Hurricane Ike is within striking distance of the Texas coastline and most
residents have evacuated although a few of the optimistic remain, hoping to
ride out the storm.

GALVESTON, TEXAS, UNITED STATES (SEPTEMBER 12, 2008) NBC -

Powerful Hurricane Ike bore down on Galveston island and Houston,
Texas on Friday (September 12), threatening the heart of the U.S. oil sector
in the state.
Waters rose rapidly along the Texas coast as Ike moved within hours of
striking low-lying areas near Houston with a possible 20-foot (6-metre) storm
surge in what may be the worst storm to hit Texas in nearly 50 years.
Hundreds of thousands fled the island city of Galveston and low-lying
counties under mandatory evacuation orders and authorities urged holdouts to
move before Ike's winds started to make car travel dangerous.
The National Weather Service warned that persons not heeding evacuation
orders "may face certain death" and many homes of average
construction on the coast will be destroyed.
In Galveston -- site of a 1900 hurricane that was the deadliest weather
disaster in U.S. history -- residents nervously eyed the seashore as Ike's
waters bashed over the sea wall and crept onto main streets, mounting evidence
that Ike is packing a punch.
"I live high enough upstairs that if the water gets that high, we
have bigger things to worry about than the hurricane," said Cliff Keller
as he nailed boards to the windows of a local grocery store. "We'll be
looking for the four horsemen on the causeway."
The Federal Emergency Management Agency held a news conference at which
Michael Chertoff the Homeland Security Secretary told residents the danger is
real.
"Our nation is facing what is, by any measure, a potentially
catastrophic hurricane. It's not a time to play chicken with the storm or
take risks with the storm," said Chertoff. "It's a time to make
sure that you and your family are adequately provided for."
Forecasters said the storm, packing winds of more than 100 mph (160
kph), will likely hit near Houston early on Saturday (September 13), after oil
companies shut down about 25 percent of the nation's crude production and
nearly 22 percent of its refined fuel output as a precaution.