By Janet Shamlian, NBC News Correspondent

GALVESTON, Texas – In advance of Hurricane Ike's expected landfall here, I spent the morning with one of our NBC crews trying to see what Galveston's west end looked like.

It is a very low-lying area that floods easily, and predictions were that Ike would put it under water. First of all, what I found in trying to get to the end of the seawall is that it was almost an impossible trip.

Already, Seawall Boulevard, the four-lane thoroughfare here, is filled with debris that has been spit up from the gulf as these high waves break over the wall. Everything imaginable, from plywood to beer cans, has been dumped on the road.

VIDEO: Galveston, Tx. already feeling Hurricane Ike

Just traveling three or four miles on the boulevard was a huge strain, and we feared we would end up with flat tires. Moreover, it was impossible to get into the neighborhoods that are expected to be deluged because roads leading in were already impassable.

In fact, we went down one road that was probably a foot or 2 deep in water, but we decided we had to turn around.  By the time we did, the water had already risen another foot.

We didn't see many people on the streets. We had phone numbers for a few people in Galveston's west end who had told us they were going to stay and ride it out. That's who we went to check on this morning. When we realized the roads were impassable, we called them. Thankfully, very early this morning they came to their senses, you might say, and decided to leave.

What's surprising is the enormity of the waves crashing over the seawall more than 12 hours ahead of Ike's predicted landfall.

We are almost locked into our location right now because you just can't get anywhere. But there are still people here who didn't heed the evacuation orders. We saw them – they are out taking photos and driving around town.  I just hope they have some place high to retreat to.