Ike's Aftermath from the Sky

We are seeing our first images of Ike’s destruction on the Bolivar Peninsula, and they reveal a sobering reality: Entire communities along the upper Texas coast have been simply wiped out by Ike’s catastrophic storm surge. 

This sequence of NOAA high-altitude photographs starts on the east end of the Bolivar Peninsula and works down the coast westward toward Surfside Beach.

weatherblog.abc13.com

Gilchrist was on the dirty side of Hurricane Ike, where the maximum winds and storm surge caused the worst damage. This small resort and residential community was completely destroyed except for a few homes. About 1000 permanent residents used to live here. Once a straight line, the coastline is now jagged and desolate, permanently altered by Ike's turbulent waters.

weatherblog.abc13.com

Crystal Beach is the largest community on Bolivar Peninsula, roughly twice the size of Gilchrist in population. Most of the houses are vacation homes, and it appears most of them have sustained significant damage. Nearly every house south of Ridgeway has been completely destroyed.

weatherblog.abc13.com

Along Galveston’s seawall, the iconic Balinese Room is no longer.  All that remains are a few piers.  In fact, the only thing left between these two jetties are the remains of a souvenir shop.  The debris was pushed westward along the seawall, seen on the left side of the image. You'll notice that the buildings north of the seawall were relatively untouched by Ike's surge.

weatherblog.abc13.com

Pirates Beach is popular resort community on Galveston's West End, unprotected by the seawall. Sand-filled "geotubes" are suppose to provide protection from hurricanes. But Ike's storm surge was too powerful. Sand was pushed inland several blocks. While destruction is clearly visible, most homes remained intact.  This is because the center of Ike passed to the east, sending the worst of the surge into the Bolivar Peninsula.

weatherblog.abc13.com

Jamaica Beach is its own city, and it also finds itself unprotected by Galveston's seawall.  Farther away from the eye of Ike, there was less damage here but you can still see signs of beach erosion. The piles of debris on the right side of the photo, probably washed in from the Galveston State Park campgrounds to the east.

weatherblog.abc13.com

Surfside Beach in Brazoria County did not receive as much of a surge from Ike relative to other communities, but you can still see homes damaged by the waves and the wind.  Had Hurricane Ike made landfall near Matagorda Bay as once predicted, the damage here would have resembled Gilchrist, as seen above.

weatherblog.abc13.com

I estimate about 125 miles of Texas coastline was swamped by the storm surge. If you don't see your neighborhood, check NOAA's website. You can view these and others in their raw form here. These are large images, so be patient while they load.  Also, they are diamond-shaped, so you will have to scroll down and to the right to see the image after it loads.

Comments

[NJ Blogger]

The damage to Galveston was just unbelievable, from what I've seen in the news. It's surreal to think that just a few weeks before the storm I was on the island, and everything seemed calm and peaceful. I want to revist the island again, but I honestly don't know what to expect when I go back.

[DONNA GONZALEZ]

I PRAY FOR EVERYONE IN GALVESTON AND I PRAY FOR A FAST AND SAFE RECOVERY OF THIS GREAT CITY, I LOVE GALVESTON AND PLAN ON COMING BACK, MAY GOD BLESS EACH ONE OF YOU IN THIS TIME OF STRUGGLE

[F WELLS]

We spent a few days in Galveston the end of July this year. As always, we loved being there. My family had boats in the Galveston Yacht Basin, they moved 2 to higher ground, but we don't know about the other. I feel Galveston and the whole area will rebuild and be better than ever.

[Richard]

For the most part the aerial video pictures are useless. No continuity with jumps and starts instead of panning an entire community beachfront. Shots are too tight and never back up to show what it is that we are looking at. Too much dwell on busted shacks and trailer parks. And the commentators have no clue about the geography of the area. The video loops of a damage montage over and over and over are really aggravating.
Show us regular live video of the line of cars at the causeway and show us where the line starts. Show us landmarks that are recognized by people all over the country such as the pyramids at Moody Gardens, Gaidos Restaurant, The Spot Restaurant, The Galvez. Stop showing the camping area at the State Park. Show us if cars are entering the island via the two dollar bridge from Freeport. You can do better.

[CHERYL BILLOT]

I came across a web site from Surfside Beach that has pictures of almost every house on the island. I was able to see my townhouse and even though it will be months before the road is repaired enough to get to it, it was a relief to be able to see it still standing. I thought this may give others a little peace of mind also and want to say thanks to the photographer. http://www.flickr.com/photos/beachadam/

[Crystal Verino]

My friends and I rented out a family members beach house in the Galveston area - Terramar Beach about 2 months ago. Would you happen to have any photos of that area? I haven't seen anything on that area in specific.

[Julie]

If anyone needs to know if their homes are still there or not let me know and I PROMISE a before and after photo from google earth of your home with the address..please give me the address and I will be happy to help you. Wlanecattleco@aol.com

[Jan Forrester]

our family has 2 homes in Sea Isle. we need pics too!!

[Leon Barnes]

Before the storm I saw a report I believe on ABC13; About a guy in his own homemade "tank" boat at a marina in Kemah. He was going to ride out the storm on his boat. Any idea what happened to him?

RESPONSE from Tim Heller: He survived! We had a follow-up story about him on the news earlier this week. You might find it online. Check the news section of our main webpage: www.abc13.com

[Roxanne]

Thank you Mr.Heller and thank your dynamic staff.Your expertise and humanity are a huge asset to Houston and Texas. Last week when you said Ike was the size of the Gulf of Mexico, the wind speeds and water surge,the hairs on the back of my neck stood up.I went over to the computer and looked up the size of the Gulf of Mexico it is 810 (1,500) miles wide. After reading that I had a lump in my throat. I just knew from your precise predictions Texas was going to be pounded and hard with this Ike monster! I have lived in Houston many years, and been through many hurricanes, no two are ever alike and never should we become complacent!I prepared everything that night and the next day filled the car with gas. I never take your /your team reports lightly! I can hope others will always listen that did not this time to your words in the future.It would really be not just in their best intrests and safety,it would help with speed of the clean up after for all of us.
I just want to say thank you again! God Bless you and your family.

[Paula]

My parents were able to get to their house in Lafitte's Cove yesterday and it was in tact. There was water damage in the garage but literally everything is in tact except the yard. My dad's speedboat is even still there.
Some people lost their garage doors but it looks like the building code really protected against Ike!!!!

[Nicole Williams]

Why aren't they showing any pictures of Tiki and Virginia Point? My family has a vacation home on Virginia Point and have heard that the house ended up on the Causeway. I wish one of the news stations would zoom into that area.

[Thomas]

My wife and I met 16 years ago on the Galveston Island Causeway....we go down as much as possible..We are truely just without words...we feel so bad and just without words for our beloved Galveston Island. Our prayers to all and any . this is just horrible. tommy b.

[PatC]

I found my house -- still standing -- on Crystal Beach on the noaa aerial view. WOW, what a wonderful finding. Now that I see it standing, how can I get someone to check on the damage or just get a "look-see"? Thanks for providing the pictures.
PC

[Lisa]

Are there any photos or overheads from Lafitte's Cove at Pirates Beach (bayside)?

RESPONSE from Tim Heller: NOAA didn't take too many pictures of the Bay side of the island. But check the link featured in the blog post and you might find your property in the larger images.

[John Richey]

Any way to enlarge the NOAA sattelite images??

RESPONSE from Tim Heller: To see the larger, original images, click on the website link in the blog post.

[Philip J. Hathaway]

Thank you for providing this link. I found the aerial photo of Crystal Beach and found our Bayhouse... still standing! Thank you! Thanky You! Thank You!

[Lawrence Vernon]

Are there any current satelite images that would show slightly inland from Surfside? I live on Oyster Creek at Hide-a-way on the Gulf.

[Donkeywrangler]

Try this one, Kendra:

http://ngs.woc.noaa.gov/ike/IKE0000.HTM

I was able to find the home I used to own...it's still standing!
I checked for my friend's home in Terramar, and it was still standing, too.
Keep clicking the little boxes until you find your area.

Best of luck,

DW

[Kendra Lamm]

I live in Sea Isle which is 5 miles west of Jamaica Beach on Galveston Island. Are there any photos available for that area? Has anyone inspected that area yet?

Thanks
Kendra Lamm
kjlamm@earthlin.net