Text of Gov. Rick Perry's Remarks: Statewide Preparations for Hurricane Ike

Text of Gov. Rick Perry's Remarks: Statewide Preparations for Hurricane Ike
September 11, 2008

Thank you all for being here today to tell Texans about our state's preparations for the arrival of Hurricane Ike.

Before we begin, I'd like to take a moment to remember and honor all the lives lost in the tragic events that unfolded seven years ago today. Today, we again see the brave members of our first responder community heading toward trouble, not away from it. They are on the leading edge of our response to this uncertain and dangerous storm.

Latest estimates show that Ike will begin moving ashore within the next 48 hours, packing winds in excess of 120 miles per hour and a storm surge that could reach 14 feet or more. My message to Texans in the projected impact area is this: finish your preparations because Ike is dangerous and he's on his way. If your local officials tell you to evacuate, follow their instructions.

As we speak, Ike is a Category 2 storm, but could very well intensify to a Cat 4. That would make Hurricane Ike the strongest storm to come ashore in Texas in the past three years, but we are ready. To prepare for its impact, our Division of Emergency Management, under the leadership of Steve McCraw and Jack Colley, is executing a massive effort to assist our state and local officials in moving Texans out of harm's way.

Ike's track has been all over the place, but we've known for several days now that he is headed to Texas. To prepare, we have activated key personnel and resources, including up to 7,500 Texas Military Forces personnel with helicopters and cargo planes, more than 1,300 buses for those who can't self-evacuate, and more than 300 ambulances for citizens with special medical needs.

Our local officials have the authority to mandate evacuations and they have done so in four counties: Brazoria, Jefferson, Matagorda and Orange. Voluntary evacuation orders are currently in effect for Galveston, Jackson, Nueces, San Patricio and Victoria Counties. Let me emphasize again that the public must heed these evacuation orders to protect themselves and their families.

Our responsibility at the state level is to support these local leaders with the resources they need to prepare their communities to weather a storm event, then recover from its impact.

To provide immediate help in that recovery process, we have created Texas Task Force Ike. This task force is standing by in San Antonio, ready to assist with the response and re-entry effort, to ensure the continuity of local government. It includes Texas Task Forces 1, Texas Military Forces, our federal partners, DPS and other state agencies, our private sector partners and mass care organizations. As soon as the storm passes over, this team will roll into the affected area and get to work supporting the local communities and their leaders.

When a storm of this magnitude hits, it will do damage, it will knock out power, and it will cause flooding. Our goal is to protect the people of our state from those effects to the best of our abilities. As we always do, we have prepared for the worst and will continue to pray for the best.

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