Chron.com | Massive drill to test Texas' hurricane readiness

Chron.com | Massive drill to test Texas' hurricane readiness:

"Houston & Texas
May 2, 2006, 1:31AM
Massive drill to test Texas' hurricane readiness
Associated Press
AUSTIN

Still haunted by last year's deadly evacuation during Hurricane Rita, thousands of emergency planners are undertaking a statewide evacuation drill that's being called the biggest in Texas history.

The three-day exercise that begins Tuesday will simulate everything from safely moving elderly residents to quickly preparing highways for contraflow � emergency procedures that Rita made a mockery of in September.

About 130 people died as about 3 million people tried fleeing the Houston area, according to a report presented to emergency leaders from along the Gulf Coast last month.
This week's drill won't be entirely realistic. Traffic won't be disrupted and shelters won't be crammed with people acting as evacuees."

But the simulation should still expose what scenarios need improvement before the hurricane season begins June 1, said John Simsen, Galveston County's emergency management coordinator.

"We need the practice," Simsen said. "Obviously, no one wants a repeat of last year."

More than 3,000 emergency planners will participate, said Rachael Novier, a spokeswoman for Gov. Rick Perry. After Rita exposed glaring shortcomings in the state's emergency planning, Perry appointed a hurricane task force last fall to figure out what went wrong.


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