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Weather officials tracking Hurricane Ike issued a dire warning for Galveston residents.
The National Weather Service in Houston warned that some Galveston residents who ignored mandatory evucation orders that they faced "certain death" if they decided to stay on the Texas island.
"Persons not heeding evacuation orders in single-family or two-story homes face certain death," the warning said. "Widespread and devastating personal property damage is likely elsewhere."
Hurricane Ike is expected to grow in strength to a Category 3 storm as it approaches Galveston and the Houston area.
The storm is expected to hit some time Saturday morning.
Mandatory evacuation orders have been issued for residents of Galveston, Brazoria and Chambers Counties.
Weather officials tracking the storm issued the grim warning for the Houston area at 8:19 p.m. Thursday.
The warning said Galveston Island would be hit with waves as high as 22 feet.
Galveston Island is only 16 feet above sea leave at it's highest point.
Officials said they expect cars to be swept away by water and some communities on the Texas mainland to be cut off.
The warning said water could exceed nine feet for more than a mile inland.
Coastal residents living or staying in multi-story facilities therefore risk being cut off by floodwaters.
Tornados could occur in the Houston early late Friday night.
Officials said conditions will be made worse by strong, battering waves.
The warning said damage from beach erosion could take years to repair.
