Gov. Perry Travels to Flooded Houston Area, Meets with Local Officials
Gov. Perry Travels to Flooded Houston Area, Meets with Local Officials
HOUSTON - Gov. Rick Perry today traveled to Houston, where he met with local leaders and was briefed by emergency management officials on the ongoing flood threat in Southeast Texas. The region has received nearly a foot of rain since early Monday morning; more rain has been forecast for parts of the region today.
"I want to commend the quick response of Judge Eckels, Mayor White and the local city and county rescue personnel, as well as the search and rescue personnel made available by the state," Perry said. Perry also urged Texans in affected areas to continue to use great caution.
"Though floodwaters have receded in certain areas, several parts of Houston and Southeast Texas have been saturated with enough rainfall that flash flood conditions can form in a matter of minutes or even seconds, transforming a seemingly safe patch of land into a life-threatening hazard," Perry said. "My advice is to continue to avoid low-lying areas and avoid unfamiliar areas and roads that could lead you into unwelcome conditions."
Perry has authorized the use of the following assets, which have been pre-deployed to support local efforts when needed:
* 50 large Texas Army National Guard trucks with crews,
* Two HH-60 helicopters and flight crews,
* Two CH-47 helicopters and flight crews,
* 30 rescue boats from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department,
* One large airboat from the General Land Office (GLO),
* Seven swift water rescue teams from Texas Task Force One (TTF-1),
* A joint air and ground coordination team TTF-1,
* The 6th Army National Guard civil support team,
* One HazMat strike team from Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and GLO,
* One incident management team from the Texas Forest Service, and
* A satellite communications package system that enables responders to coordinate from wherever they are operating.
"This storm is yet another reminder of the dangerous weather season that is upon us. Each Texas family needs to take time to prepare their own emergency response plan that includes provisions for food and water, and supplies like batteries and flashlights," Perry said. "We do not always know what Mother Nature will bring, but we must always be prepared. Once again, the people of Houston and all of Southeast Texas are showing they are prepared to respond to tragic circumstances in an orderly and efficient way."
http://www.governor.state.tx.us/divisions/press/pressreleases/PressRelease.2006-06-20.1419