LUFKIN – The Lufkin District met with local leaders last week to discuss the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s 2024 hurricane predictions and to plan for emergency response should there be a major storm or evacuations in East Texas.
The 2024 hurricane season, June 1 through Nov. 30, is predicted to be above normal with hurricane activity in the Atlantic basin. NOAA has a 70-percent confidence level for 17-25 total named storms for the season. Of those, it is predicted that 8 to 13 will become hurricanes and 4 to 7 will become major hurricanes.
TxDOT is urging the public to make a plan to secure property and prepare emergency supplies, should there be storms or flooding.
District and community leaders discussed contra-flow lanes, evacuation routes, and clean-up response which will include shift work, if necessary. Crews will stand ready should storms or flooding move through East Texas, as well as provide help to other districts, if necessary.
To help prepare your family, visit https://www.txdot.gov/safety/severe-weather/hurricane-preparation.html for a map of evacuation routes from the Gulf Coast. Those routes include US 59, which is designated as a contraflow route, should the decision be made to route evacuation traffic in a contraflow pattern. Also, designated evacuation routes through East Texas are US 69, US 287, US 259, US 96, SH 21, and SH 63.
Making a plan for a hurricane includes knowing your evacuation routes and gathering needed supplies in case of power outages at your home, including batteries, food, water, and fuel. To help prepare your family for a major storm, visit https://www.weather.gov/safety/hurricane-plan for a suggested emergency supply list.
“We encourage the public to make a plan now, whether East Texans are called to evacuate, shelter in place, prepare for the impact of flooding, or for evacuees who could be traveling through our area,” said Rhonda Oaks, public information officer. “The Lufkin District is already planning, and we are ready to respond should we see a major storm this hurricane season.”
The public is urged to visit drivetexas.org for real-time road conditions across the state during any weather event. Follow Lufkin District alerts on Facebook at Texas Department of Transportation (Lufkin) and on Twitter at TxDOTLufkin.
File picture from 2019 – TxDOT Lufkin District leaders met to finalize hurricane preparations for the 2019 hurricane season. The agency is urging the public to also be prepared.
