The Democratic presidential nominee canceled a scheduled skit on the season premiere of Saturday Night Live, skipping a flight to New York for the comedy show and instead heading home to Chicago.

After speaking with FEMA officials and the mayor of Houston about preparedness in the face of Hurricane Ike, which made landfall early Saturday morning, Mr. Obama adjusted his schedule.

“In light of the unfolding crisis in Texas, Senator Obama has decided it is no longer appropriate to appear on Saturday Night Live tomorrow evening,” the campaign announced just before midnight Friday.

Hurricane Ike News and Storm Tracking

Fuel Price In Texas Jumps Due To Surge In Demand Caused By Residents Fleeing Hurricane Ike

Getty Images

Houston gas stations running dry

There is a spike of up to 40 percent in fill-ups as Hurricane Ike bears down on the city.

Hurricane Ike: List of Texas Evacuations/Closures/Schedule Changes

Worst Case for Texas?

A realistic worse-case scenario for Texas

There is a significant chance that Ike will be the worst hurricane to hit Texas in over 40 years. The latest run of the HWRF and GFDL models paint a realistic worst-case scenario for Texas. These models bring Ike to the coast as a Category 4 hurricane (which I give a 20% probability of happening). The HWRF predicts a 170-mile stretch of coast will receive hurricane force winds of 74 mph or greater. A 100-mile stretch of coast will receive winds of Category 3 strength and higher, 115 mph. Hurricane force winds will push inland up to 50 miles, along a 50-mile wide region where the eyewall makes landfall. A 100-mile stretch of Texas coast will receive a storm surge of 10-15 feet, with bays just to the right of where the eye makes landfall receiving a 20-25 foot storm surge. This is what Hurricane Carla of 1961 did to Texas. Carla was a Category 4 hurricane with 145 mph winds at landfall, and drove a 10 foot or higher storm surge to a 180-mile stretch of Texas coast. A maximum storm surge of 22 feet was recorded at Port Lavaca, Texas. Despite the fact that the center of Carla hit over 120 miles southwest of Houston, the hurricane drove a 15-foot storm surge into the bays along the south side of the city.

bosskitty permalink*

September 9, 2008 6:31 pm

Thanks Christopher, wow, I didn’t know you didn’t know … LOL

If you snoop around on TruthHugger, you will see that I am more focused on global issues and foreign policy. I truly believe that what happens over there, effects us over here …

It is so disappointing that America is so self consumed, that they remain clueless about why stuff happens to us. That’s how Bush managed to make up stories and everyone believed him.

This is where “what we don’t know” CAN hurt us.
Christopher permalink

September 9, 2008 1:49 pm

I didn’t know you had another blog.

Adding you to my blogroll. Looks good!

All this storm activity is scary. It’s just like Gore predicted in an Inconvenient Truth. More hurricanes, hotter summers, less rain and rising water levels.