LUFKIN – Hurricane season officially began June 1 and will end on November 30. Motorists and residents should prepare now for any weather emergency that might occur during this time.
Residents should make a plan now and familiarize themselves on how to:
Receive emergency alerts and warnings;
Devise a shelter in place plan
Locate the evacuation routes should you need to leave your home
Make a communication plan for the entire family in case you are separated
“Everyone needs to be prepared for the unexpected,” said Rhonda Oaks, spokesperson for the Lufkin District. “During a storm, friends and family may not be together. We urge you to make a plan now whether you must shelter in place during a storm event, or prepare for the extra traffic we could see locally should a major hurricane occur and we see evacuees travel north in this direction.” If you are ordered to evacuate or live near an evacuation route, you should familiarize yourself with the route maps ahead of time. Major evacuation routes leading from the Gulf Coast through East Texas include US 69, US 59 and US 96. These maps can be found at txdot.gov and show detailed areas from Beaumont, Corpus Christi, Houston, Pharr and Yoakum. Also on this page, https://www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/division/traffic/safety/weather/hurricane.html, you will find a listing that will link you to other emergency services, agencies, weather forecasts and even live traffic camera feeds.
East Texans are urged to keep an emergency kit of non-perishable foods and bottled water on hand, as well as extra gasoline, batteries, flashlights, candles, and a battery-operated radio in case of a power loss. Motorists are urged not to drive in a heavy rainfall event, but if it is necessary, reduce speed, buckle up and stay alert.
TxDOT crews will monitor the roadways for local flooding during all heavy rainfall weather events. Crews are prepared to work around the clock, if needed, to monitor roadways and advise motorists at flooded areas. If you approach a barricaded or flooded area, do not attempt to drive through the water. Turn around, don’t drown. It is illegal to go around TxDOT orange cones or barricades. In the case of local flooding, check [TxDOT%20Lufkin]TxDOT Lufkin on Twitter for local closures and alerts and the Texas Department of Transportation on Facebook for statewide information.
For more information, contact Rhonda.Oaks@txdot.gov or (936) 633-4395.
