I know Ed posted some time back about being packed and ready to go inland, but I think that was a couple of storms ago. Hoping everything is well with the Blysards, and all in the path of the storm.
It will be a great day, when the media in our country can report things like hurricanes, tornadoes, and blizzards in realistic, reletive terms. Everything has to be Chicken Little's sky falling. After a while, it's a media event, and no one can tell what's really going on.
Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.
.....From what we've seen this evening on projected path for Ike....it's not too far south of that area {Huston}. Believe Ed feels safer for everyone in his family to stay where he is.
Quentin
I ignore the hype now. Media Chicken Little can scream all he wants to.
I examine Noaa's charts along with other web sites carefully each day. I did repack some trains stuff into bigger boxes and better arranged the train room storage under the layout.
Houston will flood pretty fast and hard but fortunately it does not look like it will stay much more than a day so good for them. I recall east of Houston towards the Sabine as having alot of refineries and worry about the storm surge coming.
The trees on my land tell me the story when a storm gets to where we are. If the trees are doing well, there is no problem. If they start to breathe or otherwise think about falling... well... it's a gale. =)
Im just glad that Cuba soaked it up and that it missed NOLA this time.
The local new folks have done a fantastic job of creating a panic...the sky is falling, the sky is falling...yup, and it's called rain.
Every freeway out of the city is jammed up bumper to bumper; every Home Depot is either out of plywood or is limiting sales on what they have left.
Grocery stores are cleaned out of water, bread, cereal and canned goods.
As of tonight, Ike is projected to make landfall just northwest of Houston...between Anahuac and Houston, right through Galveston Island, although the computer tracks have it both south and north also...we expect the first rain bands to get here around 10 tomorrow morning.
Not gonna fight the traffic and it should be by quite quickly.
Front window and sliding glass patio door boarded up, Coleman lanterns and cook stove all fueled, and lots of canned goods, bottled water and such...we are all set.
Will let you know tomorrow how it goes.
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I am on a yard job, Thursday and Friday are my off days, I have to be at the yard Saturday at 0630...unless they call and say stay home ( not likely)...they already went through the extra board, they just called and left a message wanting to see if I wanted to work my off day tomorrow...uhhh, no, not really!
"We have met the enemy and he is us." Pogo Possum "We have met the anemone... and he is Russ." Bucky Katt "Prediction is very difficult, especially if it's about the future." Niels Bohr, Nobel laureate in physics
Ed,
We in the area of the Windy City (I haven't felt a breeze in months, unless it was against me while bike-riding) hope and trust you've made the right decision.
We got soaked by the remnants of Gustav; this one might get us a bit, too (though it's supposed to pass to our south and east).
Carl
Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)
CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)
Ed:
Does your yard handle heavy downpours well?
K.P.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- K.P.’s absolute “theorem” from early, early childhood that he has seen over and over and over again: Those that CAUSE a problem in the first place will act the most violently if questioned or exposed.
jeaton wrote: ... "South Dakota". Gives me a new respect for people who live there. Can you imagine endless treeless plains broken only by the occasional stampeding buffalo herd ...
These days we only hold the buffalo stampedes on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays during tourist season! Other days can be arranged (at slight additional cost).
The yard is 300 feet from the ship channel turning basin, about 3 feet above sea level, and we expect a 4 to 6 foot storm surge.
Built 1924, they simply encased the 2 creeks that run throught the yard in concrete pipe, and installed drains to them...it clears out pretty well, but I am not sure it will take the storm surge so good.
It will be interesting to see what happens ...
All the yard's switches are of the hand throw type and not subject to electrical circuitry damage, right?
Ed
we'll be watching things from here closely.
stay safe
Joe
Deshler Ohio-crossroads of the B&O Matt eats your fries.YUM! Clinton st viaduct undefeated against too tall trucks!!!(voted to be called the "Clinton St. can opener").
Ed - Good luck with Ike.
Headlines in the local paper this AM mention the oil industry. Wonder if the gas suppliers will pull a Katrina on us and boost gas prices on the basis of a rumor that Ike might affect supply....
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
Dan
Ed -
I'll be thinking and praying for you guys. Hope all goes well.
Take care,
Chris
-ChrisWest Chicago, ILChristopher May Fine Art Photography"In wisdom gathered over time I have found that every experience is a form of exploration." ~Ansel Adams
All the best. Keep your head down.
LC
edblysard wrote: The local new folks have done a fantastic job of creating a panic...the sky is falling, the sky is falling...yup, and it's called rain.Every freeway out of the city is jammed up bumper to bumper; every Home Depot is either out of plywood or is limiting sales on what they have left.Grocery stores are cleaned out of water, bread, cereal and canned goods.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
Limitedclear wrote: Ed -All the best. Keep your head down.LC
Wouldn't it be better if he kept his head up?
.....Not if trash cans and anything that's not tied down come blasting one's way......
Did anyone else see the photo of the hotel's swiming pool bottom completely covered with deck / lawn lounges.....Pretty good idea to keep them from blowing away.
I heard on the TV this morning, that anyone staying behind to ride out the storm is facing "certain death".....
That's encouraging.
jeaton wrote:Yeah. A little rain and wind in Houston is nothing compared to the dangers faced by Bear Grylls in the Discovery Channel's Man vs. Wild "South Dakota". Gives me a new respect for people who live there. Can you imagine endless treeless plains broken only by the occasional stampeding buffalo herd, land erosion run amok and hills that are super lightening rods?
Oh yeah! *Reality* TV I suspect that when they do Chicago episode, that cat will be chased by Al Cpone and his hinchmen, firing at him with tommy guns.
Actually, it's hard to see all those buffalo, what with all the corn, soybeans, wheat, barley, oats, milo, sorgum,sunflowers.......
edblysard wrote: I am on a yard job, Thursday and Friday are my off days, I have to be at the yard Saturday at 0630...unless they call and say stay home ( not likely)...they already went through the extra board, they just called and left a message wanting to see if I wanted to work my off day tomorrow...uhhh, no, not really!
You and my cousin were the first people I thot about when they said it was headed there..I hope your in a high and dry area.I think my cousin has came back home to Hill Co,she lived in the Riverside or Riveroaks area Houston...Im praying for you...God be with you and your family...
ndbprr wrote:Let's see, a 100# infobabe can stand outside in a hurricane and broadcast telling me at 6'5" and well over three hundred pounds that I am in grave danger of certain death for staying in my house? Apparently all you have to do to survive is get press credentials and stand outside. Cheap solution and no more fear of life broadcasts.
LMAO!
Murphy Siding wrote: jeaton wrote:Yeah. A little rain and wind in Houston is nothing compared to the dangers faced by Bear Grylls in the Discovery Channel's Man vs. Wild "South Dakota". Gives me a new respect for people who live there. Can you imagine endless treeless plains broken only by the occasional stampeding buffalo herd, land erosion run amok and hills that are super lightening rods? Oh yeah! *Reality* TV I suspect that when they do Chicago episode, that cat will be chased by Al Cpone and his hinchmen, firing at him with tommy guns. Actually, it's hard to see all those buffalo, what with all the corn, soybeans, wheat, barley, oats, milo, sorgum,sunflowers.......
The "certain death" quote was referring to anyone on Galveston Island who would be stupid enough to try to stay put and not evacuate. The predicted storm surge is 20-25 feet whereas almost the entire island is less than 10 feet above sea level. Like most barrier islands, it's not much more than a glorified sandbar.
Back to the real subject of this thread, the forecasts suggest the real threat of this storm is the storm surge. Exceptions to this of course, but a house built with hurricane risk in mind can probably handle sustained Cat 3 winds, but a 12 to 15 foot wave crashing against that house is going to move the place into the next county.
In the circumstances, residents on Galveston Island would be quite smart to get out of town. Appearantly that is the suggestion or order of the local government emergency types. On the other hand, folks like Ed in Houston taking precautions will probably fare reasonably well. Anyway, that is my wish for Ed, his family and neighbors.
Jay
For some reason they haven't opened up the contraflow at Brookshire on I-10 going west. That's where the Interstate goes from 4 lanes to two lanes. So if you're trying to leave town that way, it could be a long wait to get away. I live near Gonzales, and there are already over 800 people housed in the various school gyms, and more are expected. We're about 120 miles west of Houston.
As for storm surges, my wife's 80 year old uncle has ridden out hurricanes for decades, but with this one, he boarded up and left to north Houston.
As for the info-babes out in the weather...wait till tonight,they'll be having a field day.
m
Not to be callous but I have sat and watched fox live cam on Galveston and witnessed light vehicles plowing through water at the seawall. One vehicle drove right up to the wall and sat taking wind readings and other weather data. While that was happening a wave broke and rolled water up to all 4 of his wheels and made good undertow on the way back out towards the next wave.
Then I watched a reporter bent over into the wind eating old greybeards with words not understood into the microphone. That microphone happens to be attached to a wire that is now in 2 feet of sea. With debris on top threat to cut the wire or slash at the legs.
Hurricane coverage is wonderful, but the media dont understand that enough is enough and they should get out of town too.
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