Nacogdoches Emergency Management personnel have been in contact today with the State Operations Center, The State Shelter Coordinator, and Emergency Management Staff and are currently preparing for a point-to-point evacuee shelter for approximately 750 victims from a shelter in Jasper, Texas.
Due to an electrical transmission line failure, the Jasper shelter has been rendered inoperable, and Emergency Management personnel in Nacogdoches are preparing to accept evacuees late this afternoon. Shelters are opened by the state operations center, as part of an organized, statewide emergency management plan.
The primary shelter will be the Nacogdoches County Exposition and Civic Center. When this facility reaches capacity, the City of Nacogdoches Recreation Center and Library will be available for overflow and not open for normal operation. There are also numerous churches in the community waiting to activate their facilities should more overflow be necessary.
This effort is for those specifically affected by the transformer line failure in Jasper and will likely keep all Nacogdoches shelters at full capacity.
Emergency Management personnel have explicitly asked for no material donations at this time. This is to prevent excess supplies until needs can be determined and logistics can be managed appropriately. Those wishing to volunteer may register online with the Red Cross at: redcross.org/volunteer-interest-form.
Those who must bring items for donation may utilize Drewery Construction’s initiative as they are sending truckloads to affected areas. They are located at 902 SE Stallings Dr., Nacogdoches, TX 75964 and are operating 24 hours a day.
The City of Nacogdoches Animal Shelter is also preparing to accept animals from Jasper, should any arrive this afternoon. The animals will be housed at the Nacogdoches County Exposition and Civic Center.
Any questions should be directed to the phone bank at 936-559-2651 from 7:00 a.m. to 7 p.m.
