HOUSTON – Houston Mayor Bill White and Harris County Judge Ed Emmett on Thursday took measures to keep citizens safe as Hurricane Ike approached.

During a press conference at Houston TranStar, Judge Emmett announced a mandatory evacuation for people in ZIP codes 77058, 77059, 77062, 77520, 77546, 77571, 77586 and 77598. In a later press conference, he added Pasadena ZIP code 77507 to the list.

Those ZIP codes are located in evacuation zones A and B.

The evacuation began at 12 p.m. Thursday. Click here for evacuation routes.

“The information now is that we may be facing a storm surge of 15 feet on Galveston Bay. That storm surge would inundate certain parts of Harris County. It’s very important that we go ahead and evacuate those parts of the county starting with people with special needs,” said Emmett.

Judge Emmett said residents of the ZIP codes who can not evacuate themselves can 311 for help.

“We are still saying: Please shelter in place, or to use the Texas expression, hunker down,” Emmett said. “For the vast majority of people who live in our area, stay where you are. The winds will blow and they’ll howl and we’ll get a lot of rain but if you lose power and need to leave, you can do that later.”

Mayor White asked that employers not require their employees to show up to work Friday unless they are in essential positions.

The mayor said essential employees, like those associated with pharmacies, food, gas and diesel retail, health care, aviation and transportation services should still show up to work to help out.

“We ask employers, in order to keep their employees safe and community safe and our freeways clear of traffic, to take into account those recommendations and only require employees in essential services to show up to work. Do not penalize employees who do not are not in those needed positions who do not show up to work,” said Mayor White.

The mayor also said that this is just his recommendation, and the ultimate decision is with the employers.

White also said that the City of Houston will be closed Friday.

Only city workers designated essential will be required to report to the office or to be on call.

That will include police officers, firefighters, EMS, public works and aviation personnel.

City municipal courts will also be closed.

Harris County Judge Ed Emmett said all county business has been called off for Friday.

The judge also urged anyone living in mobile homes to seek shelter.

Both Emmett and Mayor White said anyone who is not being asked to evacuate should stay home and take shelter-in-place safety precautions.