Hurricane lane closes
The northbound hurricane lane on Interstate 37 closed at 4 p.m. today because of Hurricane Rita's northward change of course and because the evacuation status was lowered from mandatory to voluntary. Interstate 37 traffic congestion is decreasing, according to the state highway department.
Airport is open but some flights are canceled
The Corpus Christi International Airport is open but some airlines have canceled flights to the area, said Finance Administration Manager Mario Tapia. Continental Airlines suspended flights in Corpus Christi this morning. A 1:30 p.m. meeting will update flight schedules, Tapia said.
Mandatory evacuation lifted
City officials have lifted the mandatory evacuation for the city but are not advising residents who have left to return. City Manager Skip Noe said the city is still anticipating tropical storm-force winds and heavy rain on Friday, along with flooding in low-lying areas. "Don't take this as we're going to have sunshine," Noe said. "We're going to have serious weather." A voluntary evacuation remains in effect.
Portland to lift mandatory evacuation
City officials said they would lift the mandatory evacuation for Portland at 5 p.m. However, Mayor David Krebs urged residents to stay aware of possible severe weather locally.
Mandatory evacuation lifted for San Patricio County
County officials have lifted the mandatory evacuation for San Patricio County due to Hurricane Rita's path shifting north. All residents are encouraged to take precaution if they return to the area because there is a possibility of tornadoes and high winds in the area.
Highways are packed
Area highways are clogged tonight as
residents scramble to evacuate. Southbound traffic on U.S.
Highway 77 at Farm-to-Market 624 was bumper-to-bumper at 6
p.m., and northbound traffic on Interstate 37 also was congested
in all four northbound lanes. Officials order a citywide mandatory evacuation
City Manager Skip Noe said city officials will order a mandatory evacuation citywide at 6 p.m. today.
Arrangements are being made to assist residents who depend on public transportation and people with special medical needs to get out of town on Thursday. City officials will be directing people who require public transpiration to go to City Hall beginning Thursday morning where buses will pick them up and take them out of town.
City bus fares will be suspended for people seeking evacuation. Noe said those people should take a bus to the Staples Street station, which is next to City Hall.
This is the first time the city has managed such an evacuation in large part because of Hurricane Katrina.
A&M-Kingsville cancels classes
Texas A&M University-Kingsville has canceled classes for Thursday and Friday. Classes will resume Monday.
College officials said evacuation is not mandatory. Should the situation change, the college will provide transportation for students at the dorms.
The residence and dining halls will remain open until further notice. Staff is expected to report to work Thursday.
The university's web page, www.tamuk.edu/sass/hurricane will be updated as the situation changes. Information will also be available at 1-800-687-6000.
Driscoll Hospital transferring patients
Driscoll Children's Hospital began moving its critical patients out of the hospital today.
The hospital is not being evacuated and continues to see patients in order to discharge them to go with their families. New patients are not being taken and those who need critical care are being transferred to other medical facilities throughout the state.
Only emergency surgeries will be conducted through Monday.
Mayor Henry Garrett said full evacuation of the city is very likely
Mayor Henry Garrett said a full evacuation of the city is very likely as Hurricane Rita stregthened to a category 5 storm and continued to threaten the Texas coast. "We're just trying to come up with a time," he said. City officials will conduct a briefing at 4:15 p.m. at the Emergency Operations Center.
Port prepares for hurricane
The Port of Corpus Christi has started emergency preparedness procedures and is working with the U.S. Coast Guard to prioritize ship dockings in the Inner Harbor of the Corpus Christi Ship Channel. The port's plan includes steps should the storm surge, flooding and strong winds breach the seawall, according a port-issued news release.Military equipment will be relocated to Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio and the port is setting up a secondary command post up town in Corpus Christi and a third post at Kelly Air Force Base in San Antonio.Port personnel have access to satellite phones and Yahoo e-mail addresses should they experience a power failure. All non-essential personnel will leave Thursday and the port will be locked Friday, according to the port.
Hurricane-related school closings:
Aransas Pass ISD - Closed Thursday and Friday.
Calallen ISD - Closed Thursday and Friday.
Corpus Christi ISD - Closed Thursday-Tuesday Sept. 27 because Monday is considered a teacher workday. Teachers will be expected to report to work Monday unless notified otherwise.
Flour Bluff ISD - Closed Thursday and Friday.
London ISD - Closed Thursday and Friday.
Tuloso-Midway ISD - Closed from Thursday-Tuesday. Teachers must report to work Monday for in-services unless notified otherwise.
City to announce mandatory evacuation of Flour Bluff, Padre Island, North Beach and Port Aransas this afternoon
City officials will announce a mandatory evaucation of Flour Bluff, Padre Island, North Beach and Port Aransas this afternoon. Officials said their decision will be based on Hurricane Rita's path taking a southward turn with land fall anticipated to be near Port O'Connor. Corpus Christi City Hall will be closed Thursday and Friday and schools in the Corpus Christi Independent School District will be closed Thursday and Friday as well.
San Pat, Aransas counties will evacuate; Bee, Refugio offices will be closed
San Patricio and Aransas counties are planning mandatory evacuations. In San Patricio County, the order is pending at 2 p.m. In Aransas County, the issue has been ordered, effective at 3 p.m.
That would include Rockport, whose mayor already issued a 3 p.m. evacuation notice.
Rockport has made arrangements with the Council for the Aging to identify people without transportation. Those without transportation will be bused to Live Oak Elementary after 6 p.m. today.
Bee and Refugio county officials announced that county offices would be closed Thursday and Friday because of Hurricane Rita. Aransas County officials have issued a mandatory evacuation effective at 3 p.m. today, according to County Judge Glenn Guillory's office.
City Hall is closed
City to announce mandatory evacuation of Flour Bluff, Padre Island, North Beach and Port Aransas this afternoon
City officials will announce a mandatory evaucation of Flour Bluff, Padre Island, North Beach and Port Aransas this afternoon. Officials said their decision will be based on Hurricane Rita's path taking a southward turn with land fall anticipated to be near Port O'Connor. Corpus Christi City Hall will be closed Thursday and Friday and schools in the Corpus Christi Independent School District will be closed Thursday and Friday as well.
Rockport orders evacuation
Rockport city officials have issued a mandatory evacuation effective 3 p.m. today. City Hall will close and city services will cease Thursday, Mayor Todd Pearson said. "We want residents to leave as soon as they possibly can," he said. "We want to discourage anyone staying behind since we won't have police to force them out." The city has made arrangements with the Council for the Aging to identify people without transportation. Those without transportation will be bused to Live Oak Elementary after 6 p.m. today.
County courthouse is closed
The Nueces County Courthouse closed at noon today. County commissioners haven't decided when to reopen the courthouse. They decided to close the courthouse to allow employees time to make arrangements in preparation for Hurricane Rita. County Judge Terry Shamsie said officials will continue to meet throughout the day to discuss the county's plans.
National Seashore is evacuating beaches
Padre Island National Seashore began evacuating its Gulf of Mexico beaches at 8 a.m. today because of adverse tidal conditions caused by Hurricane Rita. The Malaquite Beach Campground, Visitor Center, and Bird Island Basin will remain open until 6 p.m. Thursday. Park rangers will re-open the seashore when conditions are determined to be safe for visitors.
Hurricane research mission involving Port Aransas ship is delayed
Hurricane Katrina victims at Memorial Coliseum and other area shelters are being evacuated this morning. They are headed to the Corpus Christi International Airport. The 137 evacuees who have been staying at the coliseum were told they would be flown to Smyrna, Tenn., today. Flights to Tennessee will continue until 6 p.m., Red Cross volunteers said they were told.
Local Katrina evacuees being flown to Tennessee
Hurricane Katrina victims at Memorial Coliseum and other area shelters are being evacuated this morning. They are headed to the Corpus Christi International Airport. The 137 evacuees who have been staying at the coliseum were told they would be flown to Smyrna, Tenn., today. Flights to Tennessee will continue until 6 p.m., Red Cross volunteers said they were told.
Katrina evacuees are being evacuated again
Hurricane Katrina victims at Memorial Coliseum and other area shelters are being evacuated this morning. They are headed to the Corpus Christi International Airport. Their destination is currently unknown.
RTA cancels committee meeting
The Corpus Christi Regional Transportation Authority has canceled an administration committee meeting scheduled for today. The meeting will not be rescheduled. The authority manages the city bus and public transportation system. For additional information call 289-2712.
City officials to meet at 11:30 a.m.
City officials will meet at 11:30 to get an update on the course Hurricane Rita is expected to take and to make further decisions on whether to offer evacuation advisories for city residents, assistant city manager Oscar Martinez said.
H.S. football games moved, cancelled
With Hurricane Rita churning in the Gulf of Mexico, high school sports programs continue to make changes. The Miller Bucs moved their non-district football game with Boerne to Monday night. The Bucs will start play at 7 p.m. at Buc Stadium. Meanwhile, football games between Aransas Pass-Refugio, West Oso-Ingleside and Sabinal-Agua Dulce have been cancelled and will not be rescheduled.
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