Galveston.....

[442w30]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIUPCfIihQ4

Having a mexican martini and following the coverage on KHOU 11 here:

http://flhurricane.com/ikecoverage.html

http://www.stormpulse.com/hurricane-ike-2008

I can't believe people didn't heed mandatory evacuations, but I understand that some didn't want to deal with the 18-30hours on the highway as they did for Rita. Still, any loss of life at this point is very sad.

Some things that stick with me are the "eye tightening like a skater bringing in it's arms to speed up", the height of the water at low tide 5pm today, the fact that landfall apparently coincides with high tide do not bode well for the folks down in Galveston.

good luck those in the way of this storm. I believe many underestimated it, but I hope I am wrong.

[Carbuff]

I saw a history channel show about the big hurricane that engulfed Galveston in 1900. The difference was that they didnt know it was coming. I think there was some political unrest in Cuba at the time and therefore there was no warning from The Cuban weather stations. It was a very interesting story, and sad also.

[OnlineStageGear]

That thing is going right through my old stomping grounds.

[CrazyTrain]

I've been through a few hurricanes and I know that there is a lot of dumbshit that goes along with staying after evac orders come through. It was a very fun trip for me on the biggest one, Georges in the Fla Keys, but this one will be no fun for those that stay behind around the Galveston area. It's amazing to be there when it's all going crazy around you, one of the biggest rushes one can experience, but there is a point where you must make a decision to live or die. It's really that intense. I have some memories that are still giving me dreams at night, and it was only a Cat 2.

God Speed to all in the area.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Georges#South_Florida

[SEEGERMANY]

I can somewhat understand wanting to stay and protect your property, but those that stayed in Galveston were just asking for disaster. Personally, I'd rather be bused to a dry, air conditioned shelter than to remain in a collapsed, water logged house with no electricity. All these people have to look for is heat, mosquitoes, and ZERO utility services for days, maybe weeks.

[OnlineStageGear]

Ya know, they were predicting a 25 ft storm surge. The actual surge was 11 ft. They have always overblown the predicted storm surge. Now 11ft is still very large storm surge, but it is no where near the 25ft they predicted. Maybe they are doing it to scare people, but it ends up being "The boy who cried wolf" and the next prediction may be accurate and people won't believe it.

Matt

[SEEGERMANY]

IKE is hammering Shreveport/Bossier City. YeeHawwwwww!

We've got trees down all over the neighborhood. I guess tomorrow the Stihl and Husky will get a workout. Gotta help thy neighbors, especially the pretty ones.

[SEEGERMANY]

I'm starting to see areial photos of South Texas and it looks as if a nuclear bomb went off. It's gonna take probably three years for that area to be rebuilt.