It has been at least nine months since Houstonians watched thousands of Hurricane Katrina evacuees stream into the Astrodome only to later become evacuees themselves trapped on jammed freeways fleeing from Hurricane Rita. Houston was spared the wrath of these hurricanes, but learned valuable lessons on preparedness. City, county, and state officials have been working on implementing procedures for better preparedness and safer evacuations in advance of hurricanes along the Gulf coast.

Shortly after Hurricane Rita, Texas Gov. Rick Perry, along with Mayor Bill White and County Judge Robert Eckels, appointed a task force to get input from the public and other local officials on the best ways to conduct evacuations.  The task force issued its report in February. According to Gov. Perry the report will result in improved planning and coordination. In March Governor Perry signed an executive order that implemented most of the recommendations of the task force. The order focuses on the five areas of command and communications control, evacuation of people with special needs, fuel availability, traffic flow, and public awareness. The order also directs the State Division of Emergency Management to oversee the development of local and regional plans, as well as conduct a yearly evacuation drill. The Department of Transportation and the Department of Public Safety have been assigned the tasks of improving the traffic flow during future evacuations and making fuel available along the way.

This month the city and county conducted a three day hurricane drill to evaluate potential problems and find solutions. The drill gave officials an opportunity to determine how to open contraflow lanes on the freeways in 4 hours or less. The plan is to have all freeway lanes heading outbound thus allowing the traffic to move quickly out of town. Another plan officials are working on involves supplying food and water along the evacuation route. The drill followed the governor's directive for schools to provide buses and shelters, and was able to get commitments for  868 buses from school districts. As city and county leaders gathered at the Houston Transtar headquarters, they cautioned that citizens should not depend solely on the government during an evacuation. They recommended that everyone get an emergency preparedness kit now so that it will be available for hurricane season. For those of us who live along the Gulf coast, hurricane preparedness is a fact of life.

American Red Cross Disaster Supplies Kit

 First aid kit and essential medications

 Canned Food and can opener

 At least 3 gallons of water per person

 Protective clothing and bedding

 Battery powered radio, flashlight

 Special items for infants, elderly, disabled

 (more information at www.redcross.org)