Legion of Angels News Archive

(CNN) – Edouard weakened to a tropical depression Tuesday afternoon after moving inland from the Gulf of Mexico and bringing much-needed rain to Central Texas.

Edouard was a tropical storm when it made landfall in the McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge just west of the Louisiana-Texas border earlier Tuesday, but its movement and wind speed had slowed by early afternoon.

Flooding in and around Houston, Texas, on Tuesday morning closed eastbound lanes along a stretch of Interstate 10 near Hankamer and Wallaceville, “after 10 to 12 vehicles slipped off the road,” a Chambers County sheriff’s deputy said.

No injuries were reported.

At about 5 p.m. ET, Edouard was centered about 35 miles north-northeast of Houston with maximum sustained winds near 35 mph. It was moving west-northwest at 9 mph and was expected to maintain that pace for the next day or so until it dissipates, forecasters said.

“A continued west-northwest motion with some reduction in forward speed is expected over the next day or two … taking Edouard across Central Texas,” the National Hurricane Center said.

High winds downed trees and power lines in Beaumont and Port Arthur, both east of Houston. Four to 6 inches of rain were reported in that area.

“We have a lot of wind and rain right now,” Galveston, Texas, Mayor Lyda Ann Thomas said Tuesday morning. iReport.com: Galveston power lines spark in storm

“Of course, we always feel very fortunate when we don’t get a direct hit,” Thomas said. “Galveston is used to tropical storms. Fortunately, this did not become a hurricane.”

Galveston was nearly wiped out by a hurricane in 1900 that killed 8,000 people. It is the nation’s worst natural disaster.

Two years later, Galveston built a sea wall 17 feet above sea level.

“It’s done a good job since 1902,” Thomas said.

The storm was expected to dump up to 5 inches of rain in some southwestern Louisiana coastal parishes. Isolated amounts up to 10 inches could fall in some areas, the hurricane center said, and tornadoes were possible.

Flooding from the storm surge — which was expected to be 2 feet to 4 feet above normal tide levels in some of the warning areas — would gradually subside during the afternoon, the hurricane center said.

Source — CNN

(GALVESTON, Texas) — Tropical Storm Edouard hit the Texas Gulf coast east of Galveston on Tuesday with strong winds and rain but was expected to weaken as it makes its way inland during the day.

The National Hurricane Center in Miami said the storm made landfall over a stretch of coast east of Galveston and west of the Louisiana border, between High Island and Sabine Pass.

Maximum sustained winds were 65 mph, short of hurricane strength that starts at 74 mph.

It is the height of tourist season in Galveston, but tourism officials said many vacationers were planning to stay in hopes that the area isn’t hit as hard as South Padre Island was by Hurricane Dolly on July 23.

Beth Bronson, visiting from Allen, said Monday she’s determined not to have her trip ruined.

“We spend money to come here with our families. It’s an inexpensive place to stay,” said Bronson, 49. “If they were to say evacuate, then yeah we would do it. But otherwise no.”

Still, officials in Texas and Louisiana were busy Monday preparing just in case Edouard intensified. It could reach near-hurricane strength as it churns in the warm Gulf of Mexico waters before making landfall.

A tropical storm warning was in effect from Grand Isle, La., westward to Sargent in Texas. A hurricane watch was in effect from west of Intracoastal City, La. to Sargent. The tropical storm warning and hurricane watch were discontinued for areas south of Sargent early Tuesday.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry issued a disaster declaration for 17 Texas counties that could be in Edouard’s path. The state activated a number of emergency teams, including calling up 1,200 Texas National Guard troops and six UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters.

In Louisiana, Gov. Bobby Jindal declared a statewide emergency. Cameron Parish told up to 3,000 residents to evacuate low-lying coastal areas prone to flooding. Vermilion Parish, also in western Louisiana, advised people in mobile homes or FEMA trailers along the coast to leave.

About 50 miles northwest of Galveston, Houston officials asked residents to safely store large, heavy items outside their homes to prevent flying debris.

Edouard was not forecast to bring the 100-mph winds to Galveston that punished another tourist hotspot in Texas, South Padre Island, when Hurricane Dolly tore off roofs and knocked down signs last month.

Since Dolly, South Padre has regained electric power but its four biggest full-service hotels remain closed as well as the convention center in the community about 260 miles down the coast from Galveston.

The Texas coast counts on tourism this time of year. About 50 million visitors to the Texas coast spent about $15 billion in 2006.

Edouard also forced oil and gas companies in the Gulf to evacuate workers from 23 production platforms and six rigs, according to the U.S. Minerals Management Service. The service said there are 717 manned platforms and 125 operating rigs in the Gulf.

Marathon Oil Corp. temporarily shut down a refinery that processes about 76,000 barrels of crude per day in Texas City, about 10 miles north of Galveston.

The Louisiana Offshore Oil Port temporarily suspended the offloading of tankers in the Gulf but said customers weren’t affected because of pipeline deliveries.

Source — TIME