Ike moves into Anderson County

Worst weather should clear by tonight

By PAUL STONE

The “eye” of Hurricane Ike had shifted slightly eastward as of early Saturday morning, but Anderson County officials were still warning residents that the storm could produce devastating effects, including heavy rain, high winds and possible flash flooding. 

“The eye has tracked slightly eastward, but the eye will still be moving directly into Anderson County,” Schelby Wells, assistant emergency management coordinator for Anderson County, told the Herald-Press at 6:30 a.m. Saturday. 

Wells said a representative of the National Weather Service told county officials early Saturday morning that Anderson County should be prepared for between 4 to 6 inches of rain, sustained winds of between 45 to 50 miles per hour and the potential of flash flooding. 

Winds could gust up to 60 miles per hour or greater, she added. 

“They’re saying now they expect the eye to move into the county around 11 a.m. (Saturday),” Wells said Saturday morning. “...They reiterated that we need to be aware of damaging, straight-line winds and strong thunderstorm activity with the potential of rapidly-developing tornados. But more than likely, our greatest damage will come from the straight-line winds. There’s also the potential for flash flooding.” 

Wells said “safety” will dictate whether storm spotters are placed in position when the brunt of Ike arrives in Anderson County. If sustained winds reach 45 miles per hour, she indicated county officials would likely depend on other resources to track the storm’s progress. 

“We will be in contact with the National Weather Service and will be monitoring the National Weather Service radar and will be talking to ham radio operators in nearby communities,” Wells said. 

Wells said NWS forecasters believe “the worst” weather in Anderson County “should be clearing out by 6 or 7 p.m.” Saturday. 

The county’s assistant emergency management coordinator advised residents that it was unsafe for emergency vehicles, such as ambulances, to be on the road if winds reach sustained speeds of 45 miles per hour. 

If conditions are unsafe for ambulances, Wells said it will not be safe for other vehicles either. 

Wells also advised citizens that employees of utility company Oncor will not be responding to reports of downed power lines and other similar calls “until it is safe...to be out in response mode. 

“Power employees won’t be out there to be a casualty,” Wells said. “They will be held out until it is safe for them to go out. They will be staged and ready...The same is going to stand true with other utility companies.” 

The county’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) at the Anderson County Courthouse Annex will remain operational Sunday. 

“We will be set up for response and recovery,” Wells said. 

Wells and representatives of other agencies manned the EOC through the night late Friday and Saturday, staying up through the night. 

“We have had ham radios, EMS (Emergency Medical Services), volunteer firemen, emergency management, (American) Red Cross and several other volunteers,” Wells said at 6:30 a.m. Saturday. 

As of early Saturday morning, slightly more than 300 persons — some of them county residents — were being sheltered in a handful of Anderson County churches, according to Wells. 

Anderson County and Palestine would have likely received more evacuees, but Texas Department of Public Safety troopers stationed on Interstate 45 prevented vehicles from traveling south on U.S. 79 and U.S. 287 from the interstate, Ken Bratz, disaster coordinator for the American Red Cross in Anderson County, told the Herald-Press Friday. 

Those vehicles were instead directed north on those highways, according to Bratz. 

Beginning at midnight Saturday, Anderson County Sheriff Greg Taylor said his agency planned to have seven two-man patrols on each shift for the remainder of the weekend. Those deputies will be performing routine patrol, responding to calls related to the storm and checking on shelters throughout the county.

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Paul Stone may be contacted via e-mail at pstone@palestineherald.com