Printable ProductProvided by - NWS Southern Region HQ - Print 000 WTUS84 KHGX 110712 HLSHGX URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED HURRICANE IKE LOCAL STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX 212 AM CDT THU SEP 11 2008 ...IKE HOLDING STEADY AS A CATEGORY 2 HURRICANE... .AT 100 AM CDT...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE IKE WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 25.0 NORTH AND LONGITUDE 87.2 WEST OR ABOUT 555 MILES SOUTHEAST OF GALVESTON. IKE IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST NEAR 9 MPH. A GENERAL WEST-NORTHWESTWARD MOTION OVER THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN GULF OF MEXICO IS EXPECTED TODAY AND FRIDAY. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 100 MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS. IKE IS A CATEGORY TWO HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON SCALE. ALTHOUGH FLUCTUATIONS IN STRENGTH ARE POSSIBLE DURING THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS...GRADUAL STRENGTHENING IS FORECAST DURING THIS PERIOD...AND IKE COULD BECOME A MAJOR HURRICANE TODAY OR ON FRIDAY. IKE IS A LARGE TROPICAL CYCLONE. HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 115 MILES FROM THE CENTER...AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 230 MILES. THE MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE ESTIMATED FROM AIR FORCE HURRICANE HUNTER AIRCRAFT OBSERVATIONS WAS 946 MB OR 27.94 INCHES. COASTAL STORM SURGE FLOODING OF 3 TO 5 FEET ABOVE NORMAL TIDE LEVELS...ALONG WITH LARGE AND DANGEROUS BATTERING WAVES...CAN BE EXPECTED WITHIN THE TROPICAL STORM WARNING AREA. ABOVE NORMAL TIDES OF 2 TO 4 FEET ARE EXPECTED ELSEWHERE ALONG MUCH OF THE NORTHERN COAST OF THE GULF OF MEXICO DURING THE NEXT DAY OR SO... BUT WILL BE INCREASING ALONG THE WESTERN GULF COAST AS IKE APPROACHES. GMZ330-335-350-355-370-375-120715- /O.CON.KHGX.HU.A.0001.000000T0000Z-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- 212 AM CDT THU SEP 11 2008 ...HURRICANE WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT... ...NEW INFORMATION... .AT 100 AM CDT...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE IKE WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 25.0 NORTH AND LONGITUDE 87.2 WEST OR ABOUT 555 MILES SOUTHEAST OF GALVESTON. ...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 BE COMPLETING PREPARATIONS 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 TO 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 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH SEAS IN EXCESS OF 20 FEET FRIDAY AFTERNOON. ...NEXT UPDATE... THIS STATEMENT WILL BE UPDATED AROUND 530 AM CDT. $$ TXZ200-213-214-235>238-120715- /O.CON.KHGX.HU.A.1009.000000T0000Z-000000T0000Z/ BRAZORIA-CHAMBERS-GALVESTON-HARRIS-JACKSON-LIBERTY-MATAGORDA- 212 AM CDT THU SEP 11 2008 ...HURRICANE WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT... ...NEW INFORMATION... .AT 100 AM CDT...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE IKE WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 25.0 NORTH AND LONGITUDE 87.2 WEST OR ABOUT 555 MILES SOUTHEAST OF GALVESTON. ...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... HURRICANE WATCH IS IN EFFECT. ...PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... CURRENT EVACUATION INFORMATION: CHAMBERS COUNTY: RESIDENTS OF OAK ISLAND AND SMITH POINT FISHING COMMUNITIES ARE BEING ASKED TO LEAVE AS ROADWAYS WILL BE SUBMERGED. RESIDENTS OF CEDAR POINT AND WALKER SUBDIVISIONS IN BEACH CITY AND THOSE LIVING SOUTH OF FM 1985 ARE ALSO BEING ASKED TO LEAVE. BRAZORIA COUNTY: THE COUNTY JUDGE HAS RECOMMENDED A MANDATORY EVACUATION FOR MOST OF BRAZORIA COUNTY BEGINNING AT 8 AM THURSDAY. RESIDENTS ACROSS THE COUNTY SHOULD CONSULT WITH YOUR LOCAL COUNTY OR CITY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT FOR SPECIFIC DETAILS. A MANDATORY EVACUATION HAS BEEN ORDERED FOR ZIP ZONE 77541. A SPECIAL NEEDS EVACUATION ORDER 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 BY 10 AM THURSDAY. GALVESTON COUNTY: A MANDATORY EVACUATION WILL BEGIN AT 7 AM THURSDAY FOR WEST GALVESTON ISLAND...JAMAICA BEACH...BOLIVAR PENINSULA...OMEGA BAY...SAN LEON...BACLIFF...AND FREDDIESVILLE. VOLUNTARY EVACUATION SHOULD BE CONSIDERED FOR LOW-LYING AREAS IN DICKINSON...KEMAH...CLEAR LAKE SHORES...AND LA MARQUE. CITIZENS SHOULD ALSO CONSIDER EVACUATING IF THEY LIVE IN 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. SCHOOL CLOSINGS...THE FOLLOWING SCHOOL DISTRICTS WILL BE CLOSED ON THURSDAY AND FRIDAY...HIGH ISLAND...HITCHCOCK...SANTA FE... CLEAR CREEK AND FRIENDSWOOD. THE FOLLOWING WILL BE CLOSED STARTING MIDDAY THURSDAY THROUGH FRIDAY...GALVESTON...AND DICKINSON. THE FOLLOWING WILL BE CLOSED ON FRIDAY...LA MARQUE...AND TEXAS CITY. THE BOLIVAR S.U.D. HAS INDICATED THEY WILL CEASE WATER SERVICE TO THE PENINSULA AT 5 PM ON THURSDAY. UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MEDICAL BRANCH HOSPITAL IN GALVESTON WILL BEGIN A COMPLETE EVACUATION OF THE HOSPITAL FACILITIES AT 8 AM THURSDAY. JACKSON COUNTY: A VOLUNTARY EVACUATION IS UNDERWAY FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTY. SCHOOLS WILL BE CLOSED THURSDAY AND FRIDAY. 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. THESE EVACUATIONS MUST BE COMPLETED BY 6 PM THURSDAY. MATAGORDA COUNTY OFFICIALS ARE RECOMMENDING A VOLUNTARY EVACUATION OF RESIDENTS NORTH OF HIGHWAY 35 AND IN BAY CITY AND VAN VLECK FOR THOSE LIVING IN LOW LYING AREAS AND MANUFACTURED HOMES THAT ARE NOT PROPERLY TIED DOWN. 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. BE SURE TO START YOUR EVACUATION WITH A FULL TANK OF GAS. 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. YOU SHOULD COME TO THE BAY CITY SERVICE CENTER THURSDAY BEGINNING AT 9 AM OR KC HALL IN PALACIOS AT 9 AM ON THURSDAY. RESIDENTS OF MATAGORDA COUNTY WHO NEED SHELTER CAN EVACUATE TO THE SHELTER HUB IN AUSTIN. SIGNS IN AUSTIN WILL DIRECT EVACUEES TO OPEN SHELTERS. ALL SCHOOLS IN MATAGORDA COUNTY WILL BE CLOSED ON THURSDAY AND FRIDAY. PALACIOS SCHOOL DISTRICT WILL ALSO BE CLOSED ON MONDAY SEPTEMBER 15TH. WHARTON COUNTY: WHARTON COUNTY OFFICIALS ARE ENCOURAGING WHARTON COUNTY CITIZENS TO EVACUATE IF THEY LIVE IN A MOBILE HOME...RV OR A FLOOD PRONE AREA EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY. FORT BEND COUNTY: PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION HAS BEEN SUSPENDED ON FRIDAY. ...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. THE MAXIMUM STORM TIDE LEVELS ARE HIGHLY DEPENDENT ON THE TRACK OF THE STORM AND VARIATIONS OF ONLY 15 MILES CAN MAKE DIFFERENCES OF 5 TO 10 FEET MORE OR LESS FROM SOME OF THESE VALUES. MAXIMUM WATER LEVELS FORECAST: SHORELINE OF MATAGORDA BAY - 10 TO 20 FEET COASTAL AREAS FROM MATAGORDA TO SAN LUIS PASS - 11 TO 20 FEET COASTAL AREAS OF GALVESTON AND CHAMBERS COUNTIES AND THE SHORES OF GALVESTON BAY - 8 TO 15 FEET TIDE TIMES LOCATION HIGH TIDE TIMES EXPECTED WATER PEAK SURGE EARLY WATER MAX SATURDAY MORNING MORGANS POINT... 8 TO 11 FEET THU 2:50 PM. 4.2 FEET. FRI 2:52 PM. 6.1 FEET. CLEAR LAKE ENTRANCE... 9 TO 14 FEET THU 10:34 AM. 2.0 FEET. FRI 10:36 AM. 4.0 FEET. EAGLE POINT... 8 TO 14 FEET THU 8:23 AM. 2.5 FEET. FRI 8:25 AM. 5.5 FEET. PORT BOLIVAR... 9 TO 14 FEET THU 12:24 PM. 3.5 FEET. FRI 4:45 AM. 5.0 FEET. FRI 1:52 PM. 7.0 FEET. SAT 4:52 AM. 9.0 FEET. GALVESTON CHANNEL... 11 TO 13 FEET THU 4:29 AM. 3.4 FEET. THU 12:10 PM. 4.9 FEET. FRI 4:31 AM. 6.5 FEET. FRI 1:38 PM. 7.5 FEET. SAT 4:38 AM. 11.0 FEET. GALVESTON PLEASURE PIER... 11 TO 13 FEET THU 3:23 AM. 3.7 FEET. THU 11:04 AM. 5.2 FEET. FRI 3:25 AM. 6.8 FEET. FRI 12:32 PM. 7.3 FEET. SAT 3:32 AM. 11.4 FEET. JAMAICA BEACH... 10 TO 13 FEET THU 7:07 AM. 2.9 FEET. THU 2:48 PM. 3.7 FEET. FRI 7:09 AM. 5.1 FEET. FRI 4:16 PM. 7.1 FEET. SAT 7:16 AM. 8.1 FEET. SAN LUIS PASS... 10 TO 15 FEET THU 4:20 AM. 2.4 FEET. THU 12:01 PM. 3.9 FEET. FRI 4:22 AM. 5.4 FEET. FRI 1:29 PM. 6.3 FEET. SAT 4:29 AM. 10.0 FEET. FREEPORT... 13 TO 20 FEET THU 3:45 AM. 3.1 FEET. THU 11:26 AM. 4.9 FEET. FRI 3:47 AM. 5.1 FEET. FRI 12:54 PM. 6.0 FEET. SAT 3:54 AM. 13.1 FEET. PORT O CONNOR... 10 TO 17 FEET THU 9:29 AM. 3.1 FEET. FRI 10:15 AM. 6.0 FEET. NOTE...TIDE LEVELS ARE REFERENCED FROM THE MEAN LOWER LOW WATER. ...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. BY 2 PM ON FRIDAY...THEY ARE EXPECTED TO RANGE FROM 40 TO 60 MPH WITH MUCH HIGHER GUSTS POSSIBLE ALONG THE COAST. OVER THE INLAND AREAS...WINDS ALONG THE INTERSTATE 10 CORRIDOR SHOULD BE NEARING 25 TO 40 MPH SUSTAINED...MAKING ELEVATED ROADWAYS POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS. SUSTAINED HURRICANE FORCE WINDS IN EXCESS OF 75 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE BY 8 PM FRIDAY AHEAD OF THE EYEWALL. THE EYEWALL IS FORECAST TO COME ONSHORE INTO MATAGORDA COUNTY LATE FRIDAY EVENING OR EARLY SATURDAY MORNING. 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 WILL BE 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 5 AM CDT. $$