Ike's forecast has continued to shift a little more towards Galveston County.  A mandatory evacation is in effect for the following areas:  Galveston, West Galveston Island, Jamaica Beach, Clear Lake Shores, Tiki Island, Bolivar Peninsula, Omega Bay, San Leon, Bacliff and Freddiesville.  Voluntary evacuations should be considered for low-lying areas in Dickinson, Kemah, 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 tropical storm force winds beginning sometime Friday morning and hurricane force winds affecting the county Friday evening around dusk.  The anticipated storm surge is between 12-16 along the beach front and between 12-20 feet in Galveston Bay 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 ceased water service to the Peninsula as of 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 duration 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.  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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