I am in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. We are 300+ miles from the gulf coast. I am not boarding up my windows, stocking up on water, or making sure I have batteries. Nevertheless, I am getting ready for Gustav to make land-fall. My cell phone will be charged, on, and close by me throughout the Labor Day holiday week-end. I will stock up on cat food and other basics because it could be a couple of weeks before I'll have time to get to the store again.
Why? Lot's of things were learned by lots of people during Katrina and Rita. Some of what was learned, and a news round up of what is happening, is over the fold.
One thing learned is that when such powerful storms hit there are actually two disasters. One disaster is in the affected area; where roofs are blown off, waters are rising, people are in danger. The second disaster occurs in "safer" areas, where thousands and thousands of evacuees seek shelter. They need tangible things like food, shelter and clothing. They need emotional support. They need help communicating with far-flung and separated loved ones. They need help for their pets. They need so, so many things.
My community is in the second disaster response group. We will be the primary receiving area for evacuees from the Texas coast and/or evacuees moving from Louisiana to Texas. Numbers to prepare for range from 20,000 or so to over 125,000. Believe it or not, even Republicans are taking this seriously.
DENVER (MarketWatch) - The Republican Party may hold off on its national convention next week if Tropical Storm Gustav turns into a hurricane and strikes the Gulf Coast, a spokesman for presumptive presidential nominee John McCain said Thursday.
http://www.marketwatch.com/...
Gov. Rick Perry has suspended his plans to attend the Republican National Convention next week in St. Paul because of the potential problems that could be caused by the looming Tropical Storm Gustav, which is expected to grow into a hurricane later today
http://www.dallasnews.com/...
Meanwhile, Texas Gov. Rick Perry and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal have both announced they are planning to skip the convention.
Perry's spokesman says the state is preparing for an emergency if Gustav hits Texas and to send aid to Louisiana if the storm slams into that state. Some 5,000 Texas National Guardsmen are on standby in case Gustav hits the state's coastline.
http://www.myfoxhouston.com/...
With Hurricane Katrina three years ago, Houston's Astrodome had sheltered 25,000 of the estimated 250,000 evacuees who came to Texas from Louisiana.
Louisiana, Texas and Harris County officials have consulted and any evacuees would be moved inland rather than to Harris County, Stinebaker said.
He said it wouldn't make sense to move people to a hurricane zone. Tropical Storm Hanna, which was named Thursday morning, is trailing Gustav's path, and he said it would be disastrous if the storm followed evacuees to the Houston area.
http://www.chron.com/...
The state has told local leaders as many as 50,000 Louisiana residents could be moved to Texas shelters, though no firm plans have been made, as the track of the storm could change often in the coming days.
http://www.kbtx.com/...
Gov. Rick Perry has issued a disaster declaration for 61 counties as Texas prepares for a possible brush
with Tropical Storm Gustav
Perry said Thursday that more than 5,000 guardsmen and other state resources are on standby in case the storm comes ashore along the Texas Coast....
In Tyler, tourism officials say that most of the 2,200 hotel rooms in the East Texas city are full as Gulf Coast residents make plans to head north.
http://www.kbmt12.com/...
The call volume at the Day's Inn in Longview, Texas, about 60 miles west of Shreveport, swelled Wednesday. Between regular customers and evacuees, the hotel is booked solid for more than a week.
"People started calling yesterday, but they didn't say why they were trying to make reservations," said Lisa Willis, a desk clerk. "Today, they did start explaining. Some of the calls I have gotten from Louisiana, the people said they'll probably end up in Dallas."
http://www.shreveporttimes.com/...
Mr. Shaw, director of the city's Office of Emergency Management, is charged with coordinating Dallas' response to disaster.
That means making sure the Dallas Convention Center is ready to shelter up to 900 evacuees, that there will be food and medical care, police and firefighters......
The hope is people will be there two days, a week at the most. Then the federal government will start moving them into more permanent homes if they can't go home.
http://cityhallblog.dallasnews.com/...
More permanent homes in a week at most? Dream on Mr. Shaw. Dream on.
Yes, one of the other lessons learned - plan for the pets!!
The Louisiana SPCA says its shelter in New Orleans will close at 2 p.m. tomorrow so staffers can get ready to begin evacuating animals to Baton Rouge on Thursday.
http://www.kwtx.com/...
SPCA of Texas shelters in Dallas and McKinney are no longer accepting owner-surrendered pets to make room for animals fleeing the threat of Hurricane Gustav.
http://www.dallasnews.com/...