Storm Surge Map; area will flood in a:
Pink: Category 1 storm
Yellow: Category 2 storm
Green: Category 3 storm
We have seen some strengthening and it still looks like Ike will be Cat 3. The outer eyewall is expected to make landfall by 8PM, the inner eyewall by 10PM, and the center by 1AM. Currently, Ike is a Cat 2 with winds of 110mph about 98 miles from Galveston. Storm surge is expected to continue rising through 3AM with a total of at least 20ft. In addition, at least 15in of rain is expected as well. Due to the size of the storm and the specific wind directions, surge water in Galveston may not begin to recede until late Saturday. Reports from the NWS and local authorities are ominous; residents riding out the storm in single story dwellings "face certain death". High winds have halted all off-shore Coast Guard rescue operations and we have heard unconfirmed reports from KHOU-TV, in the Galveston area, of people trapped on their roofs. Due to the weather conditions, local authorities have been unable to even check out these reports. Last we heard, most of Galveston still has power and cell phone service, but authorities expect as many as 5Million power outages. As Ike comes in we will continue to see an increased tornado threat. It is estimated that up to 40 percent of Galveston residents are riding out Ike. Our prayers are with them.
