Is Texas Ready For Erin?

[Nbadan]

Can you say, Texas emergency prepardness is already in a state of disaster...

Erin hits tX

State of Emergency Preparedness in Texas
by: Todd Hill
Wed Aug 15, 2007 at 12:45:15 PM CDT

As the storm season heats up, and Tropical Storm Erin barrels toward the Texas Gulf Coast, I’ve been asking Governor Rick Perry month after month, “What is the state of emergency preparedness in Texas, considering the lack of Texas National Guard resources?”
My most recent inquiry made the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

I continue and make the argument that our state is in a precarious position considering our National Guard is bogged down with neo-con quagmires in Iraq and Afghanistan. We can ill afford as a state to stretch our resources so thin, but under Governor Rick Perry’s tenure this has occurred.

Do we have the resources to perform emergency rescue operations should the need occur, or will we have to call Oklahoma to help again? I fear a Katrina-like, or even Rita-like, mess could be around the corner. The Texas coastal evacuation of 2005 was hardly a poster for proper emergency evacuation procedures.

As Texas taxpayers continue and pay over $250,000 for Perry personal security as he crosses the world burnishing foreign policy credentials in order to be considered for a vice presidential spot in 2008, Texans should be asking whether that money is best spent protecting him, or protecting us by improving emergency preparedness.

Hurricane season is upon us and Texas is a very large state. How do you prepare for emergencies when you no longer have the resources?

Burnt Orange Report

[boutons_]

Texas braces for gulf storm

Web Posted: 08/14/2007 11:04 PM CDT

Anastasia Ustinova

Express-News With a severe weather system in the Gulf of Mexico expected to bring heavy rain to South Texas as early as today, local and state officials are dusting off their emergency preparedness plans. Gov. Rick Perry said Tuesday he is deploying 30 emergency vehicles and 60 Texas National Guard members to Weslaco and San Antonio. He is also activating three military helicopters and putting six search-and-rescue teams on call. Volunteer organizations are getting ready to provide mass care support.

"Because storms have saturated much of our state this summer, many communities in this storm's projected path are at high risk of dangerous flash flooding," Perry said.

Jesus Haro, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Brownsville, said the office is monitoring the storm northwest of the Yucatan Peninsula, which was upgraded to a tropical depression late Tuesday.

A tropical storm watch was posted for the Texas and Mexican coasts, where landfall could occur sometime late today.

The storm also could bring heavy rain to the Hill Country by the end of the week.

The Office of Emergency Management of Hidalgo County, which expects up to 10 inches of rain later this week, is distributing free sand bags for residents.

Other emergency coordinators said they are reviewing plans.

"We are ready for whatever is needed to be done," said Randy Sijansky, Corpus Christi emergency preparedness coordinator.

[email protected] Online at:

http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/met...m.339e1c8.html

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

OMG, someone call in the Army!! It might rain in Texas! Run for the hills!

[johnsmith]

OMG, someone call in the Army!! It might rain in Texas! Run for the hills!

No .

Last month it rained nine inches in one day where I was at in New Braunfels.

Yet I didn't see one member of the national guard.

If this storm puts down nine inches in one day around all of south Texas, I'll be shocked.

[CubanMustGo]

Screw Erin, it's not enough of a storm to worry about.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

Victoria has had an inch of rain since it made land fall. Obviously this is a targeted attempt to drown the people of Victoria by our president. He sent a weak tropical storm in their direction, sent the NG to Iraq, and is sitting back waiting for them all to drown. [/boutons et. al]

[boutons_]

Aggie, go yourself.

If dubya could up the weather, while enriching and protecting the super-rich and corps, we all know he would.

[smeagol]

Brockovich?

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

Aggie, go yourself.

If dubya could up the weather, while enriching and protecting the super-rich and corps, we all know he would.

[Nbadan]

Looks like Erin was the prep-test and Dean is gonna be the final exam....repent TX!

[Nbadan]

Let's just say, I wouldn't make any plans for after Wednesday

[Nbadan]

Seriously, if you live in Houston or from Padre to Galveston on the coast..........ummmm.....get out..........

[Nbadan]

New images of Hurricane Dean...