IN JUST A MATTER OF HOURS -- A MASSIVE HURRICANE IS EXPECTED TO SLAM INTO THE GULF COAST OF TEXAS...THOUSANDS HAVE DESERTED COASTAL TOWNS... AND THE SURGING GULF HAS ALREADY FLOODED SOME TOWNS.FOX'S RICK LEVENTHAL IS IN PORT LAVACA WITH THE LATEST."A HURRICANE WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT HERE IN PORT LAVACA BUT THE WEATHER IS FAR BETTER THAN ONCE FEARED.NORTH AND EAST OF US CONDITIONS ARE DETERIORATING BY THE HOUR.(PKG)nat-coast guard rescueTHE COAST GUARD ALREADY RESCUING TWO PEOPLE AND A DOG FROM FLOOD WATERS IN GALVESTON...WITH SURGING SEAS SWAMPING TOWNS ALONG THE TEXAS GULF COAST...AND IT'LL GET WORSE AS HURRICANE IKE ROARS ASHORE AFTER MIDNIGHT.FORECASTERS EXPECT THE DANGEROUS STORM TO MAKE LANDFALL NEAR GALVESTON ISLAND -- ABOUT FIFTY MILES SOUTHEAST OF HOUSTON.CHERTOFF says: "We could have over a 100,000 residences that are inundated or effected by flooding there may be millions of people who are without power in the short term depending on the precise impact of the storm."WITH HEAVY RAIN, HIGH WINDS AND POUNDING WAVES HEADED THEIR WAY -- AND MANDATORY EVACUATION ORDERS IN EFFECT... HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF COASTAL RESIDENTS HAVE FLED TO HIGHER GROUND...OFFICIALS WARNING EVERYONE IN LOW-LYING AREAS WHO HAVEN'T GOTTEN OUT TO DO IT.EMMETT says: "our message this morning is really very simple and very tight. if you live in the evacuation zone, get out."BUT HOME BUILDER ROBBIE GREGORY ISN'T GOING ANYWHERE...HE SAYS THIS INSULATED CONCRETE HOUSE IS HURRICANE PROOF...READY TO WITHSTAND WINDS UP TO 200 MILES PER HOUR.GREGORY says: "i really regret the fact we're not getting a direct hit... i don't wish it on anybody but that's what these houses are built for."AND THE GREEN IGUANA IN PORT LAVACA IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS...SOME RESIDENTS SAY THEY COULDN'T LEAVE...BLINKA says: "at 2 o'clock this morning i wasn't too comfortable... i'm feeling better and better now."(LEVENTHAL ON CAM TAG)FEELING BETTER HERE PERHAPS BUT STILL A GREAT DANGER ALONG THE COAST WITH A WARNING FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE: IGNORING EVACUATION ORDERS COULD PROVE FATAL.IN PORT LAVACA TEXAS, RICK LEVENTHAL, FOX NEWS.