Hurricane Ike

[Aggie_Ama]

The watch begins.... Looks like Ike is on his way to Texas. Warm vibes and prayers to our ladies down there. I don't know if we have any that out that way (maybe BeeLady, haven't seen her in a while) but it may still be ugly by the time it gets inland to our San Antonio gals.

Maybe even Austin but I don't want to think about that. We are stocked on batteries, water and some canned food and on a hill well out of the 100 year flood plane so it is just tornadoes we watch for.

[wildhawk]

Prayers for safety from the storm! We are still getting some rain and storms from the outer bands of Ike. Be careful out there.

[bmccasland]

Hope those in the target zone do OK. And if you have friends/family in the target zone - are they prepared to do without electricty for days? Not only food, but medicines (do their meds need to be kept in the refrig?), and medical equipment. If the answers are "no," then I highly recommend they move in a northeasterly direction - the opposite direction of the incoming storm.

Some folks here are still without power after Gustav, and may be for a couple more weeks.

[DebTX]

When you're so immersed in working, that you don't even know a HURRICANE is headed your way!

Thanks for the warning, ladies - checking out the weather websites now!

[ASammy1]

Be prepared to evacuate! My local weather guy says it could hit as a Cat 3 or 4.

[tulip]

Best weather site: www.wunderground.com. Check out Dr. Jeff Masters blog on the hurricanes. Very cool maps.

[Aggie_Ama]

Be prepared to evacuate! My local weather guy says it could hit as a Cat 3 or 4.

Oh the coast definitely, they would be nuts to stay is Corpus but many probably will. In Austin, I will be watching for those funny looking clouds. They are expecting it to go over us possibly as a tropical storm or depression. Probably means we won't see anything since we are in the midst of a terrible drought.

I am sad that my favorite little coastal town is in the cross hairs and my husband's friends from an internship are also there. Hopefully they are getting out of dodge!

[TexasMermaid]

This site has really nice graphics and the data comes from the National Hurricane Center. http://www.stormpulse.com/ The upper right hand corner of the map has buttons for showing the historical track of the storm or different forecast models. You can also look at the wind probabilities.

One of my husband's co-workers emailed the owners of the site and suggested getting oil rig data from the Gulf added to the graphic. They replied that it is in the works, but not quite ready yet. Cool!

You gals down south take care as the storm approaches.

[wackyjacky1]

Local weathercasters are saying winds in San Antonio could reach 100 mph. It's gonna be a bit hairy, I think.

[Aggie_Ama]

Jacky- My dad has told me about all the tornadoes Austin had when he was a kid and Carla (I think) hit the coast. My mom and him both talk about how crazy the weather got in Austin. And I remember it getting pretty hairy inland back on the 80's, I think it was Gilbert? But other than that I really don't remember noticing any hurricane/tropical storm that hit the coast. This one might get pretty big and I don't think one has hit where they projected us as a Tropical Storm (which is the current forecast) to see any of it since I was a little one. I am hoping it will be a lot weaker than forecasted when it hits.

[sundial]

Keeping you gals close in thought and prayer. I hope there is minimal damage and that your families are safe.

[wackyjacky1]

Just watched the weather and as it stands now, starting Fri. night and going through Saturday, S.A. is expecting sustained winds of 40-60 mph, with gusts from 60-80, with tornadoes, and 6" or more of rain. I just double-checked the batteries in my flashlight, and I've got plenty of cat food for the kitties...I'm set!

The sucky thing is I'm supposed to be at work at 4 a.m. on Saturday.

[jeannierides]

Adding my prayers to those before me... Everyone be safe!

[Aggie_Ama]

Jacky- My mother's job keeps very close tabs on what the state is doing on evacuations and predictions. Anywho, right now she said they speculate this storm will follow a path like Carla of 1961 and Austin should anticipate 6" of rain. If that ends up true we are in for a wild and wooly weekend. Mom said Carla brought wind damage, hail damage, tornadoes and floods. I better check those emergency supplies after all, just in case! I think the fur kids are actually low on food as we speak.

Of course the path is changing very rapidly so I may be riding my bike in the dry heat this weekend. It is wrong to say but I am quite bored waiting with all the media speculation right now!

[TxDoc]

Be prepared to evacuate! My local weather guy says it could hit as a Cat 3 or 4.

Yep, they issued a voluntary evacuation for several of the more exposed areas around here, and it will become mandatory tomorrow morning for some.
At work we are in the process of discharging the patients able to return home - and we will see tomorrow morning what the decision will be about evacuating the patients that are still inhouse. At this time we don't expect to have to start massive patient evacuation, but the tracking is changing so quickly that really any prediction right now could be wrong. We are waiting for the final decisions of the emergency team tomorrow. Once those decisions are made, most of us should be released from duty - but it will be tomorrow night, so very likely too late for everyone to get out in the traffic. So I guess that we will have to ride this one out, either from work or from home.
Be safe everyone!