Out of power and back in again somehow. Media reports are constant that transformers are popping. Hope Bumblebee and the rest are fine…
Channel 13 is practically begging it’s field reporters to find some debris to put on camera. Constantly asking “have you seen any debris?” So disappointed by the “no” answers.
Report of a fire in downtown Houston: Brennan’s restaurant. 2 injuries. Update: 4 y.o. and 26 y.o; another transformer.
Still here. Lost power several times, but it keeps coming back. Can hear the wind sometimes, despite heavy wood on the windows.
A dozen houses burned in Galveston. The eye wall is hitting Galveston now.
Update: Eyewall estimated to get here between 3:30 to 4 a.m.
The rips in Ike disappeared (Can’t believe I said “rips in Rita” earlier. Definitely a brain fart.) The eye is tightening up on radar. Galveston getting winds of 60-80mph. The Transtar traffic cameras that are still working are giving some great live shots. Unfortunately, we can only get fuzzy stills on the web.
Update: Webster is without power now.
Accidental double post due to power glitch. Losing it for 20-30 seconds at a time. Edit: Dickinson and League City without power.
Update: all Transtar traffic cameras on I45 south down. Baycliffe EMS has lost it’s roof. UTMB in Gaveston first floor flooded; water at 11′ on Galveston island, still rising. Eye still 2 hours offshore.
Now 550,000 people out of power. Blinking constantly here now. Out for a good 25-30 seconds at one point.
Ch. 13 indicates that water is coming over the seawall in Galveston. Just waves, not complete overtopping yet.
Looks like I might lose internet before I lose power; after the last couple of power blinks, my net connection has become extremely unstable. Much more rain and wind now. ABC13 has reporters in worse places than Andy. Good luck to them…
Hope I can post this.
20% of Freeport’s population is riding it out.
Channel 13 needs to pull their guy, Andy, indoors. The wind is pushing him around badly, and he is in danger. Plus this makes it look like it’s not really dangerous.
Another blink. Decided it was time to check the laptop I plan on trying to use after the power was out… and discovered it was completely dead. Power supply wasn’t plugged in, and apparently it wasn’t shut down, so it’s completely drained. Not enough time to charge it, I’d bet. So much for trying to stay online.
It’s raining here now.
From Weather.com:
The Weather Channel’s Julie Martin reports the U.S. Coast Guard made 65 rescues on Texas’ Bolivar peninsula today. But no more rescue attempts will be made until conditions are calmer.
That’s the southern end of the seriously misnamed High Island, which is the next one northeast of Galveston Island.
The Hooters in Galveston appears to have been seriously damaged. That is a tragedy.
Here’s what I’m hoping about evacs: Even if Harris and Galveston County officials blew it, village and town officials in northern Galveston and southern Harris counties carried the day and saved lives.
Galveston Island
Kemah
Tiki Island
Bayou Vista
Omega Bay in La Marque
Bolivar Peninsula
San Leon
Bacliff
Freddiesville
Some Chambers County residents
Some Brazoria County residents—excluding Pearland and Alvin
People in low-lying areas of Dickinson Bayou, Tropical Gardens, the country club area, Bayou Chantilly and any homes that front Dickinson Bayou
Harris County areas in ZIP code areas: 77058, 77059, 77062, 77520, 77546, 77571, 77586 and 77598
Matagorda County
Jackson County
Orange County
Parts of San Patricio County
Why in the name of all that’s holy, would you not evacuate all of Galveston County? Are they that confident that the island will protect the mainland portion?
Some confusion (in comments here) on the Galveston info. US Census 2006 estimate for Galveston County is 283,000. However, Galveston Island is only one part of Galveston County. Galveston city is smaller still, and has a population of 57,523. Given the performance of our press, whether the comment was really supposed to be for the city, island, or county is anyone’s guess. Most or all of the city is covered by the seawall, at 17.5 feet in height. That will not stop water from coming around the back side, and if Ike holds the surge in the bay long enough that can happen.
The only thing new I have to add is that I’m a nervous eater, and at this rate, I will probably put on 25 lbs. tonight.
Power blinked again. I’m sure each of these is another neighborhood dropping off the grid.
Amazed I’m still online. Cheering for Centerpoint Energy (the local transmission company).
Clear Lake buoy info. For non-Houstonians, this is on the west side of the bay, near NASA. Notice the blue line? Tide is supposed to be going OUT.
Still here. Still no rain. Ike’s front edge may be getting sheared off, and it’s swallowed some dry air. If that makes it sputter, great, but the surge is still going to be there, no matter what. Too late for that to change.
Confirmed report of two fires in Galveston, unknown how many homes are involved in the second one.
Note about my earlier risk estimate: that’s based on the full zone A and B, and is a WAG. If it’s just the eastern portions closer to the bay, we may luck out and only have 2-300,000 at risk. I really, really hope that 40% figure is way high.
“Only,” he says.
Some homes on fire in Galveston due to blown transformers. Storm surge has blocked GFD, they can’t get to them. No calls to the emergency management center from people asking to be removed. Do they have phone service?
Is Rita ripping up? Look at the gaps on the west side.
Freeport PD lost their generator, and 911 service for a while. They diverted another, which cost them their AC.
Just about everywhere is under curfew now. Power blinking….
Still up….
San Jac river will rise 6 feet by tomorrow morning, backing up from Galveston bay. Flood warning called; if that’s all, it won’t be too bad.
Bear in mind that the water is supposed to be going to low tide right now. It will be moving to high tide just as the storm arrives. Joy.