HOUSTON -- Southeast Texas is in the center of the cone of uncertainty as Hurricane Ike barrels toward the Gulf of Mexico, KPRC Local 2 reported Monday.

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At 10 p.m. Monday, Hurricane Ike was located near 21.8 north and 80.8 west, or about 140 miles southeast of Havana, Cuba.

Ike is moving toward the west-northwest near 13 mph with 80 mph winds. The center of Hurricane Ike is expected to move over Cuba Monday night and Tuesday, and emerge into the southeastern Gulf of Mexico by Tuesday night.

"As we get toward Wednesday, we start to see a strengthening as a Category 2 on Wednesday, and as that continues to move over the very warm waters of the Gulf on Thursday, we're at 110 mph and then it makes landfall south of the Houston area on Saturday, according to models," KPRC Local 2 chief meteorologist Frank Billingsley said.

But, he said that does not mean the Galveston area will necessarily get the eye of the storm.

"It's very important to keep our focus on the entire cone. If you look at just the cone, it's really anywhere from Matamoros, Mexico, to New Orleans, La., as far as landfall potential," Billingsley said. "That obviously includes the whole coast of Texas. All of us have an equal chance, this far out, if you're in this cone of uncertainty."

Billingsley said that only two-third's of the time, the cone of uncertainty holds true.

"A third of the time, the storm ends up being outside of the cone," he said. "We have to be cautious when we look at all of this. High pressure is going to continue to pull this system toward the Gulf. If that high pressure begins to weaken, it may pull a little more to the north. If it strengthens, it may pull a little more toward us."

City officials in Galveston urged coastal residents to prepare for the storm, even though they have had near misses recently.

"It's very much like Gustav -- the tracks are all over the place. So, we're tracking it," Mayor Lyda Ann Thomas said. "The worst thing that anyone can do is to become complacent at a time like this. It's time to be prepared. And we're asking all of our citizens to do just that."

The Emergency Operations Center will open when Ike enters the Gulf of Mexico.

Some Galveston residents said they are already making plans.

"If it comes this way, me and my family, we're hitting 45 north. We're gone," resident Donald Robinson said.

Others said they are prepared to stay.

"As far as food, nonperishable items, we've stocked up on all that already," resident Gina Stubblefield said. "No, we're not going to leave."

The Harris County Office of Emergency Management is also closely monitoring Ike.

Currently, emergency officials are continuing normal operations, including a daily conference call.

But, OEM officials said the next 18 hours are critical and things could change.

"Our plans adjust depending on where the storm's going, the strength of the storm and what potential impacts are. Right now it's too early to tell, but it's not to early to get ready," said Francisco Sanchez with the Harris County Office of Emergency Management. "If someone hasn't done so already, you need to have a kit, a plan, and they need to stay informed, watching local news to see what happens over the next five to six days."

Officials urged people with special needs or medical concerns to register with 211.

In case evacuations become necessary, 50 Dallas Independent School District buses headed for San Antonio Monday. The buses will then be dispatched from a staging area in San Antonio.

Drivers plan to be gone for two or three days, but said they will stay in southeast Texas as long as they are needed.

Last week, Dallas ISD sent 100 buses to the Gulf Coast to help with evacuations before Hurricane Gustav.

For continued weather updates, keep an eye on KPRC Local 2 and www.Click2Houston.com.

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