Hurricane Ike Watch!!! (ALL Ike posts in here please!) (Houston: land, electricity)

[Eastender67]

Originally Posted by cajun24

Panic may set in, especially if this thing grows to a 4. Rita Part 2.

It won't.

[jfre81]

Meh, just move it into the Astrodome. It'll hold up. Maybe it'll help the 'Stros keep Carlos Zambrano from going yard.

[rubynicholson77056]

I was actually living in Jackson, MS when Katrina hit and although we were 2 hrs away from New Orleans and the MS Gulf Coast, Jackson experienced major damage!!! Just wondering what you guys are thinking will happen to the Houston area....thinking of leaving??

[Stephanie P]

I feel pretty safe here in Katy. The only way we would leave (only after the storm) is if we lost power and knew it would be out for more than a day or 2.
My husband said he stopped for gas on his way to work this morning and there was already a line. I hope they don't run out of gas like they did before Rita.

[southeasttexas]

That question does not have a "one size fits all" answer. If someone lives directly on the coast, with only 10 or so feet evevation, they definitly should leave. If they live in a northern part of the area, at a higher elevation, with NO threat of surge, best thing would be to stay put. Dangerous storm, but hardly THE storm of the century...

[Va-Cat]

OK - my husband has been on a business trip and is flying back into Hobby today at 5:30. (I have to go pick him up)Can any one give me an idea of the QUICKEST route that would take me from our home (grand pkway and Morton) to Hobby Airport & back? I have a feeling that I'm gonna get stuck in all sorts of traffic if I don't take a back route. Any and all suggestions are really appreciated!

Thanks

[Mom2Feebs]

Originally Posted by southeasttexas

Just curious, when/where did you encounter a 3?

Originally Posted by jfre81

She's probably referring to Alicia (1983). Last major hurricane to directly affect the Houston area.

Yes, as jfre81 mentioned, that was Alicia (I was 13 and we lived in Kingwood). The only other major hurricane I have even been close to is Hurricane Georges in Key West, in 1998. That was interesting. Obviously living in Houston for so long exposes you to all sorts of Tropical Storms, etc but I can't remember any that were of any significance other than Allison....anyone?

[Eastender67]

Originally Posted by Mom2Feebs

Yes, as jfre81 mentioned, that was Alicia (I was 13 and we lived in Kingwood). The only other major hurricane I have even been close to is Hurricane Georges in Key West, in 1998. That was interesting. Obviously living in Houston for so long exposes you to all sorts of Tropical Storms, etc but I can't remember any that were of any significance other than Allison....anyone?

1961. Carla, at that time, was one of the most powerful hurricanes ever to hit the U.S., *strongest ever to hit Texas. She was a Cat 5 out in the Gulf, Cat 4 when she struck down near Seadrift/Port O'Connor. Passed just to the east of Victoria, crossed I-10 just north of Shiner still a Cat 1, did extensive damage in LaGrange and, even though the closest the eye ever got to Houston was 120 miles, did huge damage in Houston. I think that was the hurricane in which Dan Rather made his name nationally. He worked for CH 11 at that time I believe. Did that "rain thing" reporting during Carla, CBS noted that, later hired him and you know the rest. Google Carla for info on Houston damage.

Hurricane Ike - Hurricane Carla (1961) - Hurricane tracking map of storm path

Hurricane Carla Leaves Her Mark on La Grange, Texas as the Largest Hurricane on Record - Associated Content

*Great Galveston hurricane was also a Cat 4 at landfall and, of course, killed many thousands of people on Galveston Island.

[lovesroses]

Just got back from Kroger in Katy near Westheimer Pkwy. All water, batteries and gr beef/steaks gone, but plenty of crackers, bread, candy. LOL

The gas station there has lines at least 6 cars deep..I hear on the news that Katy will get really bad winds. We are going to hole up in our closet.

Take care everyone.

[Wysiwyg]

i'm excited! should we board up now in SW Houston? do you just board up windows facing south/east?