Saturday, September 13, 2008

Ike slams Texas and Louisiana

Hurricane Ike slammed into the Texas coast causing widespread damage in Texas and neighboring Louisiana.

At one point about 4 million people lost power, and the Department of Energy says about 2.6 million are still without electricity. It may take several weeks before power is restored for many of these people.

Massive surge and flooding damage occurred along the coasts of southeastern Texas and Louisiana. Thousands of people are reportedly being rescued at the time of this report, some able to communicate only be waving from their rooftops with cellphone connections knocked out. Houston, Galveston, Port Arthur and Beaumont were especially hard hit.

About 20 percent of the U.S. oil refining capacity has been shut down because of the storm along with all the Gulf offshore oil rigs.

The Red Cross reports it is providing shelter to 20,000 people in all the effected areas.

Thousands of homes were reported to have suffered significant flood damage. The total number probably will not be known for until after the storm has passed completely. In Lake Charles, Louisiana, alone more than 1,800 homes were flooded, more than during Hurricane Rita 3 years ago.


USA Today
Texas reels from Hurricane Ike's power
CNN - 1 hour ago
GALVESTON, Texas (CNN) -- Hurricane Ike landed a powerful punch on the Texas Gulf Coast early Saturday, sparking fires, flooding streets and knocking out ...
PHOTOS: Hurricane Ike Pummels Texas Coast National Geographic
Ike Swamps Texas, Leaving Widespread Flooding, 3 Million With No Power ABC News


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Friday, September 12, 2008

Hurricane Ike tumbles toward Houston and Galveston

Massive Hurricane Ike lumbered toward the Gulf Coast on Friday heading for a probable landfall in the Houston-Galveston area.

Ike is predicted to make landfall as a strong Category 2 or possibly a weak Category 3 hurricane. However, Ike may cause damage well beyond its hurricane force winds. The large size of the storm and its long track over the Gulf have built up a huge column of water ahead of Ike along with higher wave action.

Storm surge may reach up to 25 feet in some areas, with strong waves lapping over the top of the surge. Hurricane Katrina caused storm surge of 24 to 26 feet in Mississippi, but mostly along thinly populated areas. If Ike lands to the near west of Galveston and Houston it would strongly impact a much more heavily-populated area than Katrina in terms of storm surge, since New Orleans was west of Katrina were the surge is much lighter.

Ike's hurricane force wind field extends about 120 miles from the center compared to 125 miles for Katrina.


NOAA Projected Path for Hurricane Ike
[Image of 5-day forecast of predicted track, and coastal areas under a warning or a watch]
Click Here for a Printer Friendly Graphic

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Saturday, August 30, 2008

Gulf oil rigs also threatened by Gustav

Hurricane Gustav is now a very dangerous Category 4 hurricane threatening western Cuba, and is expected to reemerge in the Gulf possibly reaching Category 5 strength, the most powerful type of hurricane.

While it is still uncertain whether the hurricane will impact the U.S. Gulf coast, two models for example have shown Gustav turning away to the West before landfall, all models agree that the important Gulf oil rigs are seriously threatened.

Significant damage to the oil rigs could send oil and fuel prices skyrocketing again. A serious oil spill could impact the U.S. presidential debate on new offshore oil drilling that has captured headlines recently during the campaign.


Map of Gulf Oil Rigs showing tracks of Hurricanes Rita and
Katrina (Foots Forecast)

http://static.flickr.com/79/225471352_7e008be563.jpg


Five-day Projected Track of Hurricane Gustav (NOAA)
[Image of 5-day forecast of predicted track, and coastal areas under a warning or a watch]
Click Here for a Printer Friendly Graphic

In addition to hurricane damage, Gustav may stall over Louisiana and/or Texas causing major flooding problems.

Folks in New Orleans and other parts of Louisiana are taking no chances. Mass evacuations are currently underway.

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