Monday Update

• The Sate and Federal operations are working to provide aid to the impacted areas. They are airlifting in food, water and other supplies.
• Interstate 45 is open back into Houston and there should be fuel available along this route. Hwy. 59 was closed below lake Livingston but is now open, the reliability of fuel along this route is questionable. The State highways closer to the Texas/LA border (69-96-87) are for the most part impassable and there is probably no fuel available as they are having to either airlift or truck supplies in for the rescue operations and generators to get water systems back on line.
• Areas north and west of IH 45 and IH 10 were opened for re-entry yesterday. Areas south and west of IH45 and IH10 were open today. Areas east of IH 45 and north of IH 10 will be open tomorrow but limited to Liberty and Montgomery counties. Other impact zone areas will not be open for re-entry for at least 5-7 days. There is a re-entry map at http://www.dot.state.tx.us/hcr/goinghome/
• Locally- About 20 folks left Emmanuel and went home to Houston, there are 32 people left from the Port Arthur area and they may be with us a while longer. There are 25 people at the First United Methodist Church from the Baytown area and they should be able to go home Tuesday or Wednesday. The people who were at the First Baptist Church were from Conroe and were able to go home yesterday; we will not re-open here unless some emergency situation dictates doing so.
• FEMA is set up now to provide financial assistance to evacuees but the must be registered to do so. This may be done by going on-line at www.fema.gov or by calling 1-800-621-3362
• Unless there is significant information to pass along I will not be sending further posts on a routine basis. I want to again thank everyone who has been working during this event to help.

Martin A. Pessink
Chief of Police
Pittsburg Police Department