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Houston County Readies for Hurricane Harvey

By Will Johnson
Messenger Reporter

CROCKETT – As Hurricane Harvey eyed the Texas coastline for landfall earlier this week, Houston County officials met to discuss plans and procedures for the county.

Crockett City Administrator John Angerstein explained the city of Crockett has three designated emergency shelters that could be activated if the damage inflicted by the hurricane warranted the measure.

“One is the Hopkins Dome at the (Crockett) high school. The other two are the First Baptist Church Gym and the Methodist Church, Those are FEMA funded. They have been provided with generators to be able to open during these type of events, if we needed it,” Angerstein said.

“We can activate it through our Emergency Management Coordinator (Roger Dickey),” he continued, “or through the Red Cross, depending on the needs of evacuees.”

The city administrator further explained the shelters would not be activated until locations further north are utilized or problems arise with coastal evacuees reaching a shelter.

“They start further north in the North Texas area, around the Metroplex (Dallas-Ft. Worth area) and work their way down as the shelters reach capacity for the evacuees. Then, they will open up one a little bit closer – and then another – as they work their way back towards the coast. Of course, if we need it locally, we can also activate it,” he said.

Angerstein reported he had met with Dickey, Crockett ISD administrators, Crockett Police Chief David “Buddy” Cross along with county officials “… to share information. We are not foreseeing any issues except for a lot of rain being dumped on our area and possibly a loss of electricity.”

“We met yesterday (Wednesday. Aug. 23). In the need of activation, I wanted to make sure the key holders were in town and not off on vacation. We wanted to make sure we were on the same sheet of music. Nothing has been activated and I don’t see us activating anything unless something unforeseen happens. In that event, we will get this to the media,” Angerstein said.

Will Johnson may be contacted via e-mail at [email protected].

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