BEAUMONT – With hurricane season officially now begun, as of Sunday, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) issued evacuation route maps for the region.
The maps for every region can be found at this link: https://www.txdot.gov/safety/severe-weather/hurricane-preparation.html, and the map specific to the Beaumont District, which services Tyler County, accompanies this story.
A press release from TxDOT implored motorists, in the event of a hurricane, to be courteous to other drivers, to obey all traffic laws and to plan ahead as much as possible.
In 2005, when Hurricane Rita caused the evacuation of an estimated 2.5-3.7 million Texans, traffic jams along US 69 were severe.
A combination of excessive heat and severe gridlocked traffic along evacuation routes leading up to that storm led to between 90 and 118 deaths, according to reports.
The county’s Emergency Management Office wanted to let residents know that being prepared is paramount to making it through hurricanes.
Emergency Management Coordinator John Settlocker said the team is encouraging all residents to take proactive steps to ensure their safety.
“To do this, we recommend creating a disaster preparedness checklist that includes essential supplies such as: food and water (non-perishable and sufficient for at least 3 - 5 days), flashlights, batteries, chargers, first aid kit, medications, medical equipment, important documents, (insurance policies and identifications), cash and credit cards, battery powered radio, personal hygiene items, multipurpose tool or knife, sanitation and hygiene supplies,” he said.
Settlocker said that if anyone is in need of assistance in preparing for the hurricane season, his office is available to help. Tyler County residents can contact them by phone at 409-331-0874, by email at: jsettlocker@co.tyler.tx.us, or they can visit the office located at 201 Veterans Way in Woodville.
“If you or your family are in need of assistance or have questions about hurricane preparedness, please don’t hesitate to contact our office. We are here to provide resources to support you,” he said.
Additionally, TxDOT keeps its DriveTexas.org updated with detailed road conditions, and urged residents to keep abreast of the site for road conditions during and after an evacuation.
