East Texas

By CINDY MALLETTE
Staff Writer

East Texas communities are taking in thousands of Gulf Coast-area evacuees and are warning local residents to be ready for a "major rain event" starting Tuesday.

The city of Longview began taking in evacuees from Liberty County on Sunday. Evacuees were registered at Lear Park, where they received shelter assignments. Longview city officials said every hotel room in the city was booked on Sunday, so they're urging evacuees who drive into town to go to the reception center, located at 100 H.G. Moseley Pkwy., to find shelter from the Hurricane Gustav.

The Greater Longview United Way is also staffing an Info Line, designed as a central point of contact for evacuees. Evacuees can call the number, ask any questions they may have, and be directed to the appropriate authority. The Info Line is 903-236-9211.

Lt. Kevin Brownlee, public information officer for the Longview Police Department, said some residents have reported seeing people standing along roadways with signs stating that they are evacuees and asking for help.

He said residents should encourage these people to go to the reception center to find shelter and should not give them any money. He said residents should donate to the local Red Cross instead.

Gregg County officials are urging residents to be prepared for significant rainfall — between 12 and 15 inches of rain in a single day — beginning Tuesday. Officials warn residents of low-lying areas to be prepared for flooding.

"We're more worried about rainfall then about high winds," Brownlee said.

Gregg County Judge Bill Stoudt said he's put county road and bridge crews on alert to be prepared for road closures due to flooding. The county has also contacted SWEPCO and other utility providers to be ready for action in case of power outages.

"We hope it's not bad," Brownlee said. "But we're prepared for the worst."

Other East Texas counties are doing the same as Gregg County, taking in evacuees and helping residents get prepared for several days of heavy rain.

Cherokee County Sheriff's officials say several shelters are set up in Rusk for evacuees, adding that there are still a lot of beds left in town.

Van Zandt County Sheriff Pat Burnett said 500 evacuees were being sheltered in several Canton churches.

Rusk County Sheriff's Lt. Kenneth Logan said Henderson is taking in evacuees from the Beaumont area. He, too, warned residents to be ready for flooding, power outages and high winds when Gustav hits the area on Tuesday.

"If you've got an emergency, you should call 911," Logan said. "Let me just say, though, that lights going out is not an emergency."

Phone numbers for local Sheriff's departments are:

Anderson County: 903-729-6068

Cherokee County: 903-683-2271

Gregg County: 903-236-8400

Henderson County: 903-675-5128

Rusk County: 903-657-3581

Van Zandt County: 903-567-4133

Wood County: 903-763-2201