATING IF THEY LIVE IN LOW-LYING AREAS SUBJECT TO FLOODING OR IN MOBILE HOMES. IF YOU DECIDE TO EVACUATE...PLEASE REMEMBER TO PACK YOUR DISASTER KIT AND IMPORTANT PAPERS. THE GALVESTON-BOLIVAR FERRY WILL LIKELY CEASE OPERATIONS AT 11 PM THURSDAY NIGHT. JACKSON COUNTY: A VOLUNTARY EVACUATION HAS BEEN INITIATED FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTY. MATAGORDA COUNTY: A MANDATORY EVACUATION HAS BEEN ORDERED FOR PEOPLE WHO LIVE AND WORK SOUTH OF HIGHWAY 35. THIS MANDATORY EVACUATION INCLUDES THE COMMUNITIES OF PALACIOS...ASHBY-BUCKEYE...EL MATON...COLLEGEPORT... MATAGORDA...WADSWORTH...SARGENT...CEDAR LANE...CHINQUAPIN...TRES PALACIOS OAKS...AND TIDEWATER OAKS. BLESSING IS ALSO INCLUDED IN THE MANDATORY EVACUATION EVEN THOUGH IT IS NORTH OF HIGHWAY 35. THE MANDATORY EVACUATION DOES NOT INCLUDE BAY CITY OR VAN VLECK. IT IS RECOMMENDED YOU EVACUATE WITH YOUR PETS. BE SURE TO TAKE A PET CARRIER...LEASH...VACCINATION RECORDS...AND FOOD FOR YOUR PET. IF YOU EVACUATE TO A SHELTER...YOUR PETS WILL BE BOARDED AT A SEPARATE FACILITY. IF YOU HAVE NO MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION OR CANNOT FIND ANYONE TO HELP YOU EVACUATE AND NEED ASSISTANCE...YOU CAN CONTACT 979-245-3056 OR 979-244-5318. RESIDENTS OF MATAGORDA COUNTY WHO NEED SHELTER CAN EVACUATE TO THE SHELTER HUB IN AUSTIN. SIGNS IN AUSTIN WILL DIRECT EVACUEES TO OPEN SHELTERS. ...STORM SURGE AND STORM TIDE... THE FOLLOWING TIDE LEVELS ARE BASED ON THE CURRENT FORECAST TRACK AND FORECAST INTENSITY FOR HURRICANE IKE. THE LEVELS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE BASED ON ANY FUTURE CHANGES IN THE FORECAST. IF THE TRACK SHIFTS EASTWARD...THEN THESE LEVELS MAY BE INCREASED DRAMATICALLY FOR THE GALVESTON BAY REGION. TIDE LEVELS WILL EXCEED 5 FEET ABOVE MEAN LOWER LOW WATER ALONG THE UPPER TEXAS COAST BEGINNING FRIDAY MORNING. MAXIMUM TIDE LEVELS WILL OCCUR FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING. MAXIMUM WATER LEVELS FORECAST: SHORELINE OF MATAGORDA BAY - 15 TO 22 FEET COASTAL AREAS FROM MATAGORDA TO SAN LUIS PASS - 10 TO 14 FEET COASTAL AREAS OF GALVESTON AND CHAMBERS COUNTIES AND THE SHORES OF GALVESTON BAY - 8 TO 12 FEET ...WINDS... NORTHEAST WINDS WILL INCREASE 20 TO 30 MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS AFTER 3 AM FRIDAY ALONG THE COAST. WINDS WILL STEADILY INCREASE THROUGHOUT THE MORNING AND BY 2 PM ON FRIDAY WINDS OF 40 TO 60 MPH WITH MUCH HIGHER GUSTS WILL BE POSSIBLE ALONG THE COAST INLAND...WINDS ALONG THE INTERSTATE 10 CORRIDOR SHOULD BE NEARING 25 TO 40 MPH SUSTAINED MAKING ELEVATED ROADWAYS POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS. SUSTAINED HURRICANE FORCE WINDS OF 75 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE BY 8 PM FRIDAY. NEAR THE EYEWALL WHICH IS FORECAST TO COME ONSHORE MATAGORDA COUNTY SUSTAINED WINDS IN EXCESS OF 110 MPH WILL PRODUCE WIDESPREAD DAMAGE. FLYING DEBRIS WILL BE POTENTIALLY FATAL. IN CLOSE TO THE EYE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS WINDS WILL CAUSE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE AND ALL MOBILE HOMES WILL BE DESTROYED. STRUCTURAL DAMAGE WILL INCLUDE HOUSES OF POOR TO AVERAGE CONSTRUCTION BEING DESTROYED OR SEVERELY DAMAGED. MODERATE TO MAJOR DAMAGE OF WELL CONSTRUCTED HOUSES WILL INCLUDE FAILURE OF UP TO ONE HALF OF ALL GABLED ROOFS. IN ADDITION....UP TO ONE QUARTER OF EXTERIOR WALLS WILL FAIL. ALUMINUM AND LIGHT WEIGHT STEEL ROOFS WILL BE TORN OFF BUILDINGS AT INDUSTRIAL PARKS. PARTIAL ROOF AND EXTERIOR WALL FAILURES ARE LIKELY AT LOW RISE APARTMENT BUILDINGS...ESPECIALLY THOSE OF POOR TO AVERAGE CONSTRUCTION. MOST WINDOWS IN HIGH RISE OFFICE BUILDINGS WILL BE BLOWN OUT...WITH OTHER MINOR TO MODERATE DAMAGE POSSIBLE DUE TO SWAYING. AIRBORNE DEBRIS OF LIGHT TO MODERATE WEIGHT WILL CAUSE ADDITIONAL MAJOR DAMAGE...AS WELL AS INJURIES AND A FEW FATALITIES. NEAR TOTAL POWER LOSS IS EXPECTED. UP TO ONE HALF OF ALL POWER POLES WILL BE KNOCKED DOWN...AND HUNDREDS OF TRANSFORMERS WILL POP. THE AVAILABILITY OF POTABLE WATER WILL BE DIMINISHED AS FILTRATION SYSTEMS BEGIN TO FAIL. NATURAL DAMAGE WILL INCLUDE THOUSANDS OF TREES BEING SEVERELY DAMAGED. UP TO THREE QUARTERS OF ALL HEALTHY SMALL TO MEDIUM SIZED TREES WILL SNAP OR BE UPROOTED...MOST COMMON ON SATURATED GROUND. UP TO ONE HALF OF HEALTHY LARGE TREES WILL SNAP OR BE UPROOTED. MOST NEWLY PLANTED GROUND CROPS WILL BE WIPED OUT. LIVESTOCK LEFT OUTSIDE WILL BE INJURED...SOME CRITICALLY. A FEW LIVESTOCK DEATHS ARE LIKELY. ...INLAND FLOODING... WIDESPREAD RAINFALL OF 2 TO 4 INCHES WITH ISOLATED TOTALS OF 6 TO 10 INCHES POSSIBLE FRIDAY THROUGH SATURDAY. SIGNIFICANT FLOODING WILL BE POSSIBLE IN AREAS OF HEAVIEST RAINFALL. ...TORNADOES... AS THE STORM NEARS THE COAST FRIDAY EVENING THE THREAT OF TORNADOES WILL INCREASE RAPIDLY. REMEMBER THE INNERMOST ROOM WITH THE GREATEST NUMBER OF WALLS BETWEEN YOU AND THE WINDS WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH SOME SHELTER. DO NOT GO NEAR WINDOWS. ...NEXT UPDATE... THIS STATEMENT WILL BE UPDATED AROUND 11 PM. $$ GMZ330-335-350-355-370-375-112230- /O.NEW.KHGX.HU.A.0001.080910T2228Z-000000T0000Z/ GALVESTON BAY-MATAGORDA BAY- WATERS FROM FREEPORT TO THE MATAGORDA SHIP CHANNEL 20 NM TO 60 NM- WATERS FROM FREEPORT TO THE MATAGORDA SHIP CHANNEL OUT 20 NM- WATERS FROM HIGH ISLAND TO FREEPORT 20 TO 60 NM- WATERS FROM HIGH ISLAND TO FREEPORT OUT 20 NM- 528 PM CDT WED SEP 10 2008 ...HURRICANE WATCH IN EFFECT... ...NEW INFORMATION... HURRICANE WATCH ISSUED FOR THE UPPER TEXAS COASTAL WATERS AND BAYS. ...AREAS AFFECTED... THIS STATEMENT RECOMMENDS ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN BY PERSONS IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES OR MARINE AREAS: GALVESTON BAY...MATAGORDA BAY...WATERS FROM FREEPORT TO THE MATAGORDA SHIP CHANNEL 20 NM TO 60 NM...WATERS FROM FREEPORT TO THE MATAGORDA SHIP CHANNEL OUT 20 NM...WATERS FROM HIGH ISLAND TO FREEPORT 20 TO 60 NM...WATERS FROM HIGH ISLAND TO FREEPORT OUT 20 NM. ...WATCHES/WARNINGS... NO ADDITIONAL HAZARDS ARE IN EFFECT. ...PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... MARINERS SHOULD VERY QUICKLY TAKE ACTION TO PREPARE FOR THE PASSAGE OF A MAJOR HURRICANE THROUGH THE TEXAS COASTAL WATERS. HURRICANE WATCHES HAVE BEEN ISSUED FOR THE TEXAS COASTAL WATERS WELL IN ADVANCE OF THE USUAL 36 HOUR LEAD TIME. THIS HAS BEEN DONE TO GIVE MARINE INTERESTS MORE TIME TO MAKE PREPARATIONS FOR A MAJOR HURRICANE. ...STORM SURGE AND STORM TIDE... MAXIMUM WATER LEVELS FORECAST: SHORELINE OF MATAGORDA BAY - 15 TO 22 FEET COASTAL AREAS FROM MATAGORDA TO SAN LUIS PASS - 10 TO 14 FEET COASTAL AREAS OF GALVESTON AND CHAMBERS COUNTIES AND THE SHORES OF GALVESTON BAY - 8 TO 12 FEET ...WINDS... NORTHEAST WINDS WILL INCREASE TROPICAL STORM FORCE EARLY FRIDAY MORNING WITH WAVE HEIGHTS RISING TO 10 TO 18 FEET AFTER 8 AM. AS THE STRONGER WINDS WITH THE EYE MOVE INTO THE COASTAL WATERS WINDS OF 100 TO 130 KNOTS WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH SEAS IN EXCESS OF 20 FEET FRIDAY AFTER NOON. ...NEXT UPDATE... THE NEXT STATEMENT WILL BE ISSUED AROUND 11 PM. $$