HOUSTON (Sept. 12) - Hurricane Ike, a colossal storm nearly as big as Texas itself, began battering the coast Friday, threatening to obliterate waterfront towns and give the skyscrapers, refineries and docks of the nation's fourth-largest city their worst pounding in a generation. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ I am hoping that people heeded the warnings and evacuated. It is frightening to think they may lose their homes and belongings but worse than anything would be to find their lives in jeopardy. Those of us that have been sparred because Ike veered west are praying that all survive.