The newest weather forecast has shifted Hurricane Ike's landfall to the east side of Matagorda Bay, bringing the storm a little closer to Galveston County.  The decision has been made following the latest forecast information to call for a mandatory evacation beginning at 7:00 am for the following areas:  West Galveston Island, Jamaica Beach, Bolivar Peninsula, Omega Bay, San Leon, Bacliff and Freddiesville.  Voluntary evacuations should be considered for low-lying areas in Dickinson, Kemah and Clear Lake Shores and La Marque.  Citizens should also consider evacuating if they live in areas subject to flooding or in mobile homes. If you should decide to evacuate, please remember to pack your disaster kit and important papers.  Hurricane Ike continues to be a difficult storm to track because of the number of shifts in the forecast models.  Given the current track, we are preparing for the possibility of tropical storm force winds beginning sometime Friday morning and possible hurricane force winds affecting the county Friday evening around dusk.  The anticipated tides are between 8-11 feet at the height of the storm, but higher tides could begin as early as Thursday night.  The Galveston-Bolivar Ferry will cease operations at 11:00 PM on Thursday night.  The Bolivar SUD has indicated they will cease water service to the Peninsula at 5:00 pm on Thursday.  We have received notification of the following school closures:  High Island ISD - Thursday and Friday; Galveston ISD - midday on Thursday and Friday; Dickinson ISD - midday on Thursday and Friday; Texas City ISD - Friday; La Marque ISD - Friday; Clear Creek ISD - Thursday and Friday; Hitchcock ISD - Thursday and Friday; Santa Fe ISD - Thursday and Friday; Friendswood ISD - Thursday and Friday.  Citizens of Galveston County should pay close attention to the news media throughout the day for the most current information.  We are continuing to work with our local jurisdiction partners, the National Weather Service and the Governor's Division of Emergency Management.  Now is a crucial time to activate your family plans if you have not already done so.  Please keep your gas tanks full in case the evacuation consideration is expanded by your local officials.  Take steps to protect your property from the wind by storing any patio furniture and loose items inside.  Stock up on non-perishable food and water.  You should have enough to last at least 3 days.  A suggested list of supplies for your disaster kit can be found here.  Keep yourselves up to date on the most current information by visiting the websites of the National Weather Service Houston-Galveston, the National Hurricane Center and our web page.

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