One death as Ike edges toward Category 3 power

The story

As Galveston's west end was deluged Friday, Houston officials warned residents to stay put because it was no longer safe to try to escape Hurricane Ike, which has gotten stronger.

Galveston City Manager Steve LeBlanc warned that the worst was still to come.

"The island is flooding pretty severely right now," he said. "The west end is being torn up, pretty severely."

A KTRK-TV on-air reporter in Galveston said the power went out around 7:45 p.m. local time. Power outages had begun throughout the state, the National Hurricane Center reported at 8 p.m.

At that time, Ike was a Category 2 storm with 110 mph winds -- the maximum gust until it becomes a Category 3 storm, which it is expected to do. Ike is moving at 13 mph.