Tropical storm Edouard heads for Texas coast; could strengthen

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This August 4, 2008 NOAA handout satellite image shows Tropical Storm Edouard, moving west at 8 mph. There is a 20 percent chance that Edouard will reach hurricane status before landfall. Tropical storm Edouard was expected to strengthen to near-hurricane strength as it closes in on Texas's Gulf of Mexico coastline, the National Hurricane Center said on August 4, 2008. Oil companies with exploration and refining facilities in the region were battening down and some evacuated offshore personnel in advance of the storm, which was expected to make landfall near midday August 5. At 11:00 am (1500) GMT Edouard was located about 260 kilometers (160 miles) south-southeast of Lafayette, Louisiana and 425 kilometers (265 miles) east-southeast of Galveston, Texas, the Miami-based center reported. Photo courtesy AFP.

Oil giant Shell says to evacuate staff amid Tropical Storm Edouard
Anglo-Dutch energy group Royal Dutch Shell said on Monday that it would begin to evacuate about 40 staff from the Gulf of Mexico which is at risk from Tropical Storm Edouard. "Given the forecast for Tropical Storm Edouard, Shell will begin limited evacuations of approximately 40 personnel from some of its Gulf of Mexico West operations area today (Monday)," the company said in a statement. "No further evacuations are planned at this time and based on current information and forecast, we do not expect any impact on Shell operated production in the Gulf of Mexico." The tropical storm headed toward Texas's Gulf of Mexico coastline on Monday, threatening to batter the region with hurricane-strength winds, the National Hurricane Center said.

by Staff Writers
Miami (AFP) Aug 4, 2008
Tropical storm Edouard was expected to strengthen to near-hurricane strength as it closes in on Texas's Gulf of Mexico coastline, the National Hurricane Center said Monday.

Oil companies with exploration and refining facilities in the region were battening down and some evacuated offshore personnel in advance of the storm, which was expected to make landfall near midday Tuesday.

At 11:00 am (1500) GMT Edouard was located about 260 kilometers (160 miles) south-southeast of Lafayette, Louisiana and 425 kilometers (265 miles) east-southeast of Galveston, Texas, the Miami-based center reported.

Winds had slowed from earlier Monday to 75 kilometers (45 miles) per hour, but were expected to strengthen to near-hurricane force -- 120 kilometers (75 miles) per hour before reaching the coastline, the NHS said.

Edouard was moving in a westerly direction at 13 kilometers (eight miles) per hour, and was expected to veer to the west-northwest later Monday, reaching the coast around the border of Texas and Louisiana on Tuesday.

Oil industry operators in the area, a crucial hub of the US petroleum industry, said they were taking safety precautions as the storm neared.

Anglo-Dutch energy group Royal Dutch Shell said on Monday that it would evacuate about 40 staff from the Gulf of Mexico.

"No further evacuations are planned at this time and based on current information and forecast, we do not expect any impact on Shell-operated production in the Gulf of Mexico," the company said in a statement.

ExxonMobil said that it was monitoring the storm to see if evacuations would be necessary, but that its exploration and production facilities and its Baytown refinery and chemical plants were all operating normally.

"ExxonMobil is determining which of its facilities may potentially be in the path of the storm, preparing those structures for heavy wind and rain, and identifying personnel for possible evacuation to shore.

"Currently, there is no impact to production, and no personnel have been evacuated," the company said on its website.

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Typhoon kills two in Taiwan: officials

Taipei (AFP) July 29, 2008
Two people have been killed and six others injured after a typhoon bringing strong winds and heavy rains pounded Taiwan, the National Fire Agency said Tuesday.

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