Friday, September 12, 2008

Ike blogging

If anyone is interested, I'll use this post to live-blog Ike. Updates will appear below.

10:38 Dr. Frank (can't get embed to work):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGUL7WS7CpQ

10:31 The Chronic is reporting 15 foot surge in Galveston so Fran's house ought to be OK.

10:18 am Lost power last night at 11pm. Blogging by generator. Lots of wind and rain but no flooding, some tree limbs and fences down but that appears to be the worst of it. T and B out now on golfcart to assess neighborhood. Todd reports that the big oak in the backyard is down.

10:18 Yes the Hilton seems to have lost it's skin. Weird, but the worst thing that will happen tonight. Bah.

10:15 Bah. We haven't lost power and we won't.

6:40 I'm calling it now. Complete dud.

6:22 I'm now convinced we're looking at a real time Capricorn One. Just heard a report that people needed rescuing in Seabrook and the rescuers couldn't get to them. Seabrook is no more than 10 miles from here and nothing is happening. The rest of the party took off to see how high the bayous and Lake are. Bah.

4:47 Everyone thinks I'm crazy but I'm saying this is a big dud. Eye is bigger than Mama Cass and pressure is rising. Made three bets with three neighbors that we won't lose power. Earlier forecasts (10am) said we'd have 35 mph winds by noon. Didn't happen. Yes, Galveston and the bay are getting storm surge but it doesn't mean anything to us unless it approaches 25 feet, which isn't happening. Bah.

TBA [Dr. Neil video but youtube is being very slow in processing it]

2:03 So far? Most boring hurricane ever.

1:57 You know the difference between Wayne Dolcefino and a troll? Me neither.

Seawall video:





12:53 Just got back from checking on Fran's house in Nassau Bay. Water is over the dock at the Hilton on Clear Lake (see here for fun fact) and about 5 feet above normal on Clear Creek.

11:13 Water turned off in most of Galveston to prevent saltwater contamination.

10:41 Lost 2 persons and a cat, CPCM: 3 humans, 3 dogs, 1 cat, 1 rodent.

10:12 Hurricane video! Behold the cruelty of Mother Nature!




7:52 am Intrepid reporters (blame Dan Rather, more on that sometime later) are showing me that waves are breaking over the west end of the seawall in Galveston, which is about 15 feet high. uh oh. Partly cloudy and calm here.

Galveston is under mandatory evacuation as are we (zip code 77059). We didn't think Ike would get much over a Cat 2 and it looks like that is right. 110-120 mph winds as it hits the coast. I drove around the neighborhood on my new golfcart yesterday afternoon, and it appears that 20% of the neighborhood is staying.

8:09 Current population chez Michael: 5 humans, 3 dogs, 2 cats. Oh, and 1 piggy (did you remember that he is named PJ?).

8:58 video test

38 comments:

love johnson said...

What happened to Dr. Neil Frank?

Michael said...

Retired, but makes guest appearances.

Stephanie said...

Golf cart?! What's it for? Should you blog in reverse cron order for a live blog? Pictures of a tree or something to show wind, please. I remembered PJ.

Michael said...

golf cart is friend's rescued from Galveston. will do reverse order.

Stephanie said...

Say, that playhouse would look better if it had a tall roof.

Michael said...

Grrrr

Stephanie said...

Where is your water supply?

Stephanie said...

My mother tells me your house is "right on the bay". Is that the case? I hadn't realized.

Michael said...

No. 5 miles from bay, 3 miles from Clear Lake.

Scooter said...

I here the water is now really over the seawall...but still only shallow.

Stephanie said...

tree update, please. And you didn't answer where your water supply is.

Michael said...

nothing happening with the tree. Water is not Galveston. Lake Houston (north of here) probably.

Stephanie said...

If you're looking for entertainment, try Whoopi Goldberg suggesting the Supreme Court eradicated slavery (and McCain taking her point): http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/12/mccain-grilled-on-the-vie_n_125972.html

love johnson said...
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love johnson said...

Michael - are you watching CNN? They are broadcasting from Morgans Point. I've forgotten most of my Kemah/Clear Lake/Seabrook geography. Where are you guys in relation to Morgans Point?

Michael said...

Morgan's Point is north, near La Porte.

Stephanie said...

No partying!!! You've got live-blogging to do. Take your computer and camera.

love johnson said...

I agree Steph. I want to see rain/wind/flooding. CNN is showing it - why aren't you? Get T out in the elements and film!!

Anonymous said...

I tell you there's nothing happening. I just made a bet with three neighbors that we won't lose power.

Stephanie said...

Nothing happening?! Are you kidding me? Geraldo just got knocked down by a wave. Well, more of a wavelet.

Anonymous said...

Geeash, you sound as disappointed that nothing is happening as the tv folks did with Rita re: New Orleans. As I mentioned before, get T out to the seawall and film, damnit!

Stephanie said...

What CNN is thinking: "Damn it! The National Weather SErvice promised us "certain death"! Fine, you lame-ass hurricane. We're moving on to a tornado in Kansas."

Stephanie said...

MSNBC is doing a really good job of explaining hurricanes/Ike. Wildly better than CNN. Safely non-political at the moment for Repubs who are scared to go there.

Stephanie said...

MSNBC is at Clear Lake

Michael said...

I went to MSNBC during the conventions for the entertainment value.

Scooter said...

As did I. It's a miracle my TV survived.

I loved Chris and am saddened that he's been so weighed down by Keith (whom I once adored on ESPN).

Michael said...

I'm not oppoased, as a rule, to man-crushes, but please.

Scooter said...

He tingles my leg.

love johnson said...
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love johnson said...

Very exciting news!! DirecTv is showing KHOU (Channel 11 in Houston) on channel 361. Just saw Dr Neil - ah, the memories

love johnson said...

Channel 11 in Houston reporting that the Hilton has had part of the structure blown off. High winds and some rain. Come on Mike -quit partying and give us pictures!!!!!!

Stephanie said...

Looks like it's picking up.

Anonymous said...

Based on what I'm seeing on DirecTv, I would say Clear Lake has lost power.

Stephanie said...

MSNBC says storm surge will be beginning shortly.

Stephanie said...

Anything yet?

Stephanie said...

flooding in kemah

Stephanie said...

Well? How was it? Still calling it a dud? Looks like lots of flooding.

Michael said...

We're back.