Evacuations As Ike Heads For Texas

Frail, Elderly Put On Buses; 1 Million More Urged To Flee As Ike Approaches Texas Coast

(CBS/AP)  The frail and elderly were put aboard buses Wednesday and authorities warned 1 million others to flee inland as Hurricane Ike steamed toward a swath of the Texas coast that includes the nation's largest concentration of refineries and chemical plants.

Drawing energy from the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, the strengthening storm was expected to blow ashore early Saturday somewhere between Corpus Christi and Houston, with some forecasts saying it could become a fearsome Category 4, with winds of at least 131 mph.

Such a storm could cause a storm surge of 18 feet in Matagorda Bay and four to eight feet in Galveston Bay, emergency officials warned. The surge in Galveston Bay could push floodwaters into Houston, damaging areas that include the nation's biggest refinery and NASA's Johnson Space Center.

Four counties south and east of Houston announced mandatory or voluntary evacuations, and authorities began moving weak and chronically ill patients by bus to San Antonio, about 190 miles from Houston. No immediate evacuations were ordered in Harris County, which includes Houston.

Johnny Greer, a 54-year-old retired plant operator at Dow Chemical Corp., boarded up his house a mile from the Gulf of Mexico in Brazoria County and planned to hit the road.

"Gas and stuff is high. But you can't look at all that," he said. "I think my life is more valuable than high gas prices."

About 1 million people live in the coastal counties between Corpus Christi and Galveston. An additional 4 million live in the Houston area, to the north.

The oil and gas industry watched the storm closely, fearing damage to the very heart of its operations. So far, worries about disruptions appear slight, with oil prices dropping Wednesday.

Texas is home to 26 refineries that account for one-fourth of U.S. refining capacity, and most are clustered along the Gulf Coast in such places as Houston, Port Arthur and Corpus Christi. Exxon Mobil Corp.'s plant in Baytown, outside Houston, is the nation's largest refinery. Dow Chemical has a huge operation just north of Corpus Christi.

Refineries are built to withstand high winds, but flooding can disrupt operations and - as happened in Louisiana after Hurricane Gustav - power outages can shut down equipment for days or weeks. An extended shutdown could lead to higher gasoline prices.

As always, some hardened old-timers decided to ride it out. Fourth-generation fisherman James Driggers, 47, planned to spend the storm aboard his 80-foot boat docked in Freeport.

"We like to stay close to our paycheck," he said.

At 8 p.m. EDT, Ike was a Category 2 storm with winds near 100 mph. It was about 700 miles east of Brownsville, Texas, and was moving northwest at 8 mph, after ravaging homes in Cuba and killing at least 80 people in the Caribbean.

No matter where Ike hits, its effects are likely to be felt for hundreds of miles, said Mark Sloan, emergency management coordinator for Harris County, which includes Houston.

"It's a very large storm," Sloan said. "The bands will be over 200 miles out from the center of storm, so we have to be aware of its size as it grows over the next 24 to 48 hours and what impacts it will have on Friday, Saturday and Sunday."

Isaias Campos, 27, boarded up the church he attends in Freeport. He said he was grateful the church planned to evacuate much of the congregation to Houston by bus.

"If it wasn't for the church, it would be difficult for many of our members to leave," Campos said.

[thisisfunny]

A fake republican would just pray. that is all you need.

[slim1h2o]

As always, some hardened old-timers decided to ride it out. Fourth-generation fisherman James Driggers, 47, planned to spend the storm aboard his 80-foot boat docked in Freeport.

If possible, he should take that boat out into the gulf. If he doesn''t, the boat could end up being smashed against the dock.

Then all you have is toothpicks. And no paycheck.

[nagognog]

A hurricane is coming to Texas. But these idiots are too busy hurling insults to read the news. Blind idiots. This used to be a great nation. These fools tell me that this is no more.

[smurfcrusher]

"As always, some hardened old-timers decided to ride it out. Fourth-generation fisherman James Driggers, 47, planned to spend the storm aboard his 80-foot boat docked in Freeport. "

Proof of Evolution!

[tapsettle]

I hope Ike demolishes the Bush residence .... preferably with him in it.

[txpatriot4us]

GEORGE BUSH IS FROM CONNECTICUT! NOT TEXAS
Thank You very much. :-)

[gce65]

CNN reports 2 Russian long range bombers have just landed in Venezeula for military exercises...

Perhaps they''ll deliver "humanitarian aid" to Cuba or even monitor Hurricane Ike''s run on Texas, home to Meester Boosh!

Shouldn''t be of any concern to the Bushies.

Russian jets in flight
Late, late at night
Deep in the heart of Texas! :)

[tpraskac]

Wait till ya see the bill if it hits texas. GW bushs'' home state My lord.

[lloydbest1]

As of 4:00PM CDT 10 September:

Ike is a mid Cat 2 storm with maximum sustained winds of 100 mph. Central pressure is now 958 millibars (or 28.29 inches), and he is ambling northwest at a sluggish 8 mph. His position at 24.5 degrees N; 86.1 degrees W puts him smack dab over the warm Loop Current Eddy that has been known to fuel violent intensification in other storms in the past. Loping along at his slow pace over that deep, hot water with virtually no wind shear to speak of means Ike has potential for spinning up to a real monster. He has sucked in some dry air from that high over the Ohio Valley which may curb his enthusiasm a little.
Still, intensification is inevitable; could go all the way up to a strong Cat 3 or even a weak 4. So also is the likelihood that Ike will hit Texas. All of the models agree. Landfall could be anywhere along a 200 mile stretch from Corpus Christi to Galveston. As slow as Ike is moving, there is a lot of time for him to push a considerable storm surge onto the beaches and streets of many of these coastal towns. Corpus Christi is a whopping 15 feet above sea level and the land south and east of Houston is barely 5. Also we''re only two days away from a full moon when Ike finally waddles ashore around midnight or 1 AM Saturday. Tides are expected to be abnormally high anyway; a 10 to 15 foot storm surge on top of that pretty much means the smartest move to make would be inland. Or else plan on treading water for a long time.....

[ramos937]

I live and work in Corpus Christi, TX. I have flood insurance, all kinds of hurricane insurance, damage insurance, a new roof with warranty and storm windows.
Before Friday PM, I and my sons will put all lose objects in the garage and secure everything we can.
We also have bottled war, bar-b-que brisquets, food in cans, etc.

I do not know how badly my house will be damaged, if all, but however it is damaged, I know where I can find good skilled laborers who will have me and my sons clean up and repair whatever damages we can. Of course, I will work with State Farm before I repair things. In fact, I just got a briefing as to what to do and not do from them.

One thing I will not do. I will not sit on my duff waiting for some government to help me. Instead, I will first do what I can for my house and then help my nieghbors. We are not going to stop and check citizenship databases (no electricity anyway).

Rule - help yourself before and after the event. And then help others.

[nikkicatt1]

When Carla hit in the early 60''s there wasn''t FEMA to help. My family''s house flooded and an oak tree fell on top. We lived in a military tent for over a year while my Dad and his brothers rebuilt the house. By the way, there were no ghettos in my town as we were too poor to build anything. I agree with meispam. What the nation needs is to quit whining and start helping each other.

[middleman8]

Lucky in one way, It isn''t the USAF bearing doun.
Hurricane takes trailers, USAF takes women and children.

[meispam]

No harm no fowl. We are all just human beings trying to survive in an environment they live in. Wouldn''t the world be such a blessed place, though if we no matter where we lived or how just stopped and tried to help each other in times of need and disaster without wanting anything back? That is God''s way. Man''s way will never grasp that will he. It is HE after all we have to answer to in the end.

[displeased]

I am sorry if you filled in your own blanks but I never had a blank to fill in. Each one of us do what we must to survive. Myself, just proud of my State and people.
Posted by meispam

Yes, I am guilty of filling in my own blanks. I was assuming you were comparing your area to New Orleans since their demographics are mentioned quite often. That''s great you''re proud of your state and people. I prefer that over somebody who''s always angry and complaining.

[minharlingen]

meispam:

You''re right... here in Texas, we do band together and help each other out! We just went through Hurricane Dolly, received 55 inches of rain since June (year average is 20 inches) and are going to get the tail end of Ike. It''s been rough but no one is crying here!!! Just doing what they can for themselves and each other.

The only issue I have with this article and one I saw on Yahoo yesterday is the constant reminder of the "improverished" Valley. Yeah, it is a lower per capita area... but please, get a full look of the area before labeling us "impoverished Rio Grande Valley". There''s so much more here than that!!

[sepa2]

Good for capitalism. It needs periodic destruction (or war) to prosper.

[meispam]

Displeased: forgive me, however I never mentioned one particular culture or place. We have many diverse cultures in Texas and I am proud of them all. My comment was strictly meant to show the couragae and williness of the Texas hearts. I am sorry if you filled in your own blanks but I never had a blank to fill in. Each one of us do what we must to survive. Myself, just proud of my State and people.

[displeased]

We don''''t steal from one another we pool our resources and give to one another. That is what not "whining" is all about. We GO ON!!
Posted by meispam

Apparently you don''t live in a ghetto. I bet things would be different if you did.

[meispam]

I wish no ill will to anyone with a hurricane charging its way to them. To the one who said Texan''s don''t cry as much, your right. We have been hit by 2 now 3 hurricane''s in the last year, Rita being the most devestated to East Texas my home. We don''t "whine" as much because we pull ourselves together as a community, help each other instead of relying on the government to do it "whenever" and we make it work as people who have courage and passion and strength to go on. We don''t steal from one another we pool our resources and give to one another. That is what not "whining" is all about. We GO ON!!

[slim1h2o]

With OPEC cutting production, and Ike on the rampage in the gulf.

Gas will certainly go up.

Maybe we can get the little dutch boy(Shell Oil) to plug the ****(opec) so the tide won''t rise(prices) from Ike.