Big prayers and good thoughts for all out friends in the path. This thing is very scary.
GALVESTON, Texas (AFP) - Gigantic hurricane Ike barreled into Texas early Saturday, bringing a monster ocean surge and flooding coastal areas where tens of thousands remained holed up in their homes.
The center of Ike, which made landfall at Galveston Island at about 0710 GMT, was just 25 kilometers (15 miles) northeast of Houston's international airport, lashing the fourth largest US city and a major oil hub with rain and gale-force wind.
Massive damage and flooding was reported throughout the region and more than a million people fled inland.
But officials said more than 100,000 residents of low-lying areas decided to ride out the storm despite warnings from the national weather service that a wall of water up to 20 feet (6.0 meters) high could spell "certain death."
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