Ike 6PM Update

We still expect Ike may make it to Cat 3 before landfall early Saturday morning. We are watching the Galveston area especially close. We have been busy in the tracking center, monitoring local media outlets and public service radios from the Galveston area. The major concern right now is still flooding due to storm surge. Area police estimate as many as 30 percent of the homes along the coast may still be occupied. We have been listening to boat and helicopter rescues of people who woke up this morning to high water and others who thought they could ride out Ike. The message from Emergency Management; Get out! The Galveston area is already seeing sustained winds of 50mph and gusts of 70+mph. Flooding has been reported up to a half mile inland already. There are an estimated 10,000 without power on Galveston Island alone. Depending on the location, curfew goes into effect between 7pm and midnight for all areas. Finally, we have just heard the first damage estimates of $7Billion. This is a serious storm folks. We will try to get some storm surge maps uploaded. Our next update will be by 8PM. Stay safe.