Ike is only a category 2 hurricane, but it is so vast that it is generating an awesome surge of water ahead of it. The tides, not tidal surge, are already extremely high on the coast, with water rushing over the Galveston sea wall and inundating coastal communities. There are fears of a 20 foot wall of water when the actual storm surge hits tonight.
We live 100 miles inland from where it’s supposed to hit, but are still expecting category one strength winds at the peak of the storm. Five to ten inches of rain likely, though that’s the least of our worries. Flooding this far inland isn’t a major concern. Tornadoes are possible, too. We have to worry about trees and limbs falling onto the house, and there’s a very real chance that we will lose power for some unknown period. There are areas where they are afraid the power might be off for two to six weeks. I’m assuming they’re talking about Galveston and environs, but who knows?
A lot depends on the final track at landfall. A few miles either way at this point makes a world of difference. If the storm jigs a little south/west, bad for us. If it goes a little north/east, then Galveston won’t get socked as badly, though it’s bad enough already.
A few insane people refused to leave Surfside. The local authorities took down their names and SSNs. The assumption at this point is that they can’t possibly survive if the tidal surge strikes as expected.
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