Latest on Texas' Preparation for Rita

Here’s the summary from this morning’s call plus subsequent preparations. I will also be trying to set up a meeting with representatives of identified shelter sites sometime this afternoon.

• Mandatory evacuation is in process for Galveston and Brazoria Counties. Special needs facilities (Nursing homes, hospitals, state schools, correctional facilities etc) began the process yesterday.
• Federal resources (FEMA) are in place along with the State in planning and response capabilities.
• Main Shelter Hubs have been opened in Lufkin, Austin, Huntsville, Bryan/College Station, and San Antonio. Other over flow sites are being identified and are supposed to be announced later today.
• Although the evacuees from Louisiana have been transferred from the major shelters there are still approx 375,000 out of state evacuees in Texas. These folks are in hotel/motels and housing.
• At 10 am the eye of the Hurricane was 755 miles ESE of Corpus Christi and moving in a westerly direction with sustained winds of 140 mph. Rita is a category four and expected to increase to a category five before landfall. The model predicts wind and rain bands extending 140 to 200 miles from the eye of the storm. Rita is expected to make a northerly turn and landfall between Beaumont and Corpus Christi.

• Tropical storm winds are expected on the coast as early as 10 am Friday with the Hurricane making land fall early on Saturday morning. This will result in heavy rains and possible tornado activity across much of the State and we can expect heavy rains and wind here as well. If we get several inches of rain quickly here, we can expect some localized flooding and high winds can produce power outages.

What are we doing locally?

• We are preparing a local governmental response in the event of severe weather.
• I have notified the Tyler DPS Division of Emergency Management of our sheltering capabilities and am awaiting further instruction.
• I will be meeting with local shelter contacts so we can prepare.
• We are trying to locate areas where we can house pets besides the Vet Clinic and Agg. Building as evacuees have been allowed to bring their pets when they evacuate.

I can not say when or even if we will see evacuees coming into town. We should be prepared to do so as well as be prepared to deal with severe weather on a local basis. As I know more I will pass it along. The next conference call is at 4:30 this afternoon followed by one at 10:30pm. I will try to post afterwards.
Martin A. Pessink
Chief of Police
Pittsburg Police Department