I think what is making Ike slow down right now is he hasn't quite reached the steering currents that are along the southern side of the ridge that is building over the north GOM. As he gets closer to this, he is forecast to pick up speed. This is something to watch carefully, if Ike stays at a slower speed, even for just a few hours, that will allow the trough weakness to move further East and will thus make Ike turn North sooner than it is currently projected.

I just found this cool website for anyone in the Houston/Galveston area. Especially if Ike turns more this way, this gives you an idea of the historical maximum wind speeds that your location has seen.

http://houstonhidefromthewind.org/