Rayburn RV Hideout          Hurricane Ike           (409) 698 - 3137
       September 13, 2008


Hurricane Ike in the Gulf heading for the Texas Coast. Hurricane Ike making landfall at Gavelston Island Texas on September 12, 2008. The red "X" shows where Rayburn RV Hideout is. Looking towards Site #22 from behind the bathhouse.

Looking up the Lower Loop on the North side of the Bathhouse. Looking towards the Main Loop from the North Lower Loop. Looking down the Lower Loop towards Site #16.

Looking South from Site #12 Looking West from Site #18. Looking down the Lower Loop. Site #23 is on the left.

Looking down the Main Loop towards the exit on FM-1007. Reece is checking out the damage. Looking up the Upper Loop Drive at Rayburn RV Hideout after Ike came by. Once again it was camping primative after Ike. On the Upper Loop looking at Site #6 and Site #7.

Site #8 on the Upper Loop after Hurricane Ike. Small tree that was uprooted between Site #9 and Site #11. Looking South on the Upper Loop Road.

Lone pine tree in front of Rayburn RV Hideout along FM-1007. This pine lost several limbs. Site #11 with all the debris that a hurricane leaves. A large tree that was uprooted in the park.



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

© 2010 Rayburn RV Hideout

          

 

Hurricane Ike was the ninth named storm and the fifth hurricane in 2008.  Ike developed off the coast of Africa and on September 1st became a tropical storm, and on September 3rd was upgraded to a hurricane.  Ike became a Category 4 hurricane on the 4th of September and continued on a path towards the Gulf of Mexico.  Ike slammed into the Turks and Caicos Islands and its path took it over Cuba where it entered the Gulf of Mexico.  Ike had the Texas coast on its mind and landfall predictions ranged from Brownsville to Sabine Pass.

Even though Ike was expected to redevelop into a Category 3 or 4 storm Ike maintained at a high Category 2 storm even though the pressure in the storm indicated it would strengthen.  Ike did develop a huge wall of water in front of it consistent with a Category 4 or 5 Hurricane as well as an impressive reach of tropical force storm winds 275 miles from the center, and hurricane force winds 120 miles from the eye.

Rayburn RV Hideout closed for business on September 11, 2008.  We reopened for business on a limited basis on September 15, 2008 and was fully open by September 22, 2008.

Ike storm surge reached the upper Texas Gulf Coast on the morning of September 12, 2008 and started to flood the area from Galveston to Lake Charles, LA.  Ike made landfall on September 13, 2008 at 2:10 am at Galveston, Texas.  Ike continued to move at a fast pace into Texas causing damage with its tremendous wind field as well as its tidal surge. 

Ike's eye passed about 100 miles to the West of Rayburn RV Hideout.  This put us on the "dirty side" of the hurricane.  Luckily Ike did not produce many tornadoes as some hurricane do.  We received several hurricane gusts of wind as well as sustained tropical force winds for several hours.

Power was interrupted about 7:00 am on Saturday morning and was restored at 8:30 pm Sunday night. 

Our buildings escaped any damage.  Two trees were uprooted in the park and one tree was snapped off.  Hurricane debris is all through the park in the form of leaves, twigs, branches and limbs.