Printable ProductProvided by - NWS Southern Region HQ - Print 000 WTUS84 KHGX 111820 HLSHGX URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED HURRICANE IKE LOCAL STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX 120 PM CDT THU SEP 11 2008 ...HURRICANE IKE HEADED FOR THE UPPER TEXAS COAST... .AT 100 PM CDT...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE IKE WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 25.8 NORTH...LONGITUDE 88.8 WEST OR ABOUT 470 MILES EAST-SOUTHEAST OF GALVESTON TEXAS. IKE HAS MADE A SMALL JOG TO THE NORTHWEST OVER THE PAST FEW HOURS...BUT IS GENERALLY MOVING TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST NEAR 10 MPH. A GENERAL WEST-NORTHWESTWARD MOTION IS EXPECTED OVER THE NEXT DAY OR SO...AND THE CENTER OF IKE SHOULD BE VERY NEAR THE TEXAS COAST BY LATE FRIDAY. HOWEVER...BECAUSE IKE IS A VERY LARGE TROPICAL CYCLONE...WEATHER WILL DETERIORATE ALONG THE COASTLINE LONG BEFORE THE CENTER REACHES THE COAST. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 100 MPH...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. IKE IS A CATEGORY TWO HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON SCALE. IKE IS FORECAST TO BECOME A MAJOR HURRICANE PRIOR TO REACHING THE COASTLINE. IKE REMAINS A VERY LARGE TROPICAL CYCLONE. HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 115 MILES FROM THE CENTER...AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 275 MILES. THE LATEST MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE ESTIMATED FROM AIRCRAFT RECONNAISSANCE DATA IS 952 MB...28.11 INCHES. GMZ330-335-350-355-370-375-121830- /O.CON.KHGX.HU.W.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- 120 PM CDT THU SEP 11 2008 ...HURRICANE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT... ...NEW INFORMATION... NO CHANGES. ...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. A HURRICANE WARNING IS NOW IN EFFECT. PREPARATIONS SHOULD BE RUSHED TO COMPLETION. ...WINDS... TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO BEGIN AFFECTING THE 20 TO 60 NAUTICAL MILE WATERS LATE TONIGHT...THE NEARSHORE WATERS MID MORNING FRIDAY...AND THE BAYS EARLY FRIDAY AFTERNOON. HURRICANE FORCE WINDS OF 70 TO 100 KNOTS WILL REACH THE COASTAL WATERS EARLY FRIDAY EVENING AND PERSIST THROUGH EARLY SATURDAY. SWELLS ASSOCIATED WITH HURRICANE IKE ARE ALREADY AFFECTING THE COASTAL WATERS. SEAS WILL BUILD TO 5 TO 7 FEET NEARSHORE...8 TO 12 FEET OFFSHORE BY THIS EVENING. SEAS WILL CONTINUE INCREASING THROUGH FRIDAY. SEAS WILL PEAK AT 15 TO 35 FEET FRIDAY NIGHT. ...TORNADOES... WATERSPOUTS ARE POSSIBLE FRIDAY THROUGH SATURDAY AS IKE PASSES THROUGH. ...NEXT UPDATE... THE NEXT HURRICANE LOCAL STATEMENT WILL BE ISSUED AROUND 530 PM CDT. $$ TXZ200-213-214-235>238-121830- /O.CON.KHGX.HU.W.1009.000000T0000Z-000000T0000Z/ BRAZORIA-CHAMBERS-GALVESTON-HARRIS-JACKSON-LIBERTY-MATAGORDA- 120 PM CDT THU SEP 11 2008 ...HURRICANE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT... ...NEW INFORMATION... UPDATED PREPAREDNESS SECTION WITH NEW EVACUATION INFORMATION. UPDATED WINDS SECTION. ...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: 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 TODAY. CHAMBERS COUNTY: RESIDENTS OF THE 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. GALVESTON COUNTY: A MANDATORY EVACUATION HAS BEEN ORDERED FOR ALL OF GALVESTON ISLAND. THIS ORDER GOES INTO EFFECT AT NOON TODAY. A MANDATORY EVACUATION IS IN EFFECT FOR BOLIVAR PENINSULA... OMEGA BAY...SAN LEON...BACLIFF...FREDDIESVILLE...TIKI ISLAND... KEMAH...AND CLEAR LAKE SHORES. THE MANDATORY EVACUATION OF CLEAR LAKE SHORES BEGINS AT 2 PM. SPECIAL NEEDS EVACUATION IS ALSO TAKING PLACE. BUSES ARE AVAILABLE FOR FOR CITIZENS THAT NEED ASSISTANCE WITH EVACUATIONS. BUSES ARE AVAILABLE AT THE FOLLOWING PICKUP POINTS: BACLIFF COMMUNITY CENTER: 4500 10TH STREET...BACLIFF...77518 DICKINSON COMMUNITY CENTER: 2417 HWY 3...DICKINSON...77539 HITCHCOCK LIBRARY...8005 BARRY AVENUE...HITCHCOCK...77563 CRYSTAL BEACH ANNEX...941 NOBLE CARL DRIVE...CRYSTAL BEACH...77650 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 CEASE OPERATIONS AT 11 PM TONIGHT. SCHOOL CLOSINGS...THE FOLLOWING SCHOOL DISTRICTS WILL BE CLOSED THROUGH FRIDAY...HIGH ISLAND...HITCHCOCK...SANTA FE...CLEAR CREEK...FRIENDSWOOD...GALVESTON AND DICKINSON. THE FOLLOWING DISTRICTS 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 TODAY. UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MEDICAL BRANCH HOSPITAL IN GALVESTON MAY BEGIN A COMPLETE EVACUATION OF THE HOSPITAL FACILITIES THIS MORNING. THE EMERGENCY ROOM WILL STAY OPEN. HARRIS COUNTY: A MANDATORY EVACUATION HAS BEEN ORDERED FOR ZIP CODE 77507 IN THE PASADENA AREA. A MANDATORY EVACUATION HAS BEEN ORDERED FOR THE FOLLOWING ZIP CODES...77058...77059...77062...77520...77546...77571...77586... AND 77598. PERSONS THROUGHOUT HARRIS COUNTY THAT LIVE IN MOBILE HOMES OR HIGH RISES SHOULD CONSIDER EVACUATING DUE TO THE HIGH THREAT OF DAMAGING WINDS. FOR HARRIS COUNTY GOVERNMENT WORKERS...ESSENTIAL WORKERS ONLY REPORT ON FRIDAY. FOR RESIDENTS IN THE MANDATORY EVACUATION ZIP ZONES WHO HAVE SPECIAL NEEDS AND ARE NOT REGISTERED...PLEASE CALL 311. THERE WILL BE NO TRASH SERVICE ON FRIDAY DUE TO THE EXPECTED HIGH WINDS. SOUTHWEST AIRLINES IS SUSPENDING FLIGHTS INTO AND OUT OF HOBBY AIRPORT BEGINNING AT 9 AM FRIDAY. JACKSON COUNTY: A MANDATORY EVACUATION HAS BEEN ORDERED FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTY. SCHOOLS WILL BE CLOSED TODAY 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 TODAY. 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 OR KC HALL IN PALACIOS. 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 TODAY AND FRIDAY. PALACIOS SCHOOL DISTRICT WILL ALSO BE CLOSED ON MONDAY SEPTEMBER 15TH. ...STORM SURGE AND STORM TIDE... TIDE LEVELS WILL BEGIN RISING FRIDAY MORNING AND WILL EXCEED 5 FEET ABOVE MEAN LOWER LOW WATER ALONG THE UPPER TEXAS COAST AND ALONG THE SHORELINES OF THE BAYS BY MID TO LATE MORNING FRIDAY. WATER LEVELS WILL RISE RAPIDLY BY LATE AFTERNOON FRIDAY AS THE STORM SURGE MOVES IN WITH WATER LEVELS PEAKING FRIDAY NIGHT AND EARLY SATURDAY. MAXIMUM STORM TIDE LEVELS ARE HIGHLY DEPENDENT ON THE TRACK OF THE STORM AND VARIATIONS IN THE TRACK OF ONLY 15 MILES CAN MAKE DIFFERENCES OF SEVERAL FEET MORE OR LESS FROM SOME OF THESE VALUES. MAXIMUM WATER LEVELS FORECAST: SHORELINE OF MATAGORDA AND GALVESTON BAYS...15 TO 20 FEET GULF-FACING COASTAL AREAS FROM MATAGORDA TO HIGH ISLAND INCLUDING GALVESTON ISLAND...12 TO 16 FEET LIFE THREATENING INUNDATION LIKELY! ALL NEIGHBORHOODS...AND POSSIBLY ENTIRE COASTAL COMMUNITIES... WILL BE INUNDATED DURING HIGH TIDE. PERSONS NOT HEEDING EVACUATION ORDERS IN SINGLE FAMILY ONE OR TWO STORY HOMES WILL FACE CERTAIN DEATH. MANY RESIDENCES OF AVERAGE CONSTRUCTION DIRECTLY ON THE COAST WILL BE DESTROYED. WIDESPREAD AND DEVASTATING PERSONAL PROPERTY DAMAGE IS LIKELY ELSEWHERE. VEHICLES LEFT BEHIND WILL LIKELY BE SWEPT AWAY. NUMEROUS ROADS WILL BE SWAMPED...SOME MAY BE WASHED AWAY BY THE WATER. ENTIRE FLOOD PRONE COASTAL COMMUNITIES WILL BE CUTOFF. WATER LEVELS MAY EXCEED 9 FEET FOR MORE THAN A MILE INLAND. COASTAL RESIDENTS IN MULTI-STORY FACILITIES RISK BEING CUTOFF. CONDITIONS WILL BE WORSENED BY BATTERING WAVES. SUCH WAVES WILL EXACERBATE PROPERTY DAMAGE...WITH MASSIVE DESTRUCTION OF HOMES...INCLUDING THOSE OF BLOCK CONSTRUCTION. DAMAGE FROM BEACH EROSION COULD TAKE YEARS TO REPAIR. HIGH TIDE TIMES: MORGANS POINT... THU 2:50 PM. FRI 2:52 PM. SAT 2:59 PM. CLEAR LAKE ENTRANCE... THU 10:34 AM. FRI 10:36 AM. SAT 10:43 AM. EAGLE POINT... FRI 8:25 AM. SAT 8:32 AM. PORT BOLIVAR... THU 12:24 PM. FRI 4:45 AM. FRI 1:52 PM. SAT 4:52 AM. SAT 3:00 PM. GALVESTON CHANNEL... THU 12:10 PM. FRI 4:31 AM. FRI 1:38 PM. SAT 4:38 AM. SAT 2:46 PM. GALVESTON PLEASURE PIER... THU 11:04 AM. FRI 3:25 AM. FRI 12:32 PM. SAT 3:32 AM. SAT 1:40 PM. JAMAICA BEACH... THU 2:48 PM. FRI 7:09 AM. FRI 4:16 PM. SAT 7:16 AM. SAT 5:24 PM. SAN LUIS PASS... THU 12:01 PM. FRI 4:22 AM. FRI 1:29 PM. SAT 4:29 AM. SAT 2:37 PM. FREEPORT... THU 11:26 AM. FRI 3:47 AM. FRI 12:54 PM. SAT 3:54 AM. SAT 2:02 PM. PORT O CONNOR... THU 9:29 AM. FRI 10:15 AM. SAT 2:01 PM. NOTE...TIDE LEVELS ARE REFERENCED FROM THE MEAN LOWER LOW WATER. ...WINDS... PERSONS WHO HAVE NOT EVACUATED SHOULD PLAN TO SHELTER IN PLACE IN A WELL BUILT STRUCTURE DURING THE PERIOD OF TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS. IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT PERSONS WHO LIVE IN MOBILE HOMES OR POORLY-BUILT STRUCTURES SHOULD EVACUATE TO A SAFER LOCATION SUCH AS A WELL BUILT HOME. PERSONS WHO LIVE IN HIGH RISES SHOULD CONSIDER EVACUATING AS WINDS CAN BE STRONGER AT THE TOP OF A HIGH RISE THAN AT GROUND LEVEL. TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS IN EXCESS OF 39 MPH ARE EXPECTED TO REACH THE COASTAL COUNTIES FRIDAY EARLY AFTERNOON...AND SPREAD INLAND TO THE HOUSTON AREA BY LATE FRIDAY AFTERNOON. 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 WILL REACH THE COASTAL COUNTIES AROUND MIDNIGHT FRIDAY NIGHT...AND THE HOUSTON METRO AREA BETWEEN 2 AM AND 6 AM SATURDAY. HURRICANE FORCE WINDS MAY LAST FOR UP TO 12 HOURS. PEAK WIND GUSTS OF 100 TO 115 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE ACROSS THE ENTIRE AREA. WIND SPEEDS IN EXCESS OF 115 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE NEAR WHERE THE CENTER OF THE STORM COMES ONSHORE. 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. UP TO THREE QUARTERS OF NEWLY PLANTED GROUND CROPS WILL BE DAMAGED. ...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... THE THREAT FOR TORNADOES WILL INCREASE RAPIDLY BEGINNING LATE FRIDAY AND CONTINUE THROUGH LATE SATURDAY AS IKE MOVES ONSHORE. YOU SHOULD PLAN TO SEEK SHELTER IN AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR AWAY FROM WINDOWS. ...NEXT UPDATE... THE NEXT HURRICANE LOCAL STATEMENT WILL BE ISSUED AROUND 530 PM CDT. $$ TXZ163-164-176>179-195>199-210>212-226-227-121830- /O.CON.KHGX.HI.A.0001.000000T0000Z-080914T1200Z/ AUSTIN-BRAZOS-BURLESON-COLORADO-FORT BEND-GRIMES-HOUSTON-MADISON- MONTGOMERY-POLK-SAN JACINTO-TRINITY-WALKER-WALLER-WASHINGTON- WHARTON- 120 PM CDT THU SEP 11 2008 ...HURRICANE WIND WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING... ...NEW INFORMATION... UPDATED PREPAREDNESS SECTION. ...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... NO ADDITIONAL HAZARDS ARE IN EFFECT. ...PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... PERSONS SHOULD PREPARE THEIR PROPERTIES FOR THE POTENTIAL OF DAMAGING WINDS. SECURE OR REMOVE ANY LOOSE ITEMS SURROUNDING YOUR PROPERTY WHICH COULD BE BLOWN AROUND BY TROPICAL STORM OR HURRICANE FORCE WINDS. TRIM TREES NEAR YOUR PROPERTY. DAMAGING WINDS ARE EXPECTED. MOST MOBILE HOMES WILL EXPERIENCE MODERATE TO SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. SOME OF POOR CONSTRUCTION WILL BE UNINHABITABLE UNTIL REPAIRED. HOUSES OF POOR TO AVERAGE CONSTRUCTION WILL HAVE DAMAGE TO SHINGLES...SIDING...AND GUTTERS. SOME WINDOWS WILL BE BLOWN OUT. UNFASTENED HOME ITEMS OF LIGHT TO MODERATE WEIGHT WILL BECOME AIRBORNE...CAUSING ADDITIONAL DAMAGE AND POSSIBLE INJURY. DOZENS OF WIRES WILL BE BLOWN DOWN. LOCAL POWER OUTAGES WILL AFFECT ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOODS. MANY LARGE BRANCHES OF HEALTHY TREES WILL BE SNAPPED...AND ROTTING SMALL TO MEDIUM SIZED TREES WILL BE UPROOTED. 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. IN FORT BEND COUNTY...PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION HAS BEEN SUSPENDED ON FRIDAY. ...WINDS... TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS IN EXCESS OF 39 MPH ARE EXPECTED TO REACH FORT BEND AND WHARTON COUNTIES BEGINNING LATE FRIDAY AFTERNOON. THESE WINDS WILL SPREAD INLAND TO THE COLUMBUS TO CONROE TO LIVINGSTON CORRIDOR BY LATE FRIDAY EVENING. TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS WILL SPREAD INTO THE NORTHERN COUNTIES OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS AFTER MIDNIGHT FRIDAY NIGHT. THESE WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO OCCUR FOR AN 18 TO 24 HOUR PERIOD. DEPENDING ON THE EVENTUAL TRACK OF IKE...HURRICANE FORCE WINDS WILL BE POSSIBLE OVER SOME OF THE INLAND COUNTIES OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS SATURDAY MORNING. BASED ON THE CURRENT TRACK FORECAST...THESE WINDS APPEAR MOST LIKELY TO OCCUR ALONG AND EAST OF THE INTERSTATE 45 CORRIDOR. THE HURRICANE FORCE WINDS COULD LAST FOR UP TO 6 HOURS. ...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... THE THREAT FOR TORNADOES WILL INCREASE RAPIDLY BEGINNING FRIDAY NIGHT AND CONTINUE THROUGH SATURDAY EVENING AS THE RAIN BANDS ASSOCIATED WITH IKE SPREAD INLAND. YOU SHOULD PLAN TO SEEK SHELTER IN AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR AWAY FROM WINDOWS. ...NEXT UPDATE... THE NEXT HURRICANE LOCAL STATEMENT WILL BE ISSUED AROUND 530 PM CDT. $$