The eye of Hurricane Ike is poised to cross the west end of Galveston Island late tonight, and then head north/northwest across the Houston area. This will be one of, if not the, most destructive storms to hit the Houston-Galveston area since the Great Storm of 1900. All of Galveston Island is predicted to be under water for about 12 hours, submerged by a 20 foot tidal surge with 12-15 foot waves. Texas City will also suffer severe flooding if not complete submersion. Everyone along Galveston Bay must evacuate immediately.

West and northwest Houston will have a lot of rain and strong winds for most of the night. District 7 residents need to stay indoors, while residents of east and southeast Harris County and all of Galveston County need to evacuate. District 7 and all of Houston will suffer significant power outages, so be prepared to be without power for a period of time.

Please take the necessary precautions to protect yourself and your family from these powerful winds. Secure your home, close storm shutters, and secure outdoor objects like patio furniture, or bring them indoors. Turn off propane tanks and avoid using your landline phone, except for serious emergencies. Make sure you have provisions for AT LEAST 72-hours after the storm strikes, including food and water as well as other needed supplies, including a battery powered radio to get information if your electricity is out. For more information on hurricane preparedness, click here or here.

Here are two very good sites to track the storm: http://www.stormpulse.com/ and http://www.noaawatch.gov/2008/ike.php

Here is a list of emergency contacts:

I am working closely with County Judge Emmett, Mayor White, Governor Perry, and the members of the Houston Congressional delegation to ensure that coordinated safety measures are in place. As a member of the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, I am in close contact with federal officials to ensure Houstonians have the resources they need to deal with the damage caused by Hurricane Ike. Thousands of emergency responders including the Texas Task Force and regional fire departments are on hand and prepared to respond. Shelters to accommodate evacuees have been set up in Lufkin, Huntsville, and Bryan-College Station. Our state officials have reported that petro-chemical facilities executed planned shut down procedures and secured hazardous materials.

Please continue to use common sense and pay attention to local media updates. I have been at the Harris County Emergency Command Center all morning, and Houstonians can be very proud of the superb work being done by our county, city, state, and federal personnel to coordinate our response and evacuation. I will update this website as often as I can while I ride out the storm with my family. As soon as it passes, I will be back at the command center and will update you again. Stay indoors, safe and dry! My prayers and best wishes are with you and your family.

John Culberson