Tropical Storm Rita

As we discussed several times, we are still very much in the Hurricane Season. Tropical Storm Rita is expected to strengthen and many of the forecast models are indicating that it will strike the Texas Coast, at Hurricane-level. The model that the State of Texas is looking at will make landfall somewhere between Galveston and Houston on Saturday AM, but it is still very early to determine anything exact. To plan for that area, however, would be prudent, given the time required for evacuations.

The State of Texas Emergency Management Council and State Operations Center, of the Governor's Division of Emergency Management, will be fully operational beginning tomorrow, September 20, at 8:00 AM. The Texas Forest Service's Incident Management Team is being recalled from Louisiana where they will transition their current role over to the Louisiana National Guard.

Local entities along the coast are being advised to begin making plans and taking action. Their Emergency Management Plans will guide their operations. Should their be a need for assistance from state and federal agencies, and/or from local government entities from outside of the affected areas, THIS WILL BE COORDINATED THROUGH THE GOVERNOR'S DIVISION OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, THROUGH A TRIED AND TRUE SYSTEM.

I will keep you informed on what I learn. You can help by continuing to monitor the National Weather Service television and Internet reports on this storm. WE ALL KNOW TOO WELL HOW RUMOR MILLS CAN GENERATE REPORTS. TOGETHER, WE CAN HELP KEEP THE FACTS IN THE FOREFRONT.

-David Abernathy
Fire ChiefCity of PittsburgEmergency Management Coordinator
Camp County / City of Pittsburg