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March 2008
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September 2005 ArchivesFriday afternoon FEMA added a few local counties to their list of counties eligible for financial assistance. ...At Friday's news conference announcing a task force to study evacuation plans, Mayor Bill White said, "There was an unacceptable level of traffic in the traffic jams on the freeways ..." ...Electricity: City Public Works crews will pick up storm debris only on Saturday, Oct. 1. ...In the wake of Hurricane Rita, Mayor Bill White announced the members of the newly created Task Force on Evacuation, Transportation and Logistics. The mayor is also soliciting input from the public. Comments can be filed online at http://www.houstontx.gov/rita/. Mayor Bill White will hold a 2 p.m. news conference to answers questions regarding the city's evacuation, transportation and logistic procedures in the wake of Hurricane Rita. ...Port Arthur joined several other Jefferson County municipalities Friday by allowing residents to return home, gather belongings and assess damage to their property. AP -- Amos Dondee thanked God for sparing Gov. Rick Perry said Thursday the state may bring generators to residents of East Texas' most rural, heavily wooded areas where electricity may be out for weeks or months. ...Remember when FEMA struck the deal to rent cruise ships for Hurricane Katrina victims? Well, now that deal is making waves on Capitol Hill.
FEMA is changing one of the ways it handles assistance for Katrina survivors. ...FEMA has authorized cash assistance payments up to $2,000 per family to Rita survivors along the Gulf Coast. ...The lines were long again at the FEMA's Houston recovery center Friday, but this time they were shut off around 8:45 a.m. Approximately 3,000 people were inside the facility when the lines were closed down. LUFKIN, Texas -- About 20 state parks in East Texas suffered The Beaumont Enterprise reports that the mayors of Beaumont, Port Neches, Groves and Nederland will open to residents on Friday. ...Local energy companies are still working to get the power back on in the aftermath of Hurricane Rita. ...The Houston Chronicle reports at least 107 people were killed by last week's hurricane or died in accidents or from health problems related to the largest evacuation in U.S. history. ...The city of Pasadena, along with the Pasadena school district and San Jacinto College, is housing nearly 1,200 Entergy employees working in East Texas. ...11 News reporter Jason Whitely filed these photos from Silsbee, Hardin County.
The line for the recovery center was shut down at 1:30 p.m. Thursday. The boil-water notice has been lifted for the following water systems: Twin Oaks, Oak Hill Estates, Walraven, Green Gate Acres and North Belt Forest Water System. Trinity Bay Conservation District in Chambers County has also lifted the water notice for all customers. ...The boil-water notice was lifted Thursday for the Bolivar Peninsula. ...At 1:04 p.m. FEMA spokesman Mike Casella said they would likely shut the line down soon and not let anyone else inside. The Department of Veterans Affairs is deploying two mobile health clinics Thursday to help Texas veterans who were hit hard by Hurricane Rita. ...Entergy reports it still had 230,000 customers without electricity as of Thursday morning. ...By early Thursday Centerpoint Engergy reported that the number of customers without power was down to 10,000. ..."The Daily News" reports that Santa Fe's City Emergency Management Coordinator Barry Cook said the city’s water supply is safe and in no danger of contamination. As of 8 p.m. Wednesday, 20,000 Centerpoint Energy customers remained without power as a result of Hurricane Rita. ...Victims of Hurricane Rita looking for financial help from the Red Cross will have to wait a little longer. ...KHOU-TV Channel 11's primetime programming from last week to be aired early Thursday and Friday morning. ...Entergy still has about 250,000 customers without power due to Hurricane Rita. In fact, it's made very little progress in restoring power to customers. Popeyes Chicken is asking that employees from the Beaumont, Vidor, Orange, Nederland and Port Arthur areas to contact the Lafayette, La. office at 337-289-6780 x-2000 or call 800-POPEYES. ...Wednesday afternoon, Centerpoint Energy reported the power outages have dropped from a peak of 700,000 to approximately 30,000. ...11 News reporter Jason Whitely visited the small town of Woodville in Tyler County Wednesday which was hard hit by Hurricane Rita. There he found people in desperate need of some of life's simplest needs. At a Wednesday afternoon press conference, the Houston-area Red Cross CEO said the shelters are not to capacity and they have space. ...Private well owners should take the same procautions, especially if their well house was flooded. ...FEMA officials urge people not already in line to not come to the center any more Wednesday, because they cannot handle those kinds of numbers by closing time, which is 7 p.m. ...Patton Village in east Montgomery County is in desperate need of supplies. ...The Montgomery County Office of Emergency Management is offering daytime cooling shelters. ...If you have not yet registered with FEMA and you want to receive assistance, please call 1-800-621-3362 or go online at www.fema.gov. Registering before going to the shelter will expedite the process. ...Survivors of last week's tragic bus explosion near Dallas have returned to Brighton Gardens, their assisted living center in Bellaire. The Houston SPCA will take the lead in animal rescue and relief efforts as a result of Hurricane Rita. They'll perform rescues in Chambers, Liberty, Jefferson, Hardin, Orange and Newton counties. If you left an animal behind, call 713-802-0555. ...The Houston Food Bank needs volunteers to help victims of Hurricane Rita. You can work in shifts from 8 a.m. until noon, and from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. ...The Houston, Spring Branch, Cypress-Fairbanks, Katy, Alief, Fort Bend, Humble, Galena Park and Aldine districts will reopen this morning after being closed due to Hurricane Rita . Authorities have charged 10 people with looting from evacuated homes and businesses in Galveston County before, during and after Hurricane Rita. ...CenterPoint Energy reports 92,000 customers still without power. If your neighbor has power and you don't call 713-207-2222. ...Evacuees still needing a place to stay may call the Red Cross at (713) 313-5480. ...To report an emergency, call: 1-800-368-3749.
Mayor Bill White thanked Harris County Judge Robert Eckels and CenterPoint official Tom Standish for their efforts in getting the Lynchburg Resevoir's pumps working. ...FEMA will open a recovery center at 8 a.m. Wednesday morning to offer assistance to hurricane evacuees. You must be registered with FEMA before you can receive help. ...Houston police report 40 arrests for burglary ...Several Houston firefighters are going to Port Arthur ...If your vehicle was left on the side of the road during the evacuation last week, it was probably towed. ...The city of Conroe has opened a cooling center for Conroe residents only. ...Health workers say that Bolivar Peninsula residents should boil their water before drinking it to avoid getting sick. The water notice includes people in High Island, Port Bolivar and Crystal Beach, Jamaica Beach, San Leon and the west end of Galveston Island. ...According to city officials approximately 60,000 evacuees displaced by Hurricane Rita have taken shelter in Houston. ...All Houston municipal courts resume operations Tuesday. ...Entergy said Tuesday rolling blackouts will continue for neighborhoods north of Houston, such as The Woodlands and Conroe. ...President Bush plans to visit the Beaumont-Port As of 3:45 p.m. Monday, Centerpoint said only 145,000 of its customers were still without power. ...All Memorial Hermann system hospitals resumed normal operations at 7 a.m. Monday, including Memorial Hermann Fort Bend and Memorial Hermann Southeast, which had been evacuated and closed prior to Hurricane Rita. ...The Coast Guard Captain of the Port on Monday reopened waterways in and around Texas, Louisiana and the Gulf of Mexico with some restrictions. The Red Cross is opening six new shelters specifically for Beaumont, Port Arthur and Orange County Hurricane Rita evacuees. ...The Galveston-Port Bolivar Ferry will operate throughout the evening and all night Monday. ...The 147th Fighter Wing is ramping up to support the evacuation of non-critical patients from Harris County hospitals that have become overburdened in the wake of Hurricane Rita. ...All 50,000 residents are without power and water in Polk County according to emergency management coordinator Ken Hambrick. Chambers County officials are encouraging people not to come back yet because they could be without power for three to four weeks. ...Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott on Monday warned about the continued threat of price gouging as his office received hundreds of reports over the weekend about businesses that tried to exploit displaced Texans who fled coastal areas. Of the near 3,400 residents who were evacuated in buses, most of them are back. ...The death toll from Hurricane Rita has climbed to seven. ...The tollways will remain free until Wednesday, when normal operations will resume. Health workers say that Bolivar Peninsula residents should boil their water before drinking it to avoid getting sick. The water notice includes people in High Island, Port Bolivar and Crystal Beach, Jamaica Beach, San Leon and the west end of Galveston Island. ...As of Sunday evening, more than 535,000 homes and businesses Hwy. 59 just south of the Goodrich Bridge has been reopened. The bridge is back in use Monday after a barge broke loose on the Trinity River and damaged the bridge1.
Time Warner Cable suffered a power outage from 7 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Sunday when the company's emergency generator failed. The outage caused cable and internet service interuptions throughout the Houston area. ...The Galveston County Daily News will have its first printed edition of the newspaper since mandatory evacuation of the county took place last week in advance of Hurricane Rita. ...The City of Houston Solid Waste Department will resume regular garbage Jasper Fire Department is in desperate need of refrigerated trucks to handle the many donations. ...The City of Houston Office of Emergency Management provides an online form that will make it easier for you to record any damages you may have experienced as a result of Hurricane Rita. ...Sunday, Centerpoint Engergy said it expects to restore all power by Friday. ...
Officials from the City of Houston, Harris County and Metropolitan Transit Authority (METRO) will transport home thousands of area residents evacuated before the arrival of Hurricane Rita. ...According to Chuck Frazier, Orange Co. OEM: ...
According to Tax Assessor-Collector Paul Bettencourt, damage assessment range of structures only is in the tens of millions of dollars just for Harris County. Every county as you go east will be exponentially greater. ...There will not be jury duty on Monday or Tuesday, but county and state district courts will be open with essential personnel Monday. ...Harris County Judge Robert Eckels said the Toll Road Authority will not resume charging drivers until Wednesday. ...Sunday, Mayor Bill White and Harris County Judge Robert Eckels requested that employees of airlines, gas stations, grocery stores and other business essential to getting the city back on track return to work as soon as possible. ...Metro will run a limited bus schedule on Sunday. ...
Late Saturday evening, seven Black Hawk helicopters transported 17 patients from a storm-ravaged area to Memorial Hermann Southeast.
Dr. David Purse, Director of Houston's Emergency Services, says Houstonians should be proud of the area's healthcare workers who jumped in to help during Hurricane Katrina and then Hurricane Rita. They helped evacuate patients in a large area near the coast and moved them closer in. ...CenterPoint Energy reports that it had restored service to 325,000 customers, or approximately 46 percent of the 700,000 customers who lost power as a result of Hurricane Rita. ...President Bush declared eight counties in Texas as disaster areas, making residents eligible for federal funding to The Texas Department of Health has set up a toll-free number for people who are seeking information on evacuees from hospitals and nursing homes. The number is 877-623-6274 and you must have the name, DOB and gender of the person. ...City of Friendswood Mayor Brizendine continues to encourage residents to return to the city at their discretion. Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center announces that all of its locations will remain closed until at least Wednesday, Sept. 28. ...The Liberty City Manager says that 100-500 residents who live along the banks of the Trinity River need to evacuate their homes due to the release of water from Lake Livingston. ...Police have been escorting tanker trucks loaded with gasoline into the Houston area, where gas is a scarce commodity. ...State troopers from around the state have been called in to block all exits from I-10 to Beaumont. No one will be allowed to exit the highway, even with proof of residency. ...Beaumont Mayor Guy Goodson says there is no water and no power and that residents will have to boil water for perhaps the next 48 hours. The mayor asks that residents not return until the infrastructure is in place. ...H-E-B has opened a total of 15 stores in the Houston area as of Saturday evening. They hope to have an additional 10 stores in surrounding counties open by 9 a.m. Sunday. ...All locations of the Houston Municipal courts will remain closed for business on Monday and Tuesday, September 26 and September 27. However, court employees are asked to report to work on Monday, September 26. ...The Postal Service is resuming delivery and retail operations to the extent possible in ZIP Code areas 770 and 772 (Houston), 773, 774, and 775. Plans are being made to re-establish service in ZIP Code areas 776, 777 and 778, which include the more seriously impacted Beaumont and Port Arthur areas. ...Galveston Mayor Lyda Ann Thomas says that Galveston residents can return to the island beginning at 6 a.m. Sunday. There may be no power, so residents should keep that in mind when deciding whether to return. ...At a 5:30 p.m. press conference Saturday, Harris County Judge Robert Eckels said there would be no jury duty Monday. ...The following is a running list of schools and school districts that have extended closure due to the hurricane. The dates listed are through what day the closing runs. ...The following is a list of reports of wind during Hurricane Rita early Saturday morning. ...Carolyn Campbell describes what she saw in the beach town. HISD officials have checked half of the schools in the district and have found minimal damage. The Houston SPCA announced Saturday that they are OK and offering limited services as a result of Hurricane Rita’s landfall along the Texas and Louisiana Gulf Coast. ...Mayor Bill White said Houstonians and others in the surrounding areas who evacuated should stay wherever they are until further notice. All three of the Houston Airport System's (HAS) airports - George Bush Intercontinental (IAH), William P. Hobby (HOU) and Ellington Field (EFD) - suffered no significant damage due to Hurricane Rita. ...A few gas stations in The Woodlands have gasoline available. ...
People seeking emergency treatment after Hurricane Rita should not go to Memorial Hermann Baptist Beaumont or Memorial Hermann Baptist Orange Hospitals.
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Winds have subsided, and CenterPoint employees are assessing the damage and beginning restoration. ...Officials are asking Christus St. John's employees to try and return to work as soon as possible, if it is safe. ...Because of damage to Christus St. Elizabeth's in Beaumont, Christus St. Joseph's in Houston will take on patients. ...Galveston County Office of Emergency management announced that residents in Friendswood, Leage City, Dickinson, Clear Lake Shores, Kemah, LaMarque, Texas City, Santa Fe and Hitchcock can return at their own risk. ...Several windows were blown out of the Chase Bank building downtown, littering the block of 700 Travis with glass. Some of the streets in that area are closed. ...Due to problems at the water plant, Baytown officials are urging residents to conserve water as much as possible. ...Jason Whitely drives into Port Arthur and surveys the situation Matagorda County lifts evacuation order. ...A statement from HISD: HISD will begin damage assessments at its 305 schools as soon as possible Saturday morning ...The following is a list of road blockages as of 6:10 a.m. from officials. ...Jason Whitely reports seeing destroyed mobile homes, torn roofs Jason Whitely reports seeing some water around I-10 and Highway 146, lines down over the road Billboards stand against an eerie dawn, says Jason Whitely An official with Centerpoint energy says nearly 675,000 people in the Houston area are without power. ...Jason Whitely drives along I-10 on the east side of Houston and sees trees down, but lights on Jasper Fire Chief James Gunter reports that Jasper has had winds in excess of 100 mph and that the weather service has warned them that winds could reach 120 mph. The entire city is without power. ...Galveston Mayor Pro Tem Joe Jaworski said part of the ceiling of the Galveston Daily News building collapsed and that the newspaper has lost power. ...Unable to fight a house fire due to high winds, the Spring Volunteer Fire Department has pulled out of the effort. A tree fell through the roof of the house in the 4400 block of Algernon, which apparently contributed to the fire. ...Cleveland Mayor Monique Davis says there is no power and a transformer is on fire. Emergency crews are sheltered due to the strong winds and are unable to take action. ...Some or all areas of the following counties are without power: CHAMBERS HARRIS FORT BEND GALVESTON LIBERTY MONTGOMERY ORANGE Windows in some buildings in downtown Houston are breaking either as a result of the wind or debris flying through the air. Houston police officers have been told to take shelter from falling debris. ...11 News reporter Mark Greenblatt was at the Hotel Elegante in Beaumont, where he said the wind was gusting at what he estimated to be in excess of 100 mph at times. Windows were being blown out and debris was floating in the virtual river that was flowing through the lobby. ...Flames shot out of a roof that had collapsed above the Family Dollar Store and Auto Zone on Red Bluff in Pasadena. It is not known how the fire started, but the Pasadena Fire Department was on the scene to combat it Saturday morning. ...Freeport has lost water and is not allowing residents to return yet. ...The city of Pasadena reports that there are power outages and downed power lines and cautions residents to stay away from them. ...In addition to Galveston, Brazoria and Chambers, Harris and Ft. Bend counties, parts of Tomball, Kingwood, and Humble have lost power, as well. This includes Jersey Village, Missouri City and Baytown, Entergy reported that 55,000 of its customers were without power. ...A fire at what is believed to be an apartment complex in southeast Houston was being fed by strong winds early Saturday morning. Several pieces of equipment numerous firefighters worked to get the fire in the 200 block of Eldorado under control. ...Some FEMA crews staged at Reliant Center left early Saturday morning to go to locations east of Houston where more severe effects of Hurricane Rita were felt. ...A loaded container ship apparently brokeloose on in the Port of Lake Charles in Lake Charles, LA in Calcasieu Parish during Hurricane early Saturday morning. Police fear it may hit the Interstate 10 bridge. ...The number of CenterPoint customers without power has risen to 210,000 in Harris, Chambers, Brazoria and Galveston counties. Some in Ft. Bend are also affected. ...Nancy Holland and the rest of the media called into the "bunker" at the San Luis Hotel after windows blown out at the condo next door. The Houston Fire Department was sending a support team to Galveston to fight the fire on The Strand Friday night, but first they had to see if the fire engines and ambulances could handle the crosswinds on the bridge. ...
According to CenterPoint spokesman Floyd LeBlanc, there are 160,000 CenterPoint customers without power. That includes Harris County and about 30,000 in Galveston County, 15,000 in Brazoria County and some in Ft. Bend County. ...Councilmember Michael Berry said the city would like to get evacuees not to return to the city immediately after Hurricane Rita. There will not have been enough time for retail services, such as gas stations and grocery stores, to restock their supplies. He asks that evacuees remain an extra day or so. ...A woman who was badly burned was taken to UTMB after being rescued from a wind-fanned fire Friday night. The building she was in is now an art gallery on Post Office at 20th streets and has been destroyed by the fire that also engulfed two other buildings, including a Victorian home. ...American Red Cross spokesperson Peter Teahan said they opened 100 shelters Friday, averaging one every 30 minutes. ...The eye of Hurricane Rita is projected to cross over Port Arthur at around 3 a.m. to 4 a.m. ...President Bush will stop in Austin to visit the state operations center for a hurricane update Saturday. ...Brazoria County Judge John Willy said that looters had been caught in Freeport and Amsterdam and were currently in a detention center. ...According to Judge John Willy, power is out in Surfside and Rosharon. ...Dave Fehling reports from Pasadena where officials are keeping their eyes on the refineries. FEMA blew into Houston tonight with a long convoy of large trucks. They are headed to Reliant Center, where they will be staging for Hurricane Rita. CenterPoint says there are 95,000 customers without power within their system. Half of those are in Galveston and Brazoria counties. ...Power is out at the San Luis in Galveston, where many city and emergency officials and media are stationed. ...Webster Mayor Donna Rogers has issued a 6:00 p.m. to 6:00a.m. citywide curfew effective tonight. The curfew will be in effect for all of Webster until further notice. ...Missouri City Mayor Allen Owen has issued a City Order to implement a curfew ordinance from dark until dawn effective immediately and until further notice. Missouri City's elevated patrol continues to be in effect throughout the day and night. ...City of La Marque has instituted a dusk-to-dawn curfew, effective Texas City, Galveston, League City and Friendswood. The county of Galveston also has a curfew in effect for the unincorporated areas. According to a CenterPoint spokesperson, there are 60,000 customers without power. ...Jason Whitley describes scene outside the San Jacinto Mall in Baytown. Power outages are sporadic early into Rita's movement toward the coastline. On the north side, between Stewart and 80th, power is out in most areas. 11 News reporters are experiencing wind gusts of 60 to 70 mph with sustained winds of about 45 mph. ...A spokesman from CenterPoint Energy says that out of 1.9 million customers, 50,000 have lost power. ...As long as weather permits, citizens needing assistance should proceed immediately to Pasadena Memorial High School, 4410 Crenshaw at Preston. Evacuees may bring pets in approved containers. ...City officials are urging residents who have not evacuated to shelter in place. ...Gov. Perry announced the establishment of the Texas Disaster Relief Fund to help provide immediate assistance to citizens in need. ...Driving around Houston during the hours before Hurricane Rita feels like speeding into an apocalyptic science fiction movie. Yes, the buildings still stand, but the people have evacuated. And the city is strangely unpopulated. ...The hurricane has yet to reach the Texas coast, but it's already killing the people fleeing from it. Jason Whitely talks about the officials standing by in Chambers County Doug Miller visits a neighborhood near the Texas Southern University Campus. Photographer Keith Tomshe prepares for another monster storm Reporter Doug Miller describes an eerie scene for a city known for its traffic Doug Miller: Downtown Houston nearly empty Jason Whitely in Baytown as the city continues busing evacuees out. Metro is on standby to rescue people when they are not putting their drivers in danger. Yellow Cab service is also evacuating people. ...A hotel in Conroe, off the Frazier Street exit, opened its doors to evacuees who had nowhere to go. Now they have run out of food and water. ...The call is going out for medical workers to volunteer to help care for Hurricane Rita evacuees in Texas. ...Dr. Neil Frank estimated that tropical storm winds will reach Galveston by 2 p.m. or 3 p.m. Friday. The city of Galveston has opened a refuge at the Alamo School. ...Mount Belleville and Anahuac Middle Schools are both open for those seeking shelter. Bring clothing and bedding. ...At a Friday morning press conference, Gov. Perry said that somewhere between 2.5 million to 2.7 million people had evacuated in 24 hours. ...KHOU has received a statement from the nursing home that chartered the bus: Brighton Gardens of Bellaire. The hospital is only accepting critical care patients. ...A bus from the Bellaire exploded on I-45 near Dallas in Wilmer. ...At an early Friday morning press conference, the mayor thanked citizens for heeding the call to evacuate in a timely manner. ...TxDOT is providing fuel for evacuee vehicles headed away from Hurricane Rita. With the mobilization of fuel trailers statewide, TxDOT has begun providing gasoline in evacuation areas to motorists whose vehicles are low on fuel. TxDOT has numerous trucks along main evacuation routes to give each motorist enough fuel to get out of harm’s way. ...
Army’s relief assistance for Rita begins early as residents begin fleeing the Gulf Coast. ...According to the Red Cross all shelters that were set up Thursday night are already full. Although one of them actually had room for about 100 more evacuees. ...Beginning to look like Houston at some gas stations in Dallas because of Rita evacuees. Fears they will run out of gas. ...Jeremy Desel reports of several break-ins in Galveston Red Cross announced they will be opening 10 shelters along I-45, Highway 59 and Highway 290. The locations have not been released. For available Red Cross shelter locations call 713-313-5480 ...Salvation Army donated 38,000 units of water to help motorists trying to evacuate the Houston area. ...Texas Army National Guard trucks, escorted by DPS, are headed to Houston from Fort Hood. They are working with TxDOT to directly provide motorists with gas on the major evacuation routes. Trucks will be in position to begin fueling motorists between 9:00pm and 10:00pm tonight. ...Several hardware stores, other businesses to be open Friday ...Dave Fehling on the effects of a hurricane on the petrochemical industry
The following gas stations confirmed they had at least a little gas left: (NO GUARANTEES -- going fast) ...If you need roadside assistance do not call 911. Instead call 1-800-525-5555. ...11 News coverage will be simulcasted on the following radio stations: ...According to the Red Cross there is no list of shelters. Instead there are "hubs" where people go to be directed to shelters. ...The FAA announced that the last flights from Bush Intercontinental and Hobby Airport will be noon Friday. ...All shelters in Lufkin are full ...Both Houston airports ceasing all flights by noon Friday ...Greyhound bus station will close at 8 p.m. Thursday. Until then, buses are only going to San Antonio and Dallas. ...All patients have been evacuated from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston hospitals. Some airlines still flying, others stopped service. ...On and off-airport parking at Hobby Airport is full; at Bush Intercontinental Airport it is almost full ...Jeremy Rogalski describes desperation with as fuel supply runs dry. Continental expects to be able to operate only a reduced Houston schedule on Friday morning, and will cease flight operations at Houston at noon. ...I-10 contraflow lanes implemented from Hwy. 6 to Hwy. 123 at Seguin. I-45 Contraflow lanes now in effect from FM 1488 to the town of Buffalo; No contraflow lanes will be implemented for Hwy. 290 or Hwy. 59 ...Ellis County, just south of Dallas, has agreed to implement the contraflow of I-45. ...Mayor Bill White said that a lack of TSA employees is partially to blame for the extended delays at Bush Intercontinental and Hobby airports. ...Reporter Jeremy Rogalski describes the scene en route to Liberty County.
San Jacinto County has called for a voluntary evacuation of those in low-lying areas, in mobile homes or people with special needs. ...The mayors of Rosenberg and Richmond announced Thursday that a curfew will go into affect for the cities of Richmond and Rosenberg starting Friday. Hours of curfew will be from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. each day until further notice. ...Hundreds of resupply trucks are enroute to all the Home Depot stores from Corpus Christi north along the Texas coast to Beaumont/Port Arthur -- including the Houston/Galveston area - in preparation for Hurricane Rita. ...Hundreds of federal officials have arrived in Texas with truckloads of water, food, ice and medical supplies destined for the coast once Hurricane Rita makes landfall. ...11 News has learned from an HPD officer that some frustrated drivers are making their own contraflow lanes on I-45 well before the TxDOT lanes that will open at FM 1488. Evacuees are asked not to try to go north on southbound lanes inside the city, as dangerous accidents could occur. ...At least 80 Maryland firefighters and physicians have been sent to Texas to help with urban search and rescue that may be needed once Hurricane Rita strikes. ...Memorial Hermann is discharging patients who are well enough to leave. It will allow them to free up hospital beds for those who may need them during and after the storm. ...People who have confirmed flights late into the evening Thursday are already lined up at the airports waiting for their flights. Officials say that if you have a flight today, no matter how late, you should get to the airport as soon as possible. And you should be prepared for a long wait. ...Governor Rick Perry says fuel trucks are being
Texas authorities will begin airlifting on Thursday at least 9,000 people from Beaumont and Houston, including nursing home residents, those without transportation and the homeless, to inland Texas cities as part of the massive coastal evacuations ahead of Hurricane Rita. City officials remind those who do not evacuate that 911 services may not be operating during the height of the storm due to power outages and other hurricane damage. ...
The entire field force of 495 Texas game wardens with approximately 500 boats is on standby for search and rescue operations as needed. Boats, fuel, manpower and all available resources are ready, with staging locations along the coast identified. ...Hurricane Rita's track has moved it slightly east into southern Jefferson County. 11 News Meteorologist David Paul says it's not a huge change, but it is a trend. ...Deer Park has issued a mandatory evacuation order. ...Oil companies on Wednesday began closing refineries, including People without confirmed reservations should not go to Houston's airports with the expectation of catching a flight out of Houston. The airports are seeing an unusually high amount of traffic and flights are already reaching capacity or full. Those desiring to fly through Bush Intercontinental or Hobby airports should already have a confirmed reservation before driving to the airport. Liberty County has ordered mandatory evacuation for residents. ...Jefferson County and Orange County have ordered a mandatory evacuation for residents including Beaumont, Port Arthur, Nederland and Port Neches. ...TxDOT spokeswoman Janel Gbur said Thursday morning that plans were being implemented to use southbound lanes on I-45 the North Fwy. for travel in the northbound direction. ...Gloria Roemer, spokesman for Harris County Judge Robert Eckles says officials are in a meeting with with TXDOT to discuss ways to ease congestion on evacuation routes. ..."This is a big shift, the center of the cone is pointed right at Galveston Bay," says 11 News meteorologist David Paul. ...San Jacinto Methodist Hospital is currently on total diversion. The hospital is not accepting any admissions at this time. The emergency room will close Thursday. ...Brazoria plans for additional buses to evacuate residents Thursday morning. ...Pasadena mayor announces mandatory evacuation effective at 6 a.m. Thursday. ...Exit ramps at the major interchanges from I-45 North are closed. The entrance ramps to I-45 North from the major interchanges are also closed. (Beltway, 6-10, 59, I-10) ...The Indian campgrounds in Livingston Texas had about 40 sites open at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday. There are about five other campgrounds in this area and about 4 motels that have openings. ...
All residents living in areas served by Atascocita Volunteer Fire Department need to be aware that if their residence has flooded in the past we are advising to evacuate to higher ground before Hurricane Rita arrives. ...Due to Hurricane Rita and circumstances beyond our control, PACE Concerts is postponing all performances scheduled for this weekend at The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion. ...
As it prepares for Hurricane Rita, the Harris County Hospital District is urging people seeking routine medical care to avoid doing so at hospital emergency rooms. ...Lynchburg Ferry will stop operations Thursday at 10 a.m. One ferry is already in dry dock and the other ferry will go to a safe harbor on the Houston Ship Channel. ...Members of the 147th Fighter Wing are in the process of preparing Ellington Field to survive the expected arrival of Hurricane Rita in order to prepare the base for recovery operations once the storm passes over. ...
The City of Houston Solid Waste Management Department (SWMD ) has canceled all solid waste services for Thursday and Friday. ...In response to the Hurricane Warning posted for this area, The Galleria will be closed Thursday and Friday,September 22-23, 2005. ...All locations of the Houston Municipal Courts will remain closed for business on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Citizens who are cited for any of those days must make arrangements to reschedule. ...Beginning around 5 p.m. Wednesday the HOV lane on the Gulf Freeway will be for northbound traffic only. Beginning Thursday all HOV lanes in the Houston area will be for traffic heading out of town only. ...
11 News coverage of Hurricane Rita
Agriculture Commissioner Susan Combs today urged Texas farmers and ranchers along the Gulf coast and in the potential path of Hurricane Rita to take the necessary precautions to protect their livestock, other animals and farming equipment from damaging winds and possible flooding. ...Kelsey-Seybold Clinic locations will be closed Thursday through Sunday. ...The Houston SPCA announced today that they are preparing and planning animal rescue and recovery efforts as a result of Hurricane Rita's anticipated landfall along the Texas Gulf Coast. ...Continental Airlines is maintaining normal operations as it closely monitors Hurricane Rita’s progress. ...Web sites that have listed Evacuation Sites for horses due to Hurricane Rita ...Chambers County calls for mandatory evacuation in phases. Phase 1 begins at 10 a.m. Thursday and phase 2 at 3 p.m. Thursday, ...The lectures by the Dalai Lama scheduled for Thursday at Rice University have been cancelled. ...Metro to operate on an emergency schedule Thursday and suspend service Friday until it is safe to resume. ...HOV lanes to open for evacuees without occupancy restrictions. ...Houston Ballet cancels Mentors & Prodigy performances for Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. ...
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Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center closing all mobile blood drives and neighborhood donor centers Thursday through Saturday. There is still a good supply on the shelves to stock area hospital shelves with 100 percent of their supply and in some cases as much as 120 percent. ...Houston Symphony cancels concerts on September 23, 24 and 25 ...Baybrook Mall to close at noon. Reopening date has not been set. ...11 News' traffic reporter Darby Douglas said evacuees from Galveston can expect the drive to Huntsville to take as long as 12 hours. ...The Harris County Hospital District (HCHD) is preparing to meet the community's emergency medical needs should Hurricane Rita affect our area. The 12 HCHD community health centers that will be closing are: The National Weather Service said Wednesday Hurricane Rita could cause "catastrophic damage" in Jackson, Matagorda, Brazoria and parts of Galveston counties. ...Officials with Waste Management said trash pickup for local municipalities it serves will be suspended as of Thursday. ...Due to the intensifying threat of Hurricane Rita to Houston and surrounding areas, the co-chairs of the ONE COUNTRY
Officials say parents who stay in the area with their children after the mandatory evacuation goes into effect will have their children taken by CPS and will be prosecuted. ...The City of Sugar Land will cease normal business operations at noon on Thursday, Sept. 22 to initiate emergency preparation for Hurricane Rita. ...
As of 6:00 p.m. today, DPS will be in full evacuation mode for Chambers and Galveston Counties. Highway 146 and 124 will be heavily favored for northbound traffic. I-10 exit ramps will be closed at Highway 146, FM 563, FM 1663, St. Highway 61, FM 565 and FM 3180. Also Highway 73 at Hwy 124 and 1406.
Galveston ferry operations will be suspended at 9 p.m Wednesday. ...
H-E-B is following the orders of local authorities, as well as preparing the stores for the potential storm of Hurricane Rita. ...
Mayor Bill White and County Judge Robert Eckels have called for a voluntary evacuation of Houston and Harris County residents who live in vulnerable areas. The evacuation of all storm surge areas will become mandatory by noon Thursday. ...
Webster officials are making preparations to issue a mandatory evacuation for 6 p.m. tonight. Residents will be funneld to Interstate 45 from NASA Road 1 and Bay Area Blvd. ...Johnson Space Center will close Wednesday at 1 p.m. ...Houston Independent School District schools will be closed Thursday and Friday. Wednesday will be a full day of classes. ...In a press conference Wednesday morning, Mayor Bill White encouraged those who live in storm surge areas, the 100-year flood plains and in structures that cannot withstand high winds to at evacuate. ...11 News meteorologist David Paul explains that if a Category 4 makes landfall on its current track, "expect hurricane force winds inland with, a storm surge risk that includes a big portion of Harris County" in addition to coastal counties. "It would not surprise me if it strengthened to Category 5." ..."The winds continue to increase ... better cloud organization," says 11 News chief meteorologist Dr. Neil Frank. ...Hurricane Rita will likely become a Category 3 on Wednesday. HISD officials are on alert and closely monitoring Hurricane Rita as the storm enters the Gulf of Mexico. ...At this time, emergency management officials are calling for a voluntary evacuation of the city of Friendswood. ...According to the National Weather Service, Hurricane Rita will most likely strike Freeport or Galveston Space Center Houston will be temporarily closed to visitors starting Wednesday. ...If you are taking I-45 N to evacuate to Huntsville, exit for mile marker 101 and go to a receiving site at that location. ...The city has requested that major employers in the Houston area review employee needs and consider letting employees off Thursday and Friday. ...If you need a ride out of Brazoria County, there are three pick-up points at which you can meet. ...The following is a list of school closings, which will be updated as KHOU learns of them. ...According to a confernce call with the National Weather Service and municipalities along the Southeast Texas coast, Rita's landfall is now expected as early as Friday night. ...Brazosport ISD has 85 school buses it plans to use when a mandatory evacuation is called for. But they only have 12 drivers so far so they are asking for volunteers to drive the buses. Approximately 1,000 Texas State Troopers have been put on standby from as far away as El Paso, to Texarkana, to Brownsville. "It's Matagorda County where the bullseye is, but folks we're on the bad side of the storm," says 11 News meteorologist David Paul. ...Healthy pets need to be sent to the Brazos Valley Animal Shelter. ...The county will announce the voluntary evacuation at 2 p.m. Tuesday. ...Galveston Mayor Lyda Ann Thomas called a voluntary evacuation for the city. ...The school will close Tuesday at noon. ...Hurricane Rita is moving west at about 15 mph, and this general track is expected to continue during the next 24 hours. 11 News meteorologist David Paul says, "The computer models are beginning to cluster up, it should make landfall Friday night, early Saturday morning." ...Latest report from the National Weather Service has Rita's top winds at 70 mph, just below hurricane status. ...11 News chief meteorologist Dr. Neil Frank says there is still a great deal of uncertainty in a storm track this far out. ...Galveston ISD superintendent to decide whether to close schools by 5 a.m. Tuesday. ...Governor Perry orders National Guard back from Louisiana in advance of Rita. ...Mayor White said Houston is not an evacuation destination and urges Rita evacuees to drive to cities farther inland. ...Chevron and Shell begin evacuating off-shore platforms. ...11 News meteorologist Mario Gomez expects Tropical Storm Rita to increase to a Category 1 storm before 10 p.m. ...In Galveston, the Mayor's Citizen Response Team is calling for volunteers. A meeting has been scheduled for those interested in helping out. ...There are special phone lines set up to provide evacuation information to those who speak Spanish or are hearing impaired. Ayuda de la evacuacion de Galveston en Espanol - 713-881-3100 ...Galveston residents requiring ambulance to evacuate, call 409-938-2424 ...To register to be picked up for transport to the bus evacuation site at 4700 Broadway, call 409-797-3510. ...As previously stated, evacuees will be allowed to carry one suitcase and their pets on the buses, but the pets must be in carriers or crates. Galveston Mayor Lyda Ann Thomas announced a voluntary evacuation of the island beginning Tuesday at 2 p.m. Buses will be provided for Galveston residents who need transportation off the island beginning at 10 a.m. Wednesday. ... |
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