This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/7613598.stm
The article has changed 17 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Texas faces 'catastrophic' storm | Texas faces 'catastrophic' storm |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Texas faces "potentially catastrophic" damage when Hurricane Ike hits in the next few hours, US Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff has warned. | Texas faces "potentially catastrophic" damage when Hurricane Ike hits in the next few hours, US Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff has warned. |
He said as many as 100,000 homes could be destroyed by flooding. | He said as many as 100,000 homes could be destroyed by flooding. |
There are fears the hurricane could cause a high storm surge that leaves miles of low-lying coast underwater. | There are fears the hurricane could cause a high storm surge that leaves miles of low-lying coast underwater. |
Residents of the Texan coastal city of Galveston face "certain death" if they do not evacuate, the National Weather Service has warned. | Residents of the Texan coastal city of Galveston face "certain death" if they do not evacuate, the National Weather Service has warned. |
Hurricane Ike could have 'catastrophic effects' | Hurricane Ike could have 'catastrophic effects' |
At 0000 GMT on Saturday, the "very large" hurricane was about 100 miles (160km) south-east of Galveston, with winds around 110 mph (175km/h). | |
The massive system is already buffeting Texas and causing flooding along the Louisiana coast, still recovering from last weekend's Hurricane Gustav. | The massive system is already buffeting Texas and causing flooding along the Louisiana coast, still recovering from last weekend's Hurricane Gustav. |
More than a million people in Texas have been advised to leave their homes before Ike hits late on Friday or early Saturday morning. | More than a million people in Texas have been advised to leave their homes before Ike hits late on Friday or early Saturday morning. |
But people in Houston city have been told to shelter at home, board up their properties and stockpile supplies. | But people in Houston city have been told to shelter at home, board up their properties and stockpile supplies. |
Authorities are trying to avoid a repeat of 2005, when some 110 people in Houston died during a chaotic evacuation in the face of Hurricane Rita. | Authorities are trying to avoid a repeat of 2005, when some 110 people in Houston died during a chaotic evacuation in the face of Hurricane Rita. |
Enlarge Map | Enlarge Map |
The US National Hurricane Center said Ike could grow from a Category Two to a Category Three storm - a "major hurricane" - by the time it reaches the coast. | The US National Hurricane Center said Ike could grow from a Category Two to a Category Three storm - a "major hurricane" - by the time it reaches the coast. |
Ike has already caused devastation in Cuba and Haiti, where hundreds of people have died in several tropical storms over the last month. | Ike has already caused devastation in Cuba and Haiti, where hundreds of people have died in several tropical storms over the last month. |
The hurricane's predicted path will take it through Galveston and on to Houston, home to America's biggest oil refinery and Nasa's Johnson Space Center. | The hurricane's predicted path will take it through Galveston and on to Houston, home to America's biggest oil refinery and Nasa's Johnson Space Center. |
"Our nation is facing what is by any means a potentially catastrophic hurricane," said Mr Chertoff. | "Our nation is facing what is by any means a potentially catastrophic hurricane," said Mr Chertoff. |
Latest Hurricane Ike weather forecast | Latest Hurricane Ike weather forecast |
He added: "This storm is so big in fact that its impact is already being felt all along the Gulf Coast." | He added: "This storm is so big in fact that its impact is already being felt all along the Gulf Coast." |
The Texas authorities have laid on more than 1,000 buses to facilitate the mass evacuation. | The Texas authorities have laid on more than 1,000 buses to facilitate the mass evacuation. |
In Galveston - scene of the country's deadliest hurricane, which killed at least 6,000 people in 1900 - 75 buses are taking residents to the state capital, Austin. | In Galveston - scene of the country's deadliest hurricane, which killed at least 6,000 people in 1900 - 75 buses are taking residents to the state capital, Austin. |
Weak and chronically ill hospital patients are also being moved. | Weak and chronically ill hospital patients are also being moved. |
But some residents were ignoring the dire warnings in Galveston, where Ike threatens to bring a 20ft (7m) high storm surge. | But some residents were ignoring the dire warnings in Galveston, where Ike threatens to bring a 20ft (7m) high storm surge. |
RECENT MAJOR STORMS Hurricane Ike: SeptemberTropical Storm Hanna: SeptemberHurricane Gustav: August, SeptemberTropical Storm Fay: August In pictures: Hurricane IkeEyewitness: Waiting for IkeHurricane Ike: Cubans' storiesFlashback: Galevston's great storm | RECENT MAJOR STORMS Hurricane Ike: SeptemberTropical Storm Hanna: SeptemberHurricane Gustav: August, SeptemberTropical Storm Fay: August In pictures: Hurricane IkeEyewitness: Waiting for IkeHurricane Ike: Cubans' storiesFlashback: Galevston's great storm |
"If it ain't your time you ain't going anywhere," Emory Sallie, 44, told AP news agency, while walking and drinking a beer near his home. | "If it ain't your time you ain't going anywhere," Emory Sallie, 44, told AP news agency, while walking and drinking a beer near his home. |
Ports are shut and almost all energy production in the Gulf of Mexico has been suspended as a precaution, although Ike was expected to miss most of the installations. | Ports are shut and almost all energy production in the Gulf of Mexico has been suspended as a precaution, although Ike was expected to miss most of the installations. |
The storm would be the first major hurricane to hit a US metropolitan area since Katrina devastated New Orleans three years ago. | The storm would be the first major hurricane to hit a US metropolitan area since Katrina devastated New Orleans three years ago. |
President George W Bush has declared a federal emergency in Texas, allowing funds to be freed to help the state deal with the storm. | President George W Bush has declared a federal emergency in Texas, allowing funds to be freed to help the state deal with the storm. |
Are you in the areas affected? Are preparing to evacuate or are you staying in your home? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. | Are you in the areas affected? Are preparing to evacuate or are you staying in your home? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. |
Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here.Read the terms and conditions | Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here.Read the terms and conditions |
At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |
In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. | In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. |