June 2, 2020 – The 2020 Hurricane Season began Monday, June 1 and will end November 30. Motorists and residents should prepare now for possible weather emergencies that could occur during this time.
The nine-county Lufkin District stands ready in the event of a hurricane or evacuation to keep all roads clear and open. Residents should also plan and familiarize themselves with best practices in a possible hurricane event. Those best practices include:
- Make sure you can 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, Lufkin District Public Information Officer. “During a storm, friends and family may not be together. We urge you to make a plan now whether you must shelter in place or prepare for the extra traffic we could see locally from evacuees.”
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/hurri..., you will find a listing that will link you to other emergency services, agencies, weather forecasts and even live traffic camera feeds.
Residents 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 heavy rainfall, but if necessary, reduce speed, buckle up and stay alert.
TxDOT crews monitor roadways during weather events and crews are prepared to work around the clock, if needed, to keep roadways clear and open for travel. If you approach a barricaded or flooded area, do not enter. Turn around, don’t drown. In case of local flooding, follow TxDOT Lufkin on Twitter for local alerts and the Texas Department of Transportation on Facebook for statewide information.
