Hurricane Ike

[mfn002]

Here is some useful information I found in todays Houston Chronicle:

Evacuations

Brazoria County is under mandatory evacuation orders for the entire county.
Chambers County is under mandatory evacuation orders for residents for flood-prone areas bordering Galveston and Trinity Bays.
Galveston County is under mandatory evacuation orders for residents in the low-lying western end of Galveston County, while voluntary evacuation orders are in place for the rest of the county. According to KHBZ 94.7 The Buzz, Galveston County has been totally evacuated at this time.
Baytown is under voluntary evacuation orders for low-lying areas.

Other Information

Brazos County is rapidly filling up with evacuees, and many shelters are being opened. A hurricane wind advisory is in effect for the area. Here are some of the radio channels being used:
Brazos County TRS:
BC EVENTS1 (20496)
BC EVENTS2 (20528)
BCSO TAC1 (25104) (P25)
College Station TRS
EVENT1 (45008)
Other
Reed Arena (464.350/DPL516)-Currently set up to handle evacuees with medical needs.

 

[SCPD]

I saw earlier the DIGG has Galveston TRS up, does anyone have LCRA or STARnet streaming? I have ONCOR scanning, Hearing the Desert Tower and can get Allen at night. I can stream if necessary. However My Vertical's are coming down tomorrow and being replaced with Horizontal Yagi's on, V/U & 800/900 MHz.

I am HF equipped as well, Got 14.325 up now but the signal is poor during the day due to Power line noise.

 

[mfn002]

I just now heard that they have been ordering residents of southern Harris County to evacuate. Earlier this morning, I heard some workers at the shelters say that they were awaiting additional evacuees to come in by aircraft. Currently, Texas A&M has closed (as well as my school, Sam Houston State).
Looking at the latest Hurricane Local Statement, it appears that I can expect pretty high winds up here, and there will likely be a lot of damage. This kind of reminds me of Rita, which missed us. What really worries me is how our radio systems will fair in this storm. The main tower for the County System is located on top of the Brazos County Emergency Communications District's building, which is over 40 years old, and sways significantly in 30 mph winds, so hurricane force could be possibly catastrophic.

 

[tunnelmot]

Also, HPD Ops (460.350, PL 123.0) is buzzing pretty good.

Safe-Clear calls like crazy for motorists out of gas.

Solid info in contra-flow too.

Up here in Montgomery County, Conroe PD is starting to get heavy with I-45 assistance traffic.

Rich

 

[rbhtxk]

Horizontal Yagis

Hey Max,
Why horizontally polarized yagis for V/U 900 Mhz?

 

[loumaag]

...According to KHBZ 94.7 The Buzz, Galveston County has been totally evacuated at this time.

I would suggest you find some more reliable radio station to listen to. See my location? It is in Galveston Co., and we are not under a mandatory anything. Galveston Island and the city of Galveston (both of which are under mandatory evacuation) is a very small part of Galveston Co. both in size and population. :wink:

As for the comment about the Galveston TRS, there is no Galveston TRS; all of the trunking in Galveston Co. is on STARNet.

 

[kfcrosby]

Larry has done his usual great job with links for military and government listing for Hurricane Ike on his blog....

http://mt-milcom.blogspot.com/2008/09/milcom-governmentmil-blog-logs-9-10.html


Kevin

 

[kfcrosby]

More Goodies

Ike Situation Page(tm) Updated with live Video from the area...

http://www.vuetoo.com/vue1/SituationPageNews.asp?sit=2190

Share this link with those you think may benefit.

Embed the Ike Situation Page VueTOO Widget into your BLOG or web site...
Embed info...
http://www.vuetoo.com/vue1/vuetooembed.asp?s=2190&desc=Ike Situation Page

 

[mfn002]

As for the comment about the Galveston TRS, there is no Galveston TRS; all of the trunking in Galveston Co. is on STARNet.

I meant STARNET. It just slipped my mind. Soon after I posted that comment about Galveston County, I realized I was wrong.

Anyway, I was watching The Weather Channel yesterday, and I got kinda worried when they said we might have "significant damage" here...If that's true, I will probably be unable to access the internet for a while...

 

[SCPD]

LIVE TV Coverage on DIRECTV 361

Just saw the Galveston Gift shop Pier at about 38th. St. Vanish! The sea has claimed a Pier no other Hurricane has taken including Alicia in 83.

Bayou Vista police being Phone interviewed at this time.

 

[bezking]

All-

Just as a side, the following came in handy when the east coast was affected by Hanna -

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/mobile - you can see maps and reports right on your mobile phone...

 

[mfn002]

Just Broke:
The Weather Channel reported people possibly stranded on the I45 Causeway...Blackhawk from Randolph enroute.
Boat factory/marina in Galveston Island on fire...GFD en-route.
Surfside Beach is underwater.

According to the NWS, anyone staying behind in Galveston could face "certain death." Oh, and to add to that, authorities are telling people who do plan to ride it out there to write their social security numbers on their arms for later body identification.
FEMA released an interesting computer simulation of the effects of Ike's surge on the Houston/Galveston area. It shows the surge almost completely covering Galveston Island and parts of southern Harris County and even Houston, as the surge travels up the Ship Channel.

Oh, and an idea:
I went to RadioShack earlier this afternoon and got two 12V lantern batteries. I discovered that the batteries successfully will power one base/mobile scanner. So, I dug up two vehicle power adapters and hooked them up to both scanners (one battery per scanner). Therefore, even when the power goes out, I can still listen to my 796 and 996 (for a while, at least).

 

[kfcrosby]

This is a map of greater Houston showing forecast wind data and evacuation status by zip code

http://houstonhidefromthewind.org

server has been very busy, keep trying

Kevin

 

[SCPD]

Interesting note, Last night while listening to various frequencies on various scanners I heard a DPS Dispatcher giving a Weather update. Typically a Normal event. Except the Dispatcher was in Terrell Co.

I just looked up where Terrell County is from SW Fannin Co., Thinking it was in East Texas I was surprised to find it in the Rio Grand, Davis Mountains area.

My be the conditions from the Cold front here in N. Texas and Ike rolling about the Gulf.

I have been Listening to the VoIPWX net all day today, I must say, this has been the BEST live feed I have heard for Ike. The Houston feed was great, but the VoIP the better of them all.

 

[SCPD]

From KHOU TV in Houston, 1.3 Million without Power, Eye about 30 minutes from complete land fall. 5 Fire Departments in Houston refusing to Answer Calls because its too Dangerous. Down Town Houston HAS power Still. 6 Feet of water in the Galveston Co. Courthouse.

 

[mfn002]

Update

Houston Fire has suspended any efforts to fight numerous fires in the city.
288 under the 610 overpass is completely underwater.
Mayor White is urging residents of Houston to use bottled or boiled water.
4 million people are currently without power.
Clear Lake is totally underwater.

 

[SCPD]

Eye Witnesses say: 80% of Galveston Isl. is under water. Amazing! I have ONCOR in Search mode, their slightly active. I'm on the Desert (Collin Co.) Tower site. 3 Million + without power. 11:32AM KTVT-11 is still claiming this to be a CAT-1 Hurricane the EYE still to the SW of Lufkin, TX.

Hunt Co. has set-up its EOC at Wal*Mart. Rockwall Co. (Fate) Has a new Engine-1, the Old E-1 is now E-2. Fate is in Disaster Mode. (154.4300)

Stay Tuned - More to come

 

[Boulder]

in the Longview/Tyler areas the SKYWARN tower on 147.0000 is buzzing with activity as they set up the weather net as Ike approaches this area. Also KLTV.com was broadcasting on their website. Some places were starting to lose power around Rusk County and Gregg County as the storm pushes further north. Tornado watch out for most of NE Texas at this time

 

[SCPD]

Did you see the Measured Wind Speeds from Navarro Co.? 80+ MPH.

KTVT CBS-11 Dallas, is running continuous broadcast. This storm is being compared to the 1901 Galveston Hurricane. Over 100K people did not leave under mandatory evacuation orders. KTVT reporting the First Death. Pinehurst, TX. Woman dies in her bed when tree falls on roof.

On the ONCOR Trunked radio system. TGID 00-106 (Dallas Primary) is VERY Active. I am hearing something Called Hurricane.net on 444.6750 Good net traffic.

Palestine, TX. City is under water. Eye is still South of Palestine.

FEMA to have LIVE conference at 1330 CST. with reference to Federal & State response to Hurricane ravaged ares.

 

[Boulder]

heard a report from the Tyler EOC to the Smith County SKYWARN on 147.0000 a minute ago and they said the NWS expects Ike to be out of Texas by midnight. Winds have really picked up with wind gust in the lower 30's here in northern wood county at this time. Lots of radio traffic from Ham's and public saftey