As of 5:12 pm...
Memorandum for Superintendent
Subject: Hurricane Ike Update 5
From: Arnold Proctor
Date: September 11, 2008
Superintendent Cleveland, Don Roy, John Mathis, and I participated in a statewide emergency preparedness telephone conference this afternoon. The Emergency Preparedness Center Jack Colley announced that Ike continues to move along the same track as a Category 2 but has moved more to the right and is now expected to make landfall just west of Galveston. The wind field extends out 275 miles. Expect a severe threat due to surge. The state is anticipating 14 foot surge along the coast and up to 20 feet in bays and bayous.
The state continues to concentrate on evacuation of special needs citizens. The focus is now on Chambers, Jefferson, and Orange counties. UTMB evacuation is well underway. There are a large number of home health care patients. The state is working with local officials to ensure that no home health care patient is left behind. The state operations center will remain operational throughout the event.
The National Weather Service announced that the storm is a typical symmetrical shaped storm. It is currently a Category 2 with sustained winds of 100 mph. Winds do extend out 275 miles at tropical storm strength. Hurricane force winds are extending out 150 miles. It is expected to make landfall in the predawn hours west of Galveston as a Category 3 storm. There is dry air in the western Gulf that is helping to hold down the strengthening of the storm. The steering currents have not changed. The storm is moving WNW at 10 mph. The storm will track north over east Texas following landfall. Expect tree and power line damage and extensive mobile home park damage. Rainfall is expected to be between 5 and 10 inches throughout the area with some pockets of rainfall up to 15 inches.
There will continue to be telephone updates at 10:30 AM , 4:30 PM and 9:30 PM daily through landfall Friday night. I will keep you informed as we know more.
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