Ike is taking his sweet time moving in... now expected about 1:00 am. However, strong winds are building and the storm surge is sending massive amounts of water into Galveston and surronding areas. As the storm heads in, the rain is starting and the strong, constant winds continue to blow.
Approximately 400,000 without power and will remain out until after the storm passes. My sister lives in Sugarland, and her power is flickering and she is expecting it to go soon. (Our power transformers are on the telephone poles, and as the high winds buffet the boxes around, they blow up and power is out until they are replaced.)
I am further north, so only seeing winds about 30 - 35 mph. I still have all utilities, but expect I may lose power this evening when the real storm kicks up. I am going to stay up until the worst is through, as our area is on the side of the storm that tends to have tornadoes. (My kid is going to sleep in an interior closet!).
I have to say our news stations have done a nice job - not too much hysteria, although it has been "all hurricane, all the time" on the local stations. We have had our fair share of weather people in hip boots getting slammed around by the wind. The Mayor of Galveston is a kick - an older lady who is no nonsense and tells it like it is. Unfortunately, about 40% of Galveston did not evacuate, despite mandatory orders, and several people are stranded but cannot be rescued. They have asked the news media to avoid filming dead bodies
And so we wait.......
(Pepperidge Farm Coconut Cake to be exact.) 
That has to be the quote of the day!
