Printable ProductProvided by - NWS Southern Region HQ - Print 000 WTUS84 KHGX 111044 HLSHGX URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED HURRICANE IKE LOCAL STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX 544 AM CDT THU SEP 11 2008 ...LARGE CATEGORY 2 HURRICANE IKE CONTINUES MOVING TO THE WEST-NORTHWEST OVER THE EAST-CENTRAL GULF OF MEXICO... .AT 400 AM CDT THE CENTER OF HURRICANE IKE WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 25.2 NORTH...LONGITUDE 87.6 WEST OR ABOUT 525 MILES SOUTHEAST OF GALVESTON. IKE IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST AT NEAR 9 MPH. A GENERAL WEST-NORTHWESTWARD MOTION OVER THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN GULF OF MEXICO IS EXPECTED TODAY AND FRIDAY. ON THIS TRACK THE CENTER WILL BE APPROACHING THE NORTHWESTERN GULF OF MEXICO COAST LATE FRIDAY. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 100 MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS. IKE IS A CATEGORY TWO HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON SCALE... AND IT COULD INTENSIFY INTO A CATEGORY THREE HURRICANE OVER THE NEXT DAY OR TWO. 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 255 MILES. AN AIR FORCE HURRICANE HUNTER PLANE REPORTED A MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE OF 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. TXZ163-164-176>179-195>199-210>212-226-227-121045- /O.NEW.KHGX.HI.A.0001.080911T1044Z-080914T1200Z/ AUSTIN-BRAZOS-BURLESON-COLORADO-FORT BEND-GRIMES-HOUSTON-MADISON- MONTGOMERY-POLK-SAN JACINTO-TRINITY-WALKER-WALLER-WASHINGTON- WHARTON- 544 AM CDT THU SEP 11 2008 ...HURRICANE WIND WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING... ...NEW INFORMATION... ...AREAS AFFECTED... THIS STATEMENT RECOMMENDS ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN BY PERSONS IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES OR MARINE AREAS: AUSTIN...BRAZOS...BURLESON...COLORADO...FORT BEND...GRIMES... HOUSTON...MADISON...MONTGOMERY...POLK...SAN JACINTO...TRINITY... WALKER...WALLER...WASHINGTON...WHARTON. ...WATCHES/WARNINGS... HURRICANE WIND WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING. ...PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... PRECAUTIONARY AND PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS TO TAKE ACROSS THE COASTAL AREAS AND THOSE BORDERING GALVESTON AND MATAGORDA BAYS: VERY DANGEROUS WINDS WILL PRODUCE WIDESPREAD DAMAGE AND DESTRUCTION OF MOBILE HOMES IS LIKELY. STRUCTURAL DAMAGE WILL INCLUDE THE MAJORITY OF MOBILE HOMES BEING SEVERELY DAMAGED. THOSE THAT SURVIVE WILL BE UNINHABITABLE UNTIL REPAIRED. HOUSES OF POOR TO AVERAGE CONSTRUCTION WILL HAVE MAJOR DAMAGE...INCLUDING PARTIAL WALL COLLAPSE AND ROOFS BEING LIFTED OFF. MANY WILL BE UNINHABITABLE. WELL CONSTRUCTED HOUSES WILL INCUR MINOR DAMAGE TO SHINGLES...SIDING...GUTTERS...AS WELL AS BLOWN OUT WINDOWS. UP TO ONE QUARTER OF GABLED ROOFS WILL FAIL. PARTIAL ROOF FAILURE IS EXPECTED AT INDUSTRIAL PARKS...ESPECIALLY TO THOSE BUILDINGS WITH LIGHT WEIGHT STEEL AND ALUMINUM COVERINGS. OLDER LOW RISING APARTMENT ROOFS MAY ALSO BE TORN OFF...AS WELL AS RECEIVING SIDING AND SHINGLE DAMAGE. UP TO ONE QUARTER OF ALL GLASS IN HIGH RISE OFFICE BUILDINGS WILL BE BLOWN OUT. AIRBORNE DEBRIS WILL CAUSE DAMAGE...INJURY...AND POSSIBLE FATALITIES. NATURAL DAMAGE WILL INCLUDE ALL TREES WITH ROTTING BASES BECOMING UPROOTED OR SNAPPED. NEARLY ALL LARGE BRANCHES WILL SNAP. BETWEEN ONE QUARTER AND ONE HALF OF HEALTHY SMALL TO MEDIUM SIZED TREES WILL BE SNAPPED OR UPROOTED...MOST COMMON WHERE THE GROUND IS SATURATED. ACROSS THOSE COUNTIES INLAND OF THE COAST: POORLY CONSTRUCTED OR UNSECURED MOBILE HOMES WILL BE DESTROYED. OTHERS WILL HAVE SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO ROOFS...WALLS...AND WINDOWS...AND WILL LIKELY BE UNINHABITABLE UNTIL REPAIRED. HOUSES OF POOR TO AVERAGE CONSTRUCTION WILL HAVE PARTIAL WALL AND ROOF FAILURE...AS WELL AS BLOWN OUT WINDOWS. UNSECURED LIGHT TO MODERATE WEIGHT OUTDOOR ITEMS WILL BECOME PROJECTILES...CAUSING ADDITIONAL DAMAGE AND PERHAPS INJURY. MANY AREAS WILL HAVE POWER OUTAGES...HUNDREDS OF WIRES WILL FALL...TRANSFORMERS WILL POP...AND SOME POWER POLES WILL BE PULLED DOWN. ROTTING LARGE TREES WILL BE UPROOTED...MOST COMMON ON SATURATED GROUND. NUMEROUS LARGE BRANCHES OF HEALTHY TREES WILL SNAP. UP TO ONE HALF OF NEWLY PLANTED CROPS WILL BE DAMAGED. ...WINDS... TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS IN EXCESS OF 39 MPH ARE EXPECTED TO REACH THE COASTAL COUNTIES AROUND NOON ON FRIDAY AND THEN SPREAD INLAND THROUGHOUT THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING. WINDS OF AT LEAST TROPICAL STORM FORCE WILL THEN POSSIBLY LAST UP TO 24 HOURS AT THE COAST. DEPENDING ON THE EVENTUAL TRACK AND STRENGTH OF IKE...HURRICANE FORCE WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO REACH THE COASTAL COUNTIES BEFORE MIDNIGHT FRIDAY EVENING AND LAST ABOUT 12 HOURS AT THE COAST. HURRICANE FORCE WINDS WILL SPREAD INLAND THROUGHOUT FRIDAY MORNING. PEAK WINDS OF 100 TO 115 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE ACROSS MOST OF THE COASTAL COUNTIES...ESPECIALLY WHERE THE EYE WALL MAKES LANDFALL. ...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 8 AM CDT. $$ GMZ330-335-350-355-370-375-121045- /O.CON.KHGX.HU.A.0001.000000T0000Z-000000T0000Z/ GALVESTON BAY-MATAGORDA BAY- WATERS FROM FREEPORT TO THE MATAGORDA SHIP CHANNEL 20 NM TO 60 NM- WATERS FROM FREEPORT TO THE MATAGORDA SHIP CHANNEL OUT 20 NM- WATERS FROM HIGH ISLAND TO FREEPORT 20 TO 60 NM- WATERS FROM HIGH ISLAND TO FREEPORT OUT 20 NM- 544 AM CDT THU SEP 11 2008 ...HURRICANE WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT... ...NEW INFORMATION... AT 400 AM CDT THE CENTER OF HURRICANE IKE WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 25.2 NORTH...LONGITUDE 87.6 WEST OR ABOUT 525 MILES SOUTHEAST OF GALVESTON. AN INLAND HURRICANE WIND WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED. ...AREAS AFFECTED... THIS STATEMENT RECOMMENDS ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN BY PERSONS IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES OR MARINE AREAS: GALVESTON BAY...MATAGORDA BAY...WATERS FROM FREEPORT TO THE MATAGORDA SHIP CHANNEL 20 NM TO 60 NM...WATERS FROM FREEPORT TO THE MATAGORDA SHIP CHANNEL OUT 20 NM...WATERS FROM HIGH ISLAND TO FREEPORT 20 TO 60 NM...WATERS FROM HIGH ISLAND TO FREEPORT OUT 20 NM. ...WATCHES/WARNINGS... NO ADDITIONAL HAZARDS ARE IN EFFECT. ...PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... MARINERS SHOULD BE COMPLETING PREPARATIONS FOR THE PASSAGE OF A MAJOR HURRICANE THROUGH THE TEXAS COASTAL WATERS. HURRICANE WATCHES HAVE BEEN ISSUED FOR THE TEXAS COASTAL WATERS WELL IN ADVANCE OF THE USUAL 36 HOUR LEAD TIME. THIS HAS BEEN DONE TO GIVE MARINE INTERESTS MORE TIME TO MAKE PREPARATIONS FOR A MAJOR HURRICANE. ...STORM SURGE AND STORM TIDE... MAXIMUM WATER LEVELS FORECAST: SHORELINE OF MATAGORDA BAY...15 TO 20 FEET COASTAL AREAS FROM MATAGORDA TO HIGH ISLAND...12 TO 16 FEET ...WINDS... TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO BEGIN AFFECTING THE COASTAL WATERS WITHIN 60 NM OF THE COAST AFTER MIDNIGHT THURSDAY NIGHT. HURRICANE FORCE WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO BEGIN FRIDAY AFTERNOON. WINDS WILL INCREASE TO IN EXCESS OF 100 KNOTS GUSTING IN EXCESS OF 120 KNOTS WITH SEAS OF 20 TO 30 FEET POSSIBLE. ...NEXT UPDATE... THIS STATEMENT WILL BE UPDATED AROUND 8 AM CDT. $$ TXZ200-213-214-235>238-121045- /O.CON.KHGX.HU.A.1009.000000T0000Z-000000T0000Z/ BRAZORIA-CHAMBERS-GALVESTON-HARRIS-JACKSON-LIBERTY-MATAGORDA- 544 AM CDT THU SEP 11 2008 ...HURRICANE WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT... ...NEW INFORMATION... AT 400 AM CDT THE CENTER OF HURRICANE IKE WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 25.2 NORTH...LONGITUDE 87.6 WEST OR ABOUT 525 MILES SOUTHEAST OF GALVESTON. AN INLAND HURRICANE WIND WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED. ...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... NO ADDITIONAL HAZARDS ARE 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: MANDATORY EVACUATIONS HAVE BEEN ORDERED FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTY WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE CITIES OF PEARLAND...ALVIN...MANVEL... AND ANGLETON. 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... BECAUSE OF THE UNCERTAINTY IN THE EVENTUAL TRACK AND INTENSITY OF IKE...THE FOLLOWING REPRESENTS THE HIGHEST EXPECTED FOR EACH AREA. EVEN IF THE HURRICANE MAKES LANDFALL EAST OF A POINT...STORM SURGE WILL OCCUR AHEAD OF THE LANDFALL BEFORE THE STORM TIDES FALL. 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...15 TO 20 FEET COASTAL AREAS FROM MATAGORDA TO HIGH ISLAND...12 TO 16 FEET TIDE TIMES LOCATION HIGH TIDE TIMES EXPECTED WATER WATER MAX MORGANS POINT... THU 2:50 PM. 4.2 FEET. FRI 2:52 PM. 6.1 FEET. CLEAR LAKE ENTRANCE... THU 10:34 AM. 2.0 FEET. FRI 10:36 AM. 4.0 FEET. EAGLE POINT... THU 8:23 AM. 2.5 FEET. FRI 8:25 AM. 5.5 FEET. PORT BOLIVAR... 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. 15.0 FEET. GALVESTON CHANNEL... 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. 15.0 FEET. GALVESTON PLEASURE PIER... 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. 18.0 FEET. JAMAICA BEACH... 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. 15.0 FEET. SAN LUIS PASS... 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. 15.0 FEET. FREEPORT... 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. 15.0 FEET. PORT O CONNOR... 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... TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS IN EXCESS OF 39 MPH ARE EXPECTED TO REACH THE COASTAL COUNTIES AROUND NOON ON FRIDAY. WINDS OF AT LEAST TROPICAL STORM FORCE WILL THEN POSSIBLY LAST ABOUT 24 HOURS. DEPENDING ON THE EVENTUAL TRACK AND STRENGTH OF IKE...HURRICANE FORCE WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO REACH THE COASTAL COUNTIES BEFORE MIDNIGHT FRIDAY EVENING. HURRICANE FORCE WINDS WILL THEN POSSIBLY LAST ABOUT 12 HOURS. PEAK WINDS OF 100 TO 115 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE ACROSS MOST OF THE COASTAL COUNTIES...ESPECIALLY WHERE THE EYE WALL MAKES LANDFALL. ...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 8 AM CDT. $$