11 News crews and our fearless storm chasers are tracking Tropical Storm Edouard as it churns across Texas.

4:42 p.m. 'Darned if you do, darned if you don't'

HOUSTON -- I’m sure there are some that think that we "oversold" Edouard. As the storm strengthened, the fear was the storm was moving into an area of the Gulf that might allow for explosive strengthening. However, as we know now, dry air and some upper shear kept the storm pretty much in check.  Although the storm may have been oversold, if it had exploded and become a category one or two (much like Hurricane Dolly did just a few weeks ago,) there would have been cries that the news media did little to alert the public to the impending danger. It’s darned if you do and darned if you don’t, but most would agree that the storm brought much needed rain our way.

-Dan Meador / 11 News Meteorologist

3:22 p.m. The Backward Tide

KEMAH—Local residents have been coming up to our live truck for the last hour or so, asking if we know whether the city is going to flood. It would seem counterintuitive to think that after the storm has passed us by (and the sun is out) that seawater may become a problem. But, it still could. Although it’s weakened considerably, the wind has shifted direction and is now pushing water back into Galveston Bay, Trinity Bay, and East Bay. We’re stationed at the 6^th Street lighthouse in Kemah, and we are watching the tide slowly rise.

The water is not rising at an alarming rate (if it becomes a problem, I’d compare it to outrunning a snail), but I’m a data-driven guy. Since I have a laptop, I ran some comparisons of August tidal predictions with the observations of what is actually happening here. Sure enough, the tide should be going out right about now—but instead, it appears to be coming in. I found a great chart from the NOAA that compares predicted water levels with actual observations. You can check out the live data for Eagle Point here: http://www.tidesonline.nos.noaa.gov/plotcomp.shtml?station_info=8771013+Eagle+Point,+TX

Eagle Point is pretty close to where we are in Kemah. The Clear Lake sensors would give us much better localized data—but they went offline a few hours ago. As of this writing, at 4 p.m., we should be at a relative “low tide” point here. Instead, the water level is a few inches higher than where it would be for a normal high tide. Again, it’s nothing that I’m particularly worried about at this point, but it is worth keeping an eye on—especially for a city that sits so close to sea level.

-- Lee McGuire / 11 News

1:22 p.m. Edouard is a tall drink of water

Now that ‘Ed’ has moved inland, we shift from a threat of wind damage to possible flooding. We’re seeing reports of rain up to 4 inches+ around Baytown. It’s interesting to note that most of the damage from tropical systems over the Channel 11 viewing area has been through flooding from tropical storms.

-- Dan Meador / 11 News Meteorologist

1 p.m. 'Much hype and little punch'

Back in Galveston and it is business as usual...well, except for the fact that most business have closed for the day.  The sky overhead is cloudy and the waves are still a bit choppy. The surfers are still happy. 

There seems to be minimal damage with little debris in the streets.  It truly looks as if for the third time in four years, Galveston was spared a direct hit.  Are we immune to these things?  As one of the Blogs just posted, “be careful what you wish for and watch what you say.”  The 2008 season is far from over!  However, at this moment, “a DWAHR” seems to be.  

Edouard was a storm with much hype and little punch. For us, the worst thing about this storm was spelling his name correctly.  We are extremely thankful that the remaining names for storms in 2008 are much easier.

-- Jay Carnes and Mike Millo / Storm Chasers

12:00 p.m.

Marina mess

GALVESTON --We just returned from a public marina at 61^st street on Galveston Island.  What a mess! 

We saw several badly damaged vessels that had been tied down over night.  The owners thought it would protect their investments from the wrath of Edouard. 

But when the wind started churning the water, the boats knocked in to one another, punching gaping holes in several of the hulls.

We’ve also noticed minor tree damage in the area, with downed limbs scattered throughout the island.

Aside for some pooling on neighborhood streets, there is no major flooding to report.

-- Rucks Russell / 11 News

11:40 a.m.

Be careful what you wish for

KEMAH – How quickly conditions change during a tropical storm is a testament to the power of Mother Nature.  We began our day dry.  Awfully dry.  Our crew looked around and wondered, “Where’s Edouard?”  I think we all learned to watch what we say. 

The hours that followed brought rain --  a lot of it.  They also brought strong winds with gusts upwards of 30 mph.  Now, we’re watching the bay waters. 

Forecasters say there’s a new concern that when Eduardo’s winds change direction some of the water on the other side of the bay will blow our way. 

Will it lead to flooding along the immediate waterfront?  Stay tuned.

--Alex Sanz / 11 News

11:25 a.m.

Residents sick of hurricane threat

GILCHRIST --- Royce Crawford has had it.

He says he’s through with running from Mother Nature.

“It’s gets old,” he said. “I’m just tired of it.”

Crawford, and his son Kevin, 21, were coming out of the house wading in knee-deep water from the Galveston Bay. Edouard flooded their street, dumping at least 6 inches of rain on the neighborhood in an hour, Crawford said.

“It always happens when we get a storm,” he told me. “When we came back from Rita we had four feet of water in our house.”

Crawford said he’s weathered so many storms, it’s time to move on and move away. Kevin is already leaving, heading to the Army later this year, although no exact date has been set.

“But I’m going,” the younger Crawford said. “And I really don’t want to come back. Not here.”

His father doesn’t either. Royce Crawford said this is his last hurricane season. He’s heading to Athens, Texas, on the east side of the state.

“I’m just going home,” Crawford said. “That’s all I’m really doing just going home.”

And apparently not looking back.

-- Wendell Edwards / 11 News

Was that the sun??!!!

SEABROOK—At 11:20 a.m., folks here (including myself) noticed a brief streak of sunlight stream through the clouds.

And then, it started pouring again. We’ve also seen the water level continue to drop slightly, exposing tiny new islands in the bay.

I was in Pasadena a few minutes ago where small tree branches litter the streets and have been clogging storm drains—but nothing serious.

We’ll get a report on the air about that in a few minutes.

10:40 a.m.

Ready for our close-up!

We made our way back to Bolivar and along the way we found a small bit of footage of storm surge and some minor destruction.  Waiting in line for the ferry, we noticed the KHOU Channel 11 crew to our left.  The ferry seemed stagnant so we pulled off to say hello. 

We unpacked our rain jackets for the first time today and experienced a small bit of wind.

We met Leigh who asked if we wanted to do an on-camera interview.  The typical angst of being in front of a camera is not a problem for either of us as we are both hams and performers in our own minds.  At the conclusion of the interview there was much concern that we looked and sounded like buffoons.   Reporters we are not.  Nonetheless, after two storms this season, multiple video clips, a plethora of photos, and blogs, blogs and more blogs...we were finally ready for our close up.  

--Storm chasers Jay and Mike

10:30 a.m.

Covering Edouard is quite a ride

PORT BOLIVAR—We’ve been out in Edouard for 5 and a half hours now.  It’s been quite a ride.  The rain—once it started—has been relentless, and it seems no matter how many layers you wear, you can’t help but get soaked! 

We just spoke with Mike Millo, who blogs for KHOU.  He said he and a friend have travelled up and down the peninsula and the worst they’ve seen it is where we are standing - at Port Bolivar. 

We’re waiting for another band to come through.  The rain for the moment has lightened up.  But we’re hearing that should change in a bit. 

According to the Galveston County Office of Emergency Management - the worst of the winds should start dying down here around 2p.m.

-- Leigh Frillici / 11 News

10:26 a.m.

Mother Nature makes a good alarm clock

WINNIE --- Mother Nature sure does make a good alarm clock.

Edouard knocked loudly and persistently on my hotel door. It woke me up about 6 a.m. announcing its arrival in Texas. Still, the town of Winnie, just about 60 miles east of Houston,  stood up to the storm and came out barely scathed.

We found some tree limbs down, a picnic table or two turned over and several basketball goals knocked to the ground. But there was no significant damage.

The biggest surprise: the lack of fuel.

“Yeah, we’re out of gas,” said the woman behind the cash register at a Texaco in Winnie. “We have about 300 gallons of premium and lots of diesel. But no regular gas.”

It was the same story across the street at the Exxon. Not sure why.

What is for certain, Edouard is here.

Let’s hope he doesn’t stick around too long.

--Wendell Edwards / 11 News

10:20 a.m.

We can't see Galveston Island

We are so drenched here that my fingers are pruning up. Covering the storm for the past 5 hours it feels like we’ve been sitting in a bath tub that’s rocking and rolling with wind and rain.

The gusts have gotten up to 43 miles per hour.

We spoke with a gentleman from Webster who had come to the Bolivar Peninsula specifically to chase the storm. It was his annemometer that measured the wind gusts here anywhere from about 35 to 43 miles per hour.

The conditions have worsened so much we can no longer see Galveston Island. Right now, it’s veiled by a soupy fog and rain.

-- Leigh Frillici / 11 News

Soaked at the Johnson Space Center

CLEAR LAKE -- Nassau Bay is being walloped by some heavy rain right now. We’ve taken cover beneath a Valero station awning and are shooting some video. We have to drive to our feedpoint in Kemah before it can make it on the air.

The Johnson Space Center parking lot is entirely empty. Crews took most of the high-powered data-crunching computers offline yesterday afternoon and told employees they should leave early and not come in at all today. This had a cascading effect, because a number of private contractors rely on those NASA systems to do their own work—so they made closure decisions that mirrored NASA’s.

That said, conditions out here aren’t all that bad. Its certainly not a pleasant day, but thankfully not a “duck-and-cover” day. As we drive into Clear Lake, I can see that Lake Pasadena is calm and Clear Lake Park is empty. Not a good day for a barbecue.

Lee McGuire / 11 News

9:15 a.m.

The live truck is rockin'

BOLIVAR PENINSULA -- The wind has kicked up. I’m sitting in our live truck right now writing to you all and the wind is rocking truck to the point that it feels like we’re on a boat buffeted by small waves.  We are still soaked. There’s no getting around that.  Any hope to write a few notes down for our live shots are out the door!  The pad is soaked through so much my pen can’t write. So it’s all from memory.  All the latest phone calls and info.  We’re told from the Galveston County Office of Emergency Management that there are power outages across the Bolivar Peninsula.  The main transmission line from Winnie is down, causing the outages. They don’t know how long the outages will last but transmission crews are on their way to check it out.  We’ll continue checking on the conditions.

Leigh Frillici / 11 News

9:03 a.m.

'Biting rain' feels like bee stings

GALVESTON -- From wind to rain, the effects from Edouard are evolving hour by hour. We’ve noticed several powerful wind gusts this morning, perhaps as high as 46 miles per hour.  But we’ve also seen the water start to collect near our live position.  Our unscientific measurement shows about an inch and a half of rain near the San Luis Resort, and some of that precipitation is painful.  When the wind mixes with rain, it feels like stinging bees all over your skin. 

We’re layered with a rain suit and cotton shirts, but the biting rain still gets through.

Despite the conditions, we found a guy standing along the seawall holding up an American Flag.  He called it a sign of his patriotism, but it also helps to make a point.  The flag is blowing toward the Gulf meaning away from the shore line.  That means the risk of flooding in low-lying areas of the island has diminished.

Still, as the wind and rain continues, eyes remain fixed on Edouard.

-- Rucks Russell / 11 News

8:07 a.m. Tuesday

Getting soaked in Port Bolivar

PORT BOLIVAR—We’ve been out in Tropical Storm Edouard since 5 a.m. this morning.  Standing at Port Bolivar we’ve watched the weather change from gentle winds to lightning strikes to now heavy winds and rain. 

The gusts are enough to make us take a step back under their force.  The birds, too, seemed to be tossed back by the winds. We’ve watched gull after gull try to fly into the wind only to be almost forced backwards before they turn around and fly in the other direction. 

We are soaked to the bone right now. Our hands pruning up from being out in the elements. The rain seems to be flying down at an angle. 

The water which was held with in the bay of Port Bolivar, is now splashing up over the rocks and onto our feet!

-- Leigh Frillici / 11 News

8:02 a.m. Tuesday

Did we miss this storm?

ON THE ROAD AGAIN -- Good Morning Galveston... Enjoy your day off...

At 5 a.m. we were surprised to learn that Edouard’s GPS was a slightly off.   We realized that if we did not get on the road, we would miss the storm. 

Jay and Mike

The center of the storm is seen in this photo.

We were unsure of exactly where to go so we checked the radar, satellite and models and high-tailed it to the Bolivar Ferry.  One of only two cars on the boat, our concern was getting caught in a storm surge in Highway 87.  Crystal Beach had heavy rains but no flooding.  We managed to make it to Winnie.

At this time we are on Highway 73 between Winnie and Port Arthur in what we believe is the center of circulation.  Winds are calm and storm clouds surround us.  Not much is out of the ordinary. Our wind meter registers a gust of 50 mph.   We are traveling NE toward Port Arthur.  It is a bit eerie as there is nothing but clouds overhead, no rain, no swaying trees. 

In the end, we are wondering if we did miss the storm.

-- Jay and Mike, storm chasers

7:36 a.m. Tuesday

Edouard arrives ... sort of

KEMAH – It’s here.  Sort of. 

We’re finally feeling the effects of Tropical Storm Edouard.  But they’re minimal. 

Our WeatherBug station in Kemah registered a wind gust of 20 mph this morning.  Right now, the winds are sustained at about 7mph.  We had a steady rain just after 6 a.m. 

But that only lasted about fifteen minutes. 

And Galveston Bay?  It’s surprisingly calm.  No one is ready to give the all-clear yet, but it appears that Kemah – and its much-visited boardwalk – has been spared the worst of the storm.

--Alex Sanz / 11 News

7:30 a.m. Tuesday

Quiet in Kemah

KEMAH -- We just drove into a gas station in Kemah, where signs on the pump read “out of gas.” The manager is hoping for a fill-up later today. We joked about the fact that this storm has tracked far to our northeast, despite the fact that last night’s projections predicted a direct hit here.

“That’s where I’ve always said the safest place to be in a storm is,” he told me. “Right where they tell you it’s going. It never goes there.”

We also spent some time inside the Kemah Wal-Mart, scene of some heavy shopping for the last two days.

11 News photo

I snapped a photo of the nearly bare bread aisle, but it’s important to note that the store is fully stocked with just about everything else under the sun. There’s plenty of corn, lettuce, cheese, batteries, and bicycles. Even better—a tanker just showed up to refill the Wal-Mart fuel station.

-- Lee McGuire / 11 News

5:23 a.m. Tuesday

Where's Edouard?!

KEMAH – By 4 a.m., those of us positioned along the immediate coast and Galveston Bay were supposed to have been lashed by strong winds and rain. 

We were supposed to be watching the water rise.  We were told we’d see parts of the Kemah Boardwalk disappear into the bay. 

That hasn’t happened. 

Tropical Storm Edouard has changed course and has moved to our east.  Sure, we’ve seen the occasional flash of lightning in the distance. 

But right now it looks and feels like any other mid-summer morning in Kemah. 

It’s warm.  It’s humid.  There’s a breeze.  The biggest impact on our crew?  Hungry mosquitoes.

-- Alex Sanz / 11 News

12 a.m. Tuesday

How do you spell Edouard?

GALVESTON -- On a night where there is a bit of anticipation in Galveston, very little seems out of the ordinary. The only things a bit abnormal on IH-45 are naked billboards and the Texas Department of Transportation signs announcing "Hurricane Forming in the Gulf." 

KHOU.com Storm Chaser Mike Millo

A drive through Galveston late Monday night and early Tuesday morning and you would find all of the billboards in town stark naked.

Entering Galveston, visitors are cordially greeted by the Galveston County Daily News marquee welcoming them to the Island. Following the greeting is the headline "Islanders Await Edouard's Arrival." A clueless tourist might wonder...who is Edouard? 

The seawall hot spots were buzzing. On a Monday night, when business is typically minimal, there were mainland residents aplenty. They were anticipating being entertained by heavy winds and rough waters. Unless they have a hotel room, they will leave very disappointed. The trees stand still and the waves are calm. There is a hint of a high tide. We did have a little fun with them.

We asked them to spell Edouard. Since we misspell it every time we figured they might have trouble. We were correct. No one proved successful. 

Where did this name and spelling even originate? Pronounced (a DWAHR), baby name internet sites reveal that "a DWAHR" is French and is a form of Edward, which is of Anglo-Saxon origin and means "rich guard."

It is our goal to guard Edouard and continue to report.

For now, it is midnight and like the KHOU-TV truck that we just saw leaving the seawall and entering a hotel parking lot, we too are off to sleep. We will meet up and re-evaluate at 6 a.m. 

At that time, we will determine if we are staying on the Island or venturing onto the Ferry for the luxury cruise to Bolivar. Can we get some Dramamine?

-- KHOU.com Storm Chasers Mike Millo and Jay Carnes

10:40 p.m.

Edouard makes a shift

A few interesting changes in the 10 p.m. advisory for Edouard. Winds are up to 60mph and there has been a slight shift northward of the track. This northward shift may keep the strongest winds more to the east of Houston Tuesday. This does not mean that the city is out of the woods, however with the storm only strengthening slightly and the slight shift northward; it’s looking a little better for most of the Channel 11 viewing area.

-- Dan Meador / 11 News Meteorologist

9:26 p.m.

Oil refineries shut down operations

TEXAS CITY -- As Tropical Storm Edouard approaches Galveston, the industrial complex just across the bay in Texas City was battening down the hatches.

Marathon Oil’s Texas City refinery began shutting down its refinery on Monday morning.

The largest refinery in the city, though, will remain in operation. BP said it was sending home non-essential personnel with only operations and maintenance personnel remaining on site.

-- TJ Aulds / KHOU.com

9:15 p.m.

First responders get in place on island's west end

GALVESTON -- The Jamaica Beach Volunteer Fire Department will fully staff the fire department beginning at 6 a.m. Tuesday. In a mutual aid agreement with the City of Galveston, they will respond to emergency calls in the area between Pirates Beach and Sea Isle. The Jamaica Beach fire station is also manned by an EMS unit and a rescue truck.

Galveston police assigned to the west end of the island will all be driving high-water, four-wheel-drive pickup trucks.

Galveston has fire stations at Pirates Beach -- with one pumper truck -- and Sea Isle also with one pumper. Sea Isle also has an EMS unit.

Galveston Island State Park evacuated all its campers and has closed down until further notice.

FM-3005 floods over at 3-foot tide about one mile west of the end of the seawall.

Galveston Mayor Lyda Ann Thomas said today, 6-foot tides are expected meaning the west end of the island will be cut off and residents remaining on the west end will have to stay until the waters subside and the road is reopened.

-- Storm chaser Breck Porter / Gulf Coast Police News

7:45 p.m.

Property owners do what they can to protect their investment

BOLIVAR PENNISULA --- Jimmy Braud was more than half way to his home in Port Neches from a weekend at the beach when his cell phone rang.

It was friend telling him about the tropical storm heading toward the Texas Gulf Coast.

“We got all the way home to Port Neches, which is about an hour and a half away,” Braud said. “We heard about the storm coming and drove back the same day, which was last night.”

Braud came back because he wanted to protect his investment. He bought his a 3-bedroom beach house back in 2004. Today, he put up boards to keep out tropical storm Edouard.

“We have a potential of up to 80 mph winds,” he said. “I’m just trying to protect my property.

His neighbor one row up had a whole different approach.

“It’s not going to be that bad,” said Don Harbuck. “Eighty miles per hour? I’m not going to get any flying debris. I’m close enough to the beach."

Harbuck did cover his hot tub and tied that cover down. He also moved all of his stuff on his deck inside his beach house. But he didn’t bother boarding his windows or doors.

“I’ll be back down Thursday or Friday,” he said, to survey the damage, if there’s any. And when he does return, he’ll be prepared he said, “…with a generator, of course.”

6:49 p.m.

Surfer's dream, homeowner's nightmare

GALVESTON -- Two distinct realities have taken shape on Galveston Island.  For surfers along the seawall, Edouard offers a rare opportunity to hang ten off the north coast of Texas.  But some homeowners are bracing themselves for the winds and rain to come.

Today, we found a number of worried property owners on the west end of the island, specifically in the Jamaica Beech area.

They spent their day boarding up windows and bracing for the storm.  One man told us after previous hurricanes demolished a family home, he wouldn’t take any chances this time around.  “We’re just boarding up and leaving town, hoping we still have a standing home to come back to,”  said Gerald Chromcak, who’s property sits several hundred yards from the Gulf of Mexico.

We’ve also seen a lot of activity at area grocery stores, with a run on water and batteries. “I’m just grabbing anything I can get my hands on,” Margaret Jonson told us.  “I’m terrified of storms like these.”

But there are few signs of concern or worry along the seawall.  Surfers are promising to place their long boards in the water first thing in the morning.

-- Rucks Russell

6:41 p.m.

Put out the trash, but pick up the cans

HOUSTON -- Houston Mayor Bill White said scheduled trash service would go as planned on Tuesday. However, the city wants residents to be ready to get those trash cans back inside as soon as the garbage truck has passed by.

-- KHOU.com staff

6:40 p.m.

Stores are packed, TV trucks line the seawall

By Breck Porter / Gulf Coast Police News

A number of TV Satellite trucks lined Galveston's seawall on Monday to cover Edouard.

I just drove into town and back. Stores are still packed with people stocking up. TV satellite trucks are set up along the seawall. I took pictures of them.

Lots of traffic is leaving the island.

Hardly a breeze blowing. Water is calm, almost slick.

-- KHOU.com Storm Chaser Breck Porter / Gulf Coast Police News

5:35 p.m.

Edouard provides reason to skip work

CRYSTAL BEACH --- Dhane Ballard and his friend Chris both know a storm is headed their way.

But for these two 18-year-olds, Edouard is a just a good excuse from a day off from work.

“They told us not to come back until Thursday,” Dhane said.

Both guys work at Fun Town in Crystal Beach. Fun Town closed early today in anticipation of the storm. So did these guys, who live on Bolivar Peninsula, rush home to help their parents, too prepare for what a tropical storm? Or did they go help friends board of their homes?

No.

These best friends, who have at least six tattoos between them, went swimming at the beach.

“We had nothing else better to do,” Chris said.

5:18 p.m.

Riding out the waves in Galveston 

I’m out here in Galveston and it seems that some people aren’t only thinking about riding out the storm, but riding out the waves. 

While people aren’t rushing to leave the area, that doesn’t mean they aren’t taking the storm seriously.  In Jamaica Beach, residents were boarding up their homes with plywood.  And if you’re looking for bottled water, it’s going so fast, it’s as if it’s being washed away from the shelves.  People seeking supplies are busy ‘checking out’ in the grocery stores, before Tropical Storm Edouard checks in.

Those that live in the area say picking up supplies and dealing with the storm are just a matter of course, but for tourists in the area, Edouard is a potential vacation killer.

“We’re going to go to the beach today and make the very most of it. Because after that we may be stuck,” said one vacationer.

-- Rucks Russell / 11 News

5:14 p.m.

No signs yet that Edouard is strengthening

Tropical Storm Edouard has not shown much interest in strengthening yet, however all indications show a favorable atmosphere for strengthening before landfall. The one big change is the expected time for landfall- around noon Tuesday. Tropical storm conditions will move into the Houston metro by late morning lasting throughout the afternoon. 

-- Dan Meador / 11 News Meteorologist

4:08 p.m.

High Island residents holding firm in face of Edouard

HIGH ISLAND --- Billy Flannigan stood in his front yard defiant and stern.

“Yeah, we’re not leaving,” he said. “We can’t afford it really.”

Flannigan lives in High Island with his wife Kim, their son Justin and several family pets, including a dog that looks like a descendant of the comic strip behemoth Marmaduke.

“I’ve been here all my life and we’re just not leaving this time,” he said.

The last time the Flannigans left, they spent 21 hours trying to get away from Hurricane Rita, only to be stuck, tired and miserable, with the traffic. And once they got to East Texas near Beaumont, Rita followed them. They were without power for days.

And then, last summer, Humberto came on overnight. There are still clothes stuck in trees in their backyard from that storm’s wrath.

So as Edouard moves closer this way, Billy Flannigan is taking chances and staying put in High Island.

“We’ll see what happens,” he said. “I’m hoping for the best.”

-- Wendell Edwards / 11 News

3:21 p.m.

Weeee're baaaaaaack ... Jay and Mike report for storm-chasing duty

Our phones have already begun to ring.  People are wondering, Where are your blogs?  So..............

We’re BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK! 

Only this time it is different...there is no need for our GPS.  There will not be a seven hour journey.  We have not booked a hotel or filled extra gas cans.  The journey will be less than 20 minutes and we have booked our own homes as our hotel.

This time it is Edouard who seems to have his GPS programmed with Galveston as his destination.   His GPS currently indicates Tuesday morning, 8AM as his arrival time.

Today, it is business as usual on the Island. The sun is ablaze and the tourists are in full force.  The surfers are eagerly waiting what they feel is certain to be optimal surf.  Currently, the gas stations seem a bit overly populated.  We should know; we waited in line. 

As conditions change and we solidify our plan of action we will blog blog blog...

Until later...and waiting on Edouard,

-- Jay and Mike / storm chasers

3:09 p.m.

Are we having fun yet?

Are we having fun yet? A good friend of mine always starts every phone call with the question. We still are watching Edouard moving now west-northwestward. If there’s some good news is that the storm hasn’t strengthened (much) and the longer is stays weak the better for Southeast Texas.

-- Lee McGuire / 11 News

2:38 p.m.

Continental preps for flight delays, cancellations

Continental Airlines on Monday announced travel options for customers whose flight plans may be affected by Tropical Storm Edouard.

Weather conditions are expected to force delays and cancellations of flights at airports in the region through Wednesday.

To avoid inconvenience, travelers scheduled on flights through Aug. 6 can delay their trips.

Continental said those ticketed customers will be permitted a one-time date or time change to their flights without penalty for re-scheduled travel originating by Aug. 13. 

In the event a flight is canceled, a refund in the original form of payment can be requested.

Continental urges customers to change their travel plans online at www.continental.com.  They may also call the reservations department at 800-525-0280.

Automated flight status information is available at 800-784-4444 and at continental.com.     

-- KHOU.com staff report

2:36 p.m.

Long lines for gas at Kemah Wal-Mart

There is a line 10 cars deep to fuel up at the Kemah Wal-Mart. It’s either the storm or the price ($3.63) that’s attracting customers. The parking lot of the supercenter itself is also far more crowded than one would expect for a Monday afternoon.

11 News photo

Long lines for gas at the Wal-Mart in Kemah

Bill Kerber, the Kemah City Manager, just told me that the city is recommending people spend the day over-preparing, in case the storm gains strength and becomes a category one hurricane or higher when it makes landfall.  He recommends people ride the storm out at home if they feel comfortable doing so. The city has not ordered any evacuations and has no plans to do so.

-- Lee McGuire / 11 News

City Operations/Closures

Please note the following city closures and service suspensions:

City Hall will be closed on Tuesday, August 5.

Garbage pick-up will be suspended on Tuesday, August 5.  Collection service will resume on Wednesday, August 6.

Wright Cuney Recreation will close tonight at 8:00 p.m. and remain closed until further notice.

Island Transit will suspend bus and trolley service tonight at 11:00 p.m.

Scholes International Airport will cease operations tonight when tropical storm force winds reach Galveston Island.  The airport will reopen once all runways have been inspected and cleared for air traffic.

Hurricane Evacuation Assistance

Galveston residents who will need transportation assistance during a hurricane evacuation due to age, disability, lack of reliable transportation, or other special needs can register with the city by calling: (409) 797-3723.

Emergency Shelters

At this time, the City of Galveston does not plan to open any emergency shelters.

For updated information, please visit the city’s website: www.cityofgalveston.org and stay tuned to Municipal Channel 16.

-- KHOU.com staff report

12:05 p.m.

Most Jamaica Beach residents headed to higher ground

Jamaica Beach issued its first call warning system alerting residents of the west end community of the expected high tides from Tropical Storm Edouard.

Mayor Vic Pearson of Jamaica Beach said they have not called an evacuation, but it appears most residents are boarding up and bugging out.

"We expect that some of our roads will be under water (overnight)," said Pearson. "(Tropical Storm) Frances taught many of them a good lesson.”

Frances struck the island on Sept. 11, 1998 and was a heavy rainmaker.

-- TJ Aulds

12:03 p.m.

No evacs in Kemah

KEMAH -- In Kemah, first responders (police and fire) will start their special shifts at about 3 a.m., said City Manager Bill Kerber. A first call alert was sent to residents last night telling them to be prepared for a possible Category 1 hurricane.

11:40 a.m.

West End residents advised to leave

GALVESTON -- Galveston Mayor Lyda Ann Thomas suggested West End residents consider moving to higher ground in case of flooding. Thomas said tides are expected to reach six feet and that area is prone to flooding.

"Flooding on the West End is a concern right now," Thomas said. "The residents on the West End need to pay very close attention to the tides. I would suggest they consider leaving before the roads flood."

Thomas asked residents and visitors to use their best judgment as far as leaving the island.

She said they likely wouldn't consider a formal evacuation unless Edouard becomes a Category 3 or higher hurricane, and that isn't expected to happen.

-- KHOU.com staff report

10:30 a.m.

The calm before the storm

GALVESTON – That old expression about the calm before the storm is sometimes misused, more often than not overused.  But it certainly captures the mood right now on Galveston Island.  Today’s sunrise, as seen from the western edge of the seawall, was beautiful.  A bright, orange sun; clouds with hues of purple.  Fish were jumping out of the warm Gulf waters.  Seagulls were flying overhead.  The sea was calm and the breeze was gentle.  That other expression about a picture-perfect comes to mind.  You’d never know that Tropical Storm Eduardo had its sights set on Southeast Texas was quickly moving this way.  As part of our newsgathering, we spent the morning checking in with our friends at The Home Depot and Wal-Mart, and along the many beaches that dot the island’s western end.  Make no mistake – people are getting ready, but at a leisurely pace.  Sheets of plywood were slowly coming off the shelves at The Home Depot.  At Wal-Mart, shopping carts were full of water, non-perishable foods and anything that would come in handy during a storm.  Long-time residents of the island have been through this before.  They know things will change quickly.  It’s only a matter of time, now, before they do – on a picture-perfect day that looks like the calm before the storm.

-- Alex Sanz / 11 News

11:14 p.m.

'Wow'

It was a Sunday not long forgotten by me. I was scheduled to do weather for the 5:30 p.m. show. I walked in the door at 1:30 p.m. and was welcomed into the weather office by ringing bells -- Southeast Texas had been put under a Severe Thunderstorm Watch.

I watched the Hurricane Hunters start their dance with an area of disturbed weather in the Gulf. Once they found west winds I knew that a storm was brewing.

Then a line of storms formed in East Texas and marched through the area. They brought severe weather and damaging winds.

Suddenly a new bell warning of the National Hurricane Center upgrading the area of disturbed weather to a tropical depression.

Then shortly before 5 p.m., there were new warnings for severe weather and Tropical Depression #5 was upgraded to Tropical Storm Edouard. Now it's rush time before the 5:30 show.

All I can hope is that it didn’t show on the air and people got their needed information!! Wow!

-- Dan Meador / 11 News Meteorologist  

10:10 p.m.

Dangerous conditions likely

GALVESTON -- By Monday afternoon, the Galveston Beach Patrol warns that conditions could be extremely dangerous.

They are expecting two to four foot tides in Galveston Bay and six to eight foot tides on the Gulf side. Emergency coordinators are urging people to stay away from the rock jetties because there could be rip tides.

Island residents were keeping a close watch on the latest developments Sunday night as they prepared to stock up on supplies and possibly board up their homes.

Tourists were also listening to weather reports before making a decision on whether to ride out the storm or get out of town.

-- Courtney Zubowski / 11 News

10:02 p.m.

A day of weather extremes

HOUSTON -- It’s difficult to believe that Saturday all we were interested in were very warm temperatures. Tonight it's a hurricane watch for Southeast Texas.

Although Edouard hasn't strengthened much tonight, conditions are favorable for it do so. I’d suggest that all in Southeast Texas review their hurricane plans and stock up with bottled water and batteries.

-- Dan Meador / 11 News Meteorologist

HARRIS COUNTY -- Emergency officials in Harris County say they’ve been keeping a close eye on the storm system since Friday.

They’re now tracking Edouard closely and making preparations. They urge all Harris County residents to do the same.

Storm relief crews are standing by in case Edouardo comes ashore here.

-- 11 News staff

6:38  p.m.

The gate is closed

TEXAS CITY – The Galveston County Flood Gate, which separates Galveston Bay from the man-made Moses Lake was shut closed at the lowest tide on Sunday. The lake is a key part of Texas City’s flood protection system.

The lake acts as a flood reservoir as massive screw pumps will pumps thousands of gallons of water over the levy protection system should heavy rains come from Tropical Storm Edouard.

The lake also acts as a safe harbor for sailing vessels and shrimp boats that would otherwise be exposed to the storm. It is unclear how many boat owners got the word to head for the lake before the gate was closed since Edouard formed so quickly.

-- TJ Aulds / KHOU.com

6 p.m.

Emergency Ops officials track Tropical Storm Edouard

LEAGUE CITY – Galveston County Emergency Management Coordinator John Simsen and other emergency officials have gotten off the phone with the National Weather Service. It is almost a sure bet that Tropical Storm Edouard will strike along the upper Texas Coast.

At this point there doesn’t seem to be a need to call for any evacuations, but emergency management officials are keeping a close eye on the low lying coastal communities along Galveston Island’s west end.

-- TJ Aulds / KHOU.com

4:55 p.m.

Island EOC will open Monday morning

GALVESTON – The Galveston Emergency Operations Center will open at 6 a.m., said the city’s emergency management spokeswoman Mary Jo Nashke. Right now, officials are focused on what will likely be a heavy rainmaker from Tropical Storm Edouard.

They are also keeping a watchful eye on the island’s west end, which does not enjoy the protection of a seawall or storm levy system. Tides are expected to be up to five feet higher than normal as the storm approaches.

-- TJ Aulds / KHOU.com