Hurricane Ike

[MacGuffin]

Looks like a pisser...

http://www.intpcentral.com/uploads/hurricaneike.jpg

If you're near it, let us know how you are doing.

How will it affect oil & gas production?

Will FEMA work this time?

[purveyor of truth]

I'm not near it

It will effect oil and gas

FEMA will clusterfuck it somehow

[Nighthawk]

The refugees have been pouring into Dallas over the last few days. Several co-workers have family in that group. I think gas prices will go up about 50 cents or so in the next few days. FEMA will be on it's ass again ... how badly will be determined by how hard Ike hits. Politicians will be scrambling for sound-bytes to make hay out of all this.

[Sarcastikus]

I think gas prices will go up about 50 cents or so in the next few days.

It went up 14 cents here this morning, it was at $3.45.

[Nighthawk]

It went up 14 cents here this morning, it was at $3.45.

So much for getting a Hummer :(

[Meliora]

My hometown is about 45 miles west of Galveston near the coast. All my family has evacuated to my cousin's husband's family's house near San Antonio (yeah, a lot of possessives). My best friend from back there decided to stay and ride it out with one of his friend's dad and a few other people. Apparently the guy owns a construction/remodeling company there, and his office building is storm/wind-proof. I just hope my family's beach house at Surfside doesn't get knocked over or something, though I know that town is already rather flooded. It was built just 3 years ago, and it should be able to withstand any non-insane wind speeds, and there's a huge dune separating it from the actual beach, so I think it'll be alright.

I've been watching the Houston Chronichles SiGuy blog covering Ike and it's hilarious to see all these "I live in Katy/The Woodlands, should I evacuate!?!?!?!" people.

I'm going to laugh when all those million dollar houses built in the last few years on the west end of Galveston Island with almost no dune protection and built right up on the beach front get fucked to hell. haha...

Anyways, best of luck to those crazy bastards staying behind in the Galveston area.

[Sarcastikus]

The Houston TX NEXRAD shows an enormous eye. This morning I heard that Ike was covering 40% of the Gulf of Mexico.

http://www.wunderground.com/radar/radblast.asp?ID=HGX&lat=0&lon=0&label=you&type=N0Z&zoommode=pan&map.x=400&map.y=240&centerx=400&centery=240&prevzoom=zoom&num=1&delay=15&scale=1&showlabels=1&smooth=1&noclutter=0&showstorms=0&rainsnow=0&lightning=0

National Hurrican Center Inofrmation: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/graphics_at4.shtml?5day#contents

[Ferrus]

Is it me or is the US far, far too over-panicky since Katrina? Most of the deaths were not caused by Katrina's power necessarily; rather Katrina's power revealed the inadequacy of previous provisions and plans against such incidents. Sending everyone into hypervigiliant mode over a stiff gale seems a bit counterproductive of the calm necessary to see it through smoothly.

[MacGuffin]

Is it me or is the US far, far too over-panicky since Katrina? Most of the deaths were not caused by Katrina's power necessarily; rather Katrina's power revealed the inadequacy of previous provisions and plans against such incidents. Sending everyone into hypervigiliant mode over a stiff gale seems a bit counterproductive of the calm necessary to see it through smoothly.

Stiff gale? Stiff gales don't come with storm surges up to 20 feet high.

The last major hurricane to hit Galveston (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galveston_Hurricane_of_1900) killed thousands, mostly cause no one knew to evacuate.

Better safe than sorry.

[Ferrus]

Yes but Galveston was far more powerful - at least category 4 and possible 5. And most homes were far less securely built 100 years ago. This is at present category 2.

[notjeffgoldblum]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFM1X0o2pnc

[stopharian]

Is it me or is the US far, far too over-panicky since Katrina? Most of the deaths were not caused by Katrina's power necessarily; rather Katrina's power revealed the inadequacy of previous provisions and plans against such incidents. Sending everyone into hypervigiliant mode over a stiff gale seems a bit counterproductive of the calm necessary to see it through smoothly.


No matter what, the damage will be in the tens of billions of dollars...nothing to sneeze at.

[Limey]

Tards are queuing to panic buy gasoline here in NC.
I should have used my airmiles to fly my mother in law to Galveston.

I saw that they were saying "imminent death" on the advisories this morning.

[zero]

^^it was freakin 3.55...now it's 4.46...fuck!!!

[Jen]

I paid $4.09 this evening and some stations were charging over $5.00. dang.

[starla]

Tards are queuing to panic buy gasoline here in NC.
I should have used my airmiles to fly my mother in law to Galveston.

I saw that they were saying "imminent death" on the advisories this morning.

Yeah, WTF is that all about? I shouldn't be surprised. When there's snow in the forecast, there's a run on milk and bread. Just when you think middle America is getting less ignorant.

People were still queued up as of a few minutes ago. Cars were idling, backed up onto the street, maybe 20-30 deep, to buy gas at a Hess station that was charging $3.68/gal, when the Shell station on the other side of the road was $3.79. Another station was sold out.

I can only hope there's a long enough gas shortage for this to be necessary. I only have enough gas to get to and from work until Monday.

[Methofelis]

Right now here in Florida, we're under a gas restriction. We're not allowed to purchase more than 10 gallons at a time, it seems.

That storm looks somewhat impressive, I'll give it that. But being from where I am, after knowing the stats on it I wouldn't be too horribly concerned.

[Ivy]

I had the good fortune to oversleep, take my daughter to school running on fumes, and then fill up at $3.50 this morning before any of this gouging bullshit started. Now it's $4.29 at the same station.

[AllAboutSoul]

Oh jeez, we're driving to Florida this morning to visit my mother. :doh:

[dubbeltop]

http://www.khou.com/video/?nvid=178826&live=yes&noad=yes&shu=1

(ahem... live from the eye(?) )

[Oso Mocoso]

Yes but Galveston was far more powerful - at least category 4 and possible 5. And most homes were far less securely built 100 years ago. This is at present category 2.

Galveston refers to the island, not a hurricane. And yes, I'm sure everything will turn out just fine so long as no one panics.

http://images.chron.com/blogs/sciguy/archives/600xPopupGalleryCoomerGalvestongdj.jpg

Hurricane Brings High Wind and Bears

[Meliora]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/beachadam/2853913323/ Well, my family's beach house made it out pretty well. At least from the front, as the walkover to the beach behind the house might be damaged, and it looks like the garage doors sustained damage (they weren't left up in that position or anything). All in all, I think this storm was a little over-hyped...

Edit: Oh, and the whole front area of that house with all the water and sand is normally a long driveway-ish area made of gravel and dirt. Dang, did all that sand end up on the road?

Edit deux: this too http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2008/09/13/us/0913-IKE_10.html

[Ferrus]

Galveston refers to the island, not a hurricane.
I know. Actually it refers to both. There was no hurricane naming system at the time, so hurricanes were given ad hoc names if they proved especially memorable - so it was the Galveston hurricane, or the Great Galveston hurricane of 1900, or whatever.

[ocop]

Tards are queuing to panic buy gasoline here in NC.
I should have used my airmiles to fly my mother in law to Galveston.

I saw that they were saying "imminent death" on the advisories this morning.


God, I know. I expected fewer stupid people in Chapel Hill, but as my girlfriend was filling up (tank was on E, in her defense) some woman pulled in behind her: "Honey, leave me some gas!!" and there were lines out to goddamn 15-501 for the station across the street that was $.05 cheaper...

This state can be disappointing sometimes.

[Anonymous]

Hurricane Brings High Wind and Bears

Hahaha, you have to wonder if that cameraman still has his job. My money is on no.

[Oso Mocoso]

I know. Actually it refers to both. There was no hurricane naming system at the time, so hurricanes were given ad hoc names if they proved especially memorable - so it was the Galveston hurricane, or the Great Galveston hurricane of 1900, or whatever.

Yeah, I know about the hurricane naming system. But there's still a specific ad hoc name for this hurricane which is the name of record. I've only ever heard the storm referred to as the "Hurricane of 1900" when I was down on the Gulf Coast after Katrina. "The 1900 Galveston Hurricane" would be fine too if there might be confusion with another hurricane in 1900, but yours was the first time I'd ever heard it referred to simply as "Galveston", which struck me as wrong.


Hahaha, you have to wonder if that cameraman still has his job. My money is on no.

Yeah, the cameraman was asleep at the wheel there. And I like how the news personality was trying to give him subtle hints before he gave up and just started talking directly to the cameraman, which I guess is a big news talking head no no.

[Limey]

It made the dead [technically] rise from their graves

http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/US/weather/09/14/hurricane.ike/t1wide.caskets.ap.jpg

[Meliora]

http://hurricanebear.com/ :theclap: Absurdly awesome.

[Jen]

Yeah, I know about the hurricane naming system. But there's still a specific ad hoc name for this hurricane which is the name of record. I've only ever heard the storm referred to as the "Hurricane of 1900" when I was down on the Gulf Coast after Katrina. "The 1900 Galveston Hurricane" would be fine too if there might be confusion with another hurricane in 1900, but yours was the first time I'd ever heard it referred to simply as "Galveston", which struck me as wrong.
I knew what he meant, plus I'm used to the way foreigners speak. ;)

If you're into weather, I recommend reading Issac's Storm (http://www.amazon.com/Isaacs-Storm-Deadliest-Hurricane-History/dp/0375708278/ref=pd_sim_b_1).

[pan_sonic_000]

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2008/09/the_short_but_eventful_life_of.html

Some of these photos are crazy. Especially the single house standing amongst the debris and the upended caskets.

[jread]

Here are some photos from Orange, TX where Hurricane Ike’s storm surge resulted in the worst flooding the area has ever seen: http://kogt.smugmug.com/gallery/5953607_Nn2hu#371134406_jLgnE

My parents live in the northern part of the county, so their house stayed dry (thankfully). Some of my other friends and family were not so lucky. I’d say that the creepiest image I’ve seen is the one below, which is from Hollywood Community Cemetery west of downtown Orange (multiple caskets surfaced during the flood): http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,422902,00.html

http://cache.boston.com/universal/site_graphics/blogs/bigpicture/ike_09_15/ike24.jpg