Houston Told To "Hunker Down" For Big Ike

Facing Massive Category 3 Hurricane, City Officials Seek To Avoid Mass Evacuation Crush

(CBS/AP)  Cars and trucks streamed inland and chemical companies buttoned up their plants Thursday as a gigantic Hurricane Ike took aim at the heart of the U.S. refining industry and threatened to send a wall of water crashing toward Houston.

Nearly 1 million people along the Texas coast were ordered to evacuate ahead of the storm, which was expected to strike late Friday or early Saturday. But in a calculated risk aimed at avoiding total gridlock, authorities told most people in the nation's fourth-largest city to just hunker down.

Ike was steering almost directly for Galveston and, beyond that, Houston, where gleaming skyscrapers, the nation's biggest refinery and NASA's Johnson Space Center lie in areas vulnerable to wind and floodwaters. Forecasters said the storm was likely to come ashore as a Category 3, with winds up to 130 mph.

But the storm was so big, it could inflict a punishing blow even in those areas that do not get a direct hit. Hurricane force winds spread out 200 miles from the eye, reports The Early Show weather anchor Dave Price.

Forecasters also warned that because of Ike's size and the state's shallow coastal waters, it could produce a surge, or wall of water, 20 feet high, and waves of perhaps 50 feet. It could also dump 10 inches or more of rain.

"It's a big storm," Texas Gov. Rick Perry said. "I cannot overemphasize the danger that is facing us. It's going to do some substantial damage. It's going to knock out power. It's going to cause massive flooding."

Hurricane warnings were in effect over a 400-mile stretch of coastline from south of Corpus Christi to Morgan City, La. Tropical storm warnings extended south almost to the Mexican border and east to the Mississippi-Alabama line, including New Orleans.

Most of the evacuations were limited to sections of Harris County outside Houston, as well as nearby bayous and Galveston Bay. But the 2 million residents of the city itself and 1 million in other areas of the county were asked to remain at home.

"We are still saying: Please shelter in place, or to use the Texas expression, hunker down," said Harris County Judge Ed Emmett, the county's chief administrator. "For the vast majority of people who live in our area, stay where you are. The winds will blow and they'll howl and we'll get a lot of rain, but if you lose power and need to leave, you can do that later."

Authorities hoped to avoid the panic of three years ago, when evacuations ordered in advance of Hurricane Rita sent millions scurrying in fright and caused a monumental traffic jam so big that cars ran out of gas or overheated. Ultimately, the evacuation proved deadlier than the storm itself. A total of 110 people died during the exodus, including 23 nursing home patients whose bus burst into flames while stuck in traffic.

This time, traffic was bumper-to-bumper on the freeway leading away from Galveston immediately after the evacuation order, but by late afternoon, many evacuees had made it past Houston, to the north. And just in time: Waves were already inundating the beach on one end of Galveston Island.

Some gas stations began running out of fuel, but fuel trucks were called in to replenish them.

Houston Mayor Bill White said one of the lessons of Rita mess was that too many people fled who didn't need to. Instead, he asked residents to protect their homes.

"Think how your barbecue could become a flying object," he said.

But other authorities are concerned that memories of the frantic and gridlocked Hurricane Rita evacuation will lead some to stay put, reports Price.

"There's a lot of people who will choose to ride it out," County Judge James Yarborough told CBS News. We don't think that's a wise choice."

At 11 p.m. EDT, the storm was centered about 340 miles southeast of Galveston, moving to the west-northwest at 12 mph. Top sustained winds were 100 mph.

NASA closed the Johnson Space Center, including Mission Control, and set up temporary quarters Thursday near Austin and Huntsville, Ala., to watch over the international space station until the storm threat passes. Most NASA aircraft at Ellington Field, just north of Johnson, have been flown to a facility in El Paso.

Concerns that Ike could cripple offshore rigs prompted oil companies to shut down more than 75 percent of their operations in the region, reports Price.

The upper Texas coast accounts for one-fifth of U.S. refining capacity.

Wholesale gasoline prices spiked 30 percent Thursday, or nearly $1 a gallon, out of fear of what Ike might do. That means motorists can expect higher prices at the pump, though how much higher depends largely on how long refineries are shuttered after the storm.

Exxon Mobil Corp., Valero Energy Corp., ConocoPhillips and Marathon Oil Co. began halting operations as Ike closed in. Dow Chemical Co. started closing up its enormous Freeport complex, home to 75 plants producing some 27 billion pounds of chemical products each year.

BASF, the world's largest chemical company with 14 manufacturing sites in the Gulf Coast region, also began shutting down some operations. Spokesman Daniel Pepitone said each site has a hurricane plan that outlines detailed steps for securing plants, and precautions such as tying down hoses and taking down scaffolding began days ago.

Industry officials said their refineries and chemical plants are designed to withstand high winds. But power outages could still knock them out of service.

Ike would be the first major hurricane to hit a U.S. metropolitan area since Katrina devastated New Orleans three years ago. For Houston, it would be the first major hurricane since Alicia in August 1983 came ashore on Galveston Island, killing 21 people and causing $2 billion in damage.

Ike is huge, taking up nearly 40 percent of the Gulf. The National Hurricane Center said tropical storm-force winds of at least 39 mph extended across more than 510 miles, and hurricane-force winds of at least 74 mph stretched for 220 miles. A typical storm has tropical storm-force winds stretching only 300 miles.

Because of its great size, storm surge and gigantic waves are the biggest risk, said Hugh Willoughby, former director of the federal government's hurricane research division. The larger the storm, the longer it hits and the higher waves can build.

And because the water is so shallow along the Texas coast, the waves pile up, creating a big storm surge, he said.

"We're not talking about gently rising water," Harris County's Emmett said. "We're talking about a surge that will come into your homes."

Authorities put the frail and elderly on buses headed for shelters. And thousands of Texas prison inmates were also moved out of the storm's path.

Officials worried that after Labor Day's Hurricane Gustav proved to be a dud in Texas, people wouldn't take the warnings seriously.

"The most important message I can send is do not take this storm lightly," Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said. "Do not look back at Gustav and say, `Well, that turned out to be not as bad as some people feared, therefore, I'm going to gamble with this storm."'

Some stayed put anyway.

Johnny Tyson, 33, his girlfriend, Martha Jones, 38, and her three children planned to ignore the order to leave. Tyson, loading into his truck plywood he bought at a Home Depot in Beaumont, complained that officials waited too long to call for an evacuation.

"We left for Gustav and we didn't have to leave," Jones said. "They cut all the roads and bottleneck everybody into one road and make traffic worse." He added: "Everybody and their momma is trying to leave right now."

[tpraskac]

Get out now. could be Cat 4. Dont wait

[pensacola98]

Galveson Island has only two exits: one is impassible when a hurricane surges lift water 6 feet over high tide, and the other is impassible at only 3 feet above high tide normal.

High water from hurricane surges don''t require the storm to be close, because a category 5 storm can make evacuations from Galveston impossible while still being 500 miles away.

The famous 1900 storm in Galveston published a death toll of 12,000 for 100 years, because political leaders felt the true number - over 14,000 was too much for the public to accept.

Law officials in Galveston and Chambers county ask residents, who decide not to evacuate, to provide their finger prints, so their bodies can be identified easier after the disaster.

[jmurrieta11]

Get the Texas Republicans down to Galveston as quickly as possible for a McCain-Palin rally.

Then "oh Lord, send a great wave..."

[gop_will_win]

Pray and you shall be saved.

[kwadrinio]

Galveston is one of the prettiest cities I''ve ever visited... and I''ve visited many. I hope that gorgeous place survives undamaged... you don''t see architecture like that everywhere... only Galveston and Toronto.

[fabrat1]

If I lived on coast I would know what to do but here in my area I''m just not sure. I live in north central Texas and we''ve been told to be ready for flooding and high winds along with power outages etc. They''re saying to fill your gas tank and stock up on batteries and candles and store or buy water. They are saying to tie down anything outside that could be blown away etc but here in my area it''s just hard to believe. I just don''t think I am going to do anything yet since the exact track of this storm could change at any time. At this point and time it still shows that this thing will come straight through my county and may still be a tropical storm when it gets here.

[rowdyheckno]

Run for the hills, coastal folks! But get in a strong place, the hills might be hit also!

Praying for my neighbors down south! Be cautious and safe, bravery is honored, but does no good unless you''re safe!

God''s speed!

[candy-apple]

Posted by fabrat1 at 09:33 AM : Sep 11, 2008

I live in LA. Gustav just proved that damage can happen further inland than people expect or want to believe. If you''re being told to prepare, then do so. If you''re being told to leave, then do that (especially if you have children). Don''t wait and see what happens. It could prove to be fatal for you and/or your family.

[ronbearoh]

I used to live in Freeport,Texas. The town is about 60 miles southwest of Houston. In 1961 Freeport was crushed by hurricane Carla which lashed the town with winds of 135 mile per hour and 150 mph gusts.

I settled in Ohio after college.I have made calls to my family in Texas.Everyone is prepared and evacuated
from the coast. Have faith Texan''s.

[displeased]

God''''s speed!
Posted by RowdyHeckNo

What does God''s Speed mean?

[gop_will_win]

I just don''''t think I am going to do anything yet since the exact track of this storm could change at any time. At this point and time it still shows that this thing will come straight through my county and may still be a tropical storm when it gets here.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by fabrat1
=========================
Good plan. That way when you get to the store, all that stuff will have been sold and you can go home empty handed.

[sandsofchlai]

Its TEXAS!! JESBUSS WILL PROTECT ''EM. Can I get an Rmen!!

[ladyvet1]

I am hopeful we will see Ike wilt and collapse before hitting Texas. My prayers are with those in the path of Ike.

I am also hopeful we will begin to finally seek more stable sources of much-needed energy for our country. At the very least, we are in a period of "increased activity" for hurricanes, so it would be irrational to expect safe, steady supplies with no interruption in supply from the Gulf for the next few decades.

We have blinded ourselves to so many things these last 8 years. Are our eyes open this time, or are we blinded again by drama and show? Only time will tell.

[squeak585]

I believe the Republicans would have a better chance in being saved by God than the Democrats! Think about what most Republicans believe and then look at what the Democrats believe!

[squeak585]

I believe the Republicans would have a better chance in being saved by God than the Democrats! Think about what most Republicans believe and then look at what the Democrats believe!

[squeak585]

I believe the Republicans would have a better chance in being saved by God than the Democrats! Think about what most Republicans believe and then look at what the Democrats believe!

[squeak585]

I believe the Republicans would have a better chance in being saved by God than the Democrats! Think about what most Republicans believe and then look at what the Democrats believe!

[squeak585]

I believe the Republicans would have a better chance in being saved by God than the Democrats! Think about what most Republicans believe and then look at what the Democrats believe!

[mollydtt]

I live in Austin, and fully expect lots of downed trees and big limbs, which means loss of electricity. People here never get overgrowth trimmed back. We had a very minor storm here 3 weeks ago and you wouldn''t believe the damage all those falling limbs caused.
IKE is very large in area, and expected to still have tropical storm force winds deep into Texas.

[rockpeterson]

Ike looks like trouble for Texas.

[hwy71so]

Oh yeah, life goes on...
long after the thrill
of livin is gone...

It''ll come, it''ll pass, we''ll get over it.

Batten down the hatches folks, this could get exciting.

[im_4_wwjd]

I believe the Republicans would have a better chance in being saved by God than the Democrats! Think about what most Republicans believe and then look at what the Democrats believe!

Posted by squeak585 at 11:47 AM : Sep 11, 2008
______________

Post a lie enough time and soon everyone will begin to believe?

So tell me what it is that the repubs believe in that will get them into heaven. Big business and screw your neighbor and keep the poor poor (see Mark 10 16-23), $$$ for the rich and crumbs for the poor (see Luke 18: 19-31); See also Matthew 7; Matthew 5; Mark 12 38-44 (pay special attention to verse 43 & 44)

I see more Christian values from Demos, with the ecxception of abortion, which I consider a horrible sin. More Demos reaching out to help the underpriviledege, minorities, homless, hungry, naked than I do Repubs. I see Repubs helping the wealthy and not living very Christian. remember Jesus himself warns us that at the end of time many will come to him saying "Lord, Lord'' and he will tell them I know you not. For when I was hungry you didn''t clothe me,thirsty you didn''t give me to drink (not enough to put it all here, but see Matthew 25:31-46. I could keep on if room allowed

[jckbrn-2009]

Crisis brngs out the best in (most of) us - -
Volunteers, churches, government(s), military, communities all reach out to assist - - except "big oil"
In anticipation of the potential or possible loss of some of their excessive profits they raise gasoline prices - even for evacuees who might lose their business, their home, and even loved ones.
Excuses, excuses, excuses - - -
Where''s the outrage ?

[lloydbest1]

As of 10:00 AM CDT, 11 Sept:

Still "only" a Cat 2 storm, but with a central pressure more reminiscent of Cat 4 hurricanes at 27.88 there''s room for growth. Speaking of which, Ike now has a sphere of influence even larger than Katrina and Floyd, previously the two largest hurricanes observed since we''ve had satelite observation. Ike''s hurricane force wind field spreads across an incredible 230 miles. If he touches land at Freeport, as expected, a stretch of Gulf coast from Corpus Christi clear to Cameron LA will feel that wrath. Anyone from Brownsville to New Orleans can expect steady winds of tropical storm force.
This is a biggie. Don''t be fooled by Ike''s COMPARATIVELY weak winds. I''ve seen automobiles flipped over onto their tops in 60 mph gales; Ike can cover a circle 500 miles in diameter with winds of 60 or greater.
Such a broad wind field means there is a helluva lot of water being pushed ahead of this bad boy. An "Integrated Kinetic Energy" scale has been developed to determine the destructiveness of storm surge impacts from hurricanes. The scale ranges from 1 to 6. Ike is a 5.7, higher than any previous storm since 1935. Experts are predicting 20 foot surges for Galveston and roughly the same or slightly less for Houston. Those of you who live there know how much of your city is more than 20 feet above MSL. Someting to consider when deciding whether to stick it out ot head for higher ground.

[lambor59]

Ike hurricane I love you, please pick up Bush''s estate.

[im_4_wwjd]

Squeak: "Judge not lest ye be judged". Jesus said that.

Posted by BajaJohn1 at 01:13 PM : Sep 11, 2008
___________________

Oh so true, see Matthew 7. I guess a hypocrit doesn''t see what he is doing is wrong. Am I also at fault for calling him out? Am I judging him also? I often wonder this.

As for me I will continue to read my Bible and see what is in there for myself.

[ubrew12]

I hope Ike spares Texas.
Except for a particular ranch in Crawford.

[lambor59]

Ike I love you, please pick Bush up and throw him into the toilet.

[usclimey]

Posted by LloydBest1

Thanks for the info Lloyd - keep it up, you''re better than CNN!!

[williewomper]

The Mexicans will probably move into Houston after everybody has left and take over like they do everywhere else in Texas. Arriba...El HoustonO is now Mexico!

[LIBNY PINEDA G]

Pray for your love ones and those who suffer. Get ready for the worse on time (including repenting of your sins). Help those in trouble as if they were your own folk. The impossible is God''s business.

[mynameis1994]

hmm if this storm devistates, Houston, I wonder how fast dubya will get help for them... after all ***TEXAS*** is all that matters according to our president

[louklou51]

I''m surprised gas prices haven''t gone up already over the FEAR of something happening.

[hacker101001]

just blame the illegals,he,he

[lloydbest1]

"Lloyd: Isn''t the Galveston wall high enough to withstand a twenty-foot surge?" Posted by BajaJohn1 at 01:24 PM : Sep 11, 2008

I don''t live in Galveston so I can not say for sure but I believe the sea wall is 17 feet high and as many wide at the base. It was built shortly after the monster hurricane of 1900, later referred to as "Isaac''s Storm".
A 20 foot surge could easily overtop the wall if it is "only" 17 feet high. But let''s say the surge turns out to be 15 feet or even less, as some of the modelers believe; that unforutnately does not take into account wind waves thrown up by this storm. It would be reasonable to expect a 6 to 8 foot surf ON TOP of the surge. This means the chances the Gulf will either overtop the wall or throw waves over it look pretty good right now. Galveston can count on getting very wet and things will get very tense for those who choose to remain in town.

Posted by usclimey at 02:28 PM : Sep 11, 2008

Thank you for the acknowledgement...Latest from the NHC still pegs Ike as a mid Cat 2 storm. In fact, the central pressure has risen all the way to 28.1. It may not strengthen much but Cat 2 is still Cat 2 and can cause a lot of inconvenience to those in Ike''s path for all the reasons I mentioned in my previous post.

It may not strengthen much but Cat 2 is still Cat 2 and can cause a lot of inconvenience to those in Ike''''s path for all the reasons I mentioned in my previous post.

Posted by LloydBest1 at 04:03 PM : Sep 11, 2008
------------------------------

Living in Austin my biggest inconvenience will be my drive during rush hour. Most coastal evacuees are arriving in town as we speak.

[docpeter1953]

A 20 foot surge could easily overtop the wall if it is "only" 17 feet high. But let''''s say the surge turns out to be 15 feet or even less, as some of the modelers believe; that unforutnately does not take into account wind waves thrown up by this storm.

Posted by usclimey at 02:28 PM : Sep 11, 2008

_________________________

You also have to consider the tides at the time the storm comes ashore. There are high tides and then there are high high tides (same for low tides) A high high tide can raise the water level (sea level in the area) about two feet, whereas a high tide maybe 1.25 ft. There is a high high at 4:35 AM and a lo at 9:40 AM. There is a lo lo at 9:47 PM. Also, the tides move at different speeds. A High hihg is a little faster than a high (if I remember right, but I haven''t fished the tides in a long time).

[usclimey]

I''''m surprised gas prices haven''''t gone up already over the FEAR of something happening.

Posted by louk7

You just haven''t looked louk - they''re up 23c/gal this week here in Cincinnati.

[displeased]

A High hihg is a little faster than a high (if I remember right, but I haven''''t fished the tides in a long time).
Posted by docpeter1953

At least we''re not in a new moon phase. That would just add to the mix.

[usmcvn1]

Gas up 30 cents a Gal. in two days here in Chicago area.

[mrjake7]

I got the brisket on the grill with 5 cases of beer at the same house that I had since 1961! Carla was rock''n and a rolling, but this is a party storm! Media hype! Party , party, party!

[barbaraf4]

Why does everyone always wait until the last possible minute to stock up on gasoline, food & water?

[legacyabq]

This article says the population of Houston is 2 million??
It''s way more than that. Like over 6,000,000 I beleive in Harris County alone..

[legacyabq]

Here''s the number:
Houston%u2013Sugar Land%u2013Baytown is the sixth-largest metropolitan area in the United States with a population of 5.6 million as of the 2007 U.S. Census estimate.
That''s alot of people to deal with!
Hope everyone stays safe and sane!

[pregnanteen2]

I HOPE IT HITS BUSH''S RANCH!

[txgrouch2006]

I''ve been watching the storm track predictions all day for the past several day.

Yesterday morning, the predicted landfall was near Brownsville as a category 4 storm.

Ever since, the predicted track has been moving east, and the expected strength has been getting weaker. It''s now moved up the entire Texas coast to Galveston Bay, as just barely a cat 3. The same as Alicia in 1983.

Hey, what happened to global warming?

And the storm isn''t due to reach the coast until 2 a.m. Saturday morning. By then, the track could have shifted to Port Arthur or Louisiana. Houston/Galveston could come out high and dry again.

Hey, there are cracks in the ground here. We need rain. But we get either drought or hurricane.

[txgrouch2006]

I HOPE IT HITS BUSH''''S RANCH!
Posted by Pregnanteen2 at 07:26 PM : Sep 11, 2008

Probably he does, too. If the weather in Crawford has been as dry as it is here in Houston, he probably has cracks in the ground, too.

Thanks for your support, and let''s keep our fingers crossed that we get some rain.

[txgrouch2006]

Who will transport the looters from New Orleans to Houston?
Posted by DeckardBR at 03:59 PM : Sep 11, 2008

Good question. Hey, if Ike hits Houston, can we send looters to NO?

They can wear T-shirts that say "The wind blew on me. Gimme your stuff!"

[txgrouch2006]

Who will transport the looters from New Orleans to Houston?
Posted by DeckardBR at 03:59 PM : Sep 11, 2008

Good question. Hey, if Ike hits Houston, can we send looters to NO?
Posted by txgrouch2006 at 07:38 PM : Sep 11, 2008

Oh, sorry! You probably didn''t get the Houston joke.

After Katrina, Houston experienced a HUGE increase in crime due to the NO refugees. Apparently they felt deprived of an opportunity to loot NO, so they started looting Houston instead.

So it''s only fair. If we get a hurricane this time, we get to send our looters there. Turnabout is fair play, right?

[txgrouch2006]

Gas up 30 cents a Gal. in two days here in Chicago area.
Posted by usmcvn1 at 05:40 PM : Sep 11, 2008

Apparently you negative nitwits didn''t read the news - CRUDE OIL IS AT $100/BBL. Yesterday it fell BELOW $100 in some foreign markets.

And the Dow Jones was up over 100 points today.

Bad news travels fast. Good news - ehhh, who cares. Right??? LOL!