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Gustav keeps Texans wary
BY CHARLYN FINN
With Tropical Storm Gustav still pounding Jamaica on Thursday afternoon, the National Weather Service was estimating where the sixth storm of the Atlantic season will land, if it comes into the Gulf of Mexico and makes landfall.
With the storm still in the Caribbean, it is still too far away to make an accurate projection as to where it will make landfall in the U.S.
John Metz, Corpus Christi meteorologist, told those attending a 4 p.m. Thursday NWS telephone conference that most computer models believe Gustav will hit land in the vicinity of New Orleans, La. A few models take Gustav to the upper and mid Texas coast possibly for a strike.
“If Gustav continues as it is and makes landfall on the Louisiana coast, Texas will see nice weather except our sea and tide conditions,” said Metz.
Under that scenario Texas will be very dry and cooler, Metz said.
Still another tropical storm, Hannah, is also preceding in a west-northwest direction but has turned towards the east coast to Florida, Metz said. He does not see Hannah as a threat to Texas.
Jim Reynolds of Gov. Rick Perry’s office joined the telephone conference to announce that Texas, in the event the storm comes here, is preparing as if there will be a Category 4 hurricane on Tuesday.
“Gustav is expected to enter the Gulf on Sunday and then things will accelerate quickly,” he said. He noted that Gov. Rick Perry has already asked for federal assistance from President George Bush for 61 Texas counties.
“Saturday through Sunday the governor has brought up all the capability in the state,” Reynolds said. “There are 800 buses in the state. They will deploy the buses to impacted area. We will consider on Saturday moving special needs citizens.”
Perry’s concern is there are many tourists on the Texas Coast due to the Labor Day Weekend holiday.
“Fuel is a major concern,” said Reynolds. “We are moving fuel to retail centers so there will not be a shortage.”
“Port Lavaca and south of Port Arthur should be keenly aware of what is going on in the Gulf,” Metz said. “The Gustav threat to Texas will be either a direct strike on Texas or if Gustav hits Louisiana the effect of evacuation of Louisiana.” Metz said as many as 245,000 residents could be evacuated into either Texas or north into Arkansas or Mississippi.
Metz reports that Gustav, still a tropical storm on Thursday, is expected to move into the southeastern Gulf of Mexico on Sunday. It is expected to be a much stronger storm, as much as a Category 4 or 5 storm, after leaving Cuba where waters are very warm and tested at around 84 degrees.
Metz warned of increased wave height from 15-20 feet and flood of area beaches.
Mary Bonuz with the Calhoun County EM, cautions local residents to register with her office in the courthouse or by telephoning 553-4400 in the event someone has a need for a ride to an emergency shelter.
at any time when a hurricane may threaten. She said it was too early to determine if Gustav is a threat but people need to always be prepared during the hurricane season. She also reminds local residents to keep a stock of supplies should a hurricane come to Calhoun County.
With the storm still in the Caribbean, it is still too far away to make an accurate projection as to where it will make landfall in the U.S.
John Metz, Corpus Christi meteorologist, told those attending a 4 p.m. Thursday NWS telephone conference that most computer models believe Gustav will hit land in the vicinity of New Orleans, La. A few models take Gustav to the upper and mid Texas coast possibly for a strike.
“If Gustav continues as it is and makes landfall on the Louisiana coast, Texas will see nice weather except our sea and tide conditions,” said Metz.
Under that scenario Texas will be very dry and cooler, Metz said.
Still another tropical storm, Hannah, is also preceding in a west-northwest direction but has turned towards the east coast to Florida, Metz said. He does not see Hannah as a threat to Texas.
Jim Reynolds of Gov. Rick Perry’s office joined the telephone conference to announce that Texas, in the event the storm comes here, is preparing as if there will be a Category 4 hurricane on Tuesday.
“Gustav is expected to enter the Gulf on Sunday and then things will accelerate quickly,” he said. He noted that Gov. Rick Perry has already asked for federal assistance from President George Bush for 61 Texas counties.
“Saturday through Sunday the governor has brought up all the capability in the state,” Reynolds said. “There are 800 buses in the state. They will deploy the buses to impacted area. We will consider on Saturday moving special needs citizens.”
Perry’s concern is there are many tourists on the Texas Coast due to the Labor Day Weekend holiday.
“Fuel is a major concern,” said Reynolds. “We are moving fuel to retail centers so there will not be a shortage.”
“Port Lavaca and south of Port Arthur should be keenly aware of what is going on in the Gulf,” Metz said. “The Gustav threat to Texas will be either a direct strike on Texas or if Gustav hits Louisiana the effect of evacuation of Louisiana.” Metz said as many as 245,000 residents could be evacuated into either Texas or north into Arkansas or Mississippi.
Metz reports that Gustav, still a tropical storm on Thursday, is expected to move into the southeastern Gulf of Mexico on Sunday. It is expected to be a much stronger storm, as much as a Category 4 or 5 storm, after leaving Cuba where waters are very warm and tested at around 84 degrees.
Metz warned of increased wave height from 15-20 feet and flood of area beaches.
Mary Bonuz with the Calhoun County EM, cautions local residents to register with her office in the courthouse or by telephoning 553-4400 in the event someone has a need for a ride to an emergency shelter.
at any time when a hurricane may threaten. She said it was too early to determine if Gustav is a threat but people need to always be prepared during the hurricane season. She also reminds local residents to keep a stock of supplies should a hurricane come to Calhoun County.
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