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Updated: 10:26 AM Sep 23, 2005
Evacuees Continue To Head Inland As Rita Nears Texas Coast
The exodus of hundreds of thousands of Gulf Coast residents continued Friday as Hurricane Rita moved steadily toward the southeast Texas Gulf Coast.
Posted: 10:26 AM Sep 23, 2005 |
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The traffic jam continued Friday on Interstate 45 as hundreds of thousands of residents tried to drive out of the path of Hurricane Rita, which is expected to make landfall early Saturday morning between Port Arthur and Lake Charles, La.
Click Here For The Latest From The Doppler Ten Forecast Center On Hurricane Rita
Click Here For More Information About Central Texas Preparations
The back ups were made worse by a deadly fire aboard a passenger bus that was carrying more than 40 elderly residents of Bellaire to safety. Officials say 24 of the evacuees died in the fire as oxygen bottles exploded aboard the bus.
Authorities urged those fleeing Hurricane Rita on Interstate 45 northbound to find an alternate route.
Gov. Rick Perry said Friday that officials are working to evacuate 1,500 people from Lufkin, which could be battered by powerful winds and heavy rain as Rita moves inland Saturday.
The current forecast track takes the worst of the storm to the east of the Interstate 35 corridor, but Limestone, Freestone and Leon counties could be hit by tropical storm force winds and heavy rain after Rita makes landfall Saturday.
Thousands of motorists were reportedly stranded on evacuation routes Friday, but Perry said efforts were underway to get fuel to evacuees whose vehicles have run out of gas because of the long delays.
Airlifts continued Friday in Beaumont and Houston and buses were canvassing areas of Beaumont in search of residents with no way out.
Perry said the state is positioning search and rescue personnel near the probable impact area.
The American Red Cross had 54 shelters on standby Friday morning, Perry said.
“We’re going to get through this because we prepared for such an event as this with extensive exercises,” Perry said.
“We’re going to get through this because so many of our citizens took this evacuation so seriously,” he said.
Houston area officials, meanwhile, were telling residents still in the area to stay put.
They say it’s pointless for them to try to evacuate now as Rita nears the upper Texas Gulf Coast.
Click Here For The Latest From The Doppler Ten Forecast Center On Hurricane Rita
Click Here For More Information About Central Texas Preparations
Click Here To Track Hurricane Rita
Click Here For Latest Hurricane Rita Strike Prediction Map
Click Here For National Hurricane Center Web Site
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