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Aransas County dodges bullet
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| The Rockport-Fulton area didn’t bear the brunt of Hurricane Dolly, but it did receive tropical storm force winds, heavy intermittent rain, and several reported funnel clouds. Waves lashed out at the bulkhead in front of the Rockport Yacht Club, top photo, and at the bulkhead and riprap near the Paws and Taws Convention Center, bottom photo. Photos by MIKE PROBST |
By NORMA MARTINEZ, Managing Editor
Aransas County did not sustain a direct hit from Hurricane Dolly, but the county did face enough wind and rain to cause a few problems with power outages, sparking power lines, downed lines, and temporary flooding.
Prior to Dolly's landfall, Gov. Rick Perry had issued a proclamation Tuesday, July 22 declaring a disaster in several coastal counties including Aransas. With this declaration, the county will be able to recoup costs associated with the storm. Those funds will be provided by the state.
On Thursday morning, a press release by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security indicated the Federal Emergency Management Agency has made federal disaster aid available to local government agencies to supplement state and local recovery efforts in areas struck by Hurricane Dolly beginning July 22, which includes Aransas County.
Although the county dodged a bullet, there was a point Wednesday morning, July 23, when there was concern the county might not be so lucky. The hurricane's eye was straddling South Padre Island and stalled for awhile, although it had taken a slight north turn.
Concerns were voiced Dolly might move upward along the coastline making landfall much farther north than originally anticipated.
In the end, however, Dolly finally moved inland sometime before 2 p.m. Although local officials breathed a sigh of relief the county was spared a direct hit, they then had to face the reality of tropical storm conditions, including the threat of tornados and flooding.
Those calls, however, also were not excessive as local residents weathered the tropical storm effects much as they would any storm.
Emergency Management Coordinator Rick McLester pointed out the Aransas County Sheriff's Office did not have extra personnel on patrol, but just reassigned day personnel accordingly.
Communications Center Administrator Lee Zapata reported there were about 10 or 11 fire calls related to arcing lines, or downed power lines. One of those calls involved a power line which was hitting another line due to the wind moving the tree branches around it. The lines sparked and made popping noises which sounded like fireworks, until the line eventually broke in two sometime before noon Wednesday. Rockport Volunteer Fire Department officials as well as AEP personnel responded. The AEP crew was unable to begin repair until a tree-cutting crew was called to trim the branches around the lines. Power was not restored to that area until about 7 p.m. that evening.
Overall law enforcement traffic related to water on the roadway or other road traffic numbered about a dozen. There was only one report of a stalled vehicle on Enterprise when the driver attempted to travel through high water.
Three tornados also went across and/or through Aransas County but caused no damage and no loss or life or property.
In the wake of the disaster declaration by the governor, Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott issued a reminder state law prohibits price gouging. Once the declaration is issued, vendors are prohibited from charging exorbitant prices for necessities such as groceries, clothing, medical supplies, lodging, repair work, and fuel during and after such a crises.
Anyone who believes they may have been deceived by fraudulent business practices may call the AG's toll-free complaint line at 800-252-8011 or file a complaint online at www.texasattorneygeneral.gov.
Prior to Dolly's landfall, Gov. Rick Perry had issued a proclamation Tuesday, July 22 declaring a disaster in several coastal counties including Aransas. With this declaration, the county will be able to recoup costs associated with the storm. Those funds will be provided by the state.
On Thursday morning, a press release by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security indicated the Federal Emergency Management Agency has made federal disaster aid available to local government agencies to supplement state and local recovery efforts in areas struck by Hurricane Dolly beginning July 22, which includes Aransas County.
Although the county dodged a bullet, there was a point Wednesday morning, July 23, when there was concern the county might not be so lucky. The hurricane's eye was straddling South Padre Island and stalled for awhile, although it had taken a slight north turn.
Concerns were voiced Dolly might move upward along the coastline making landfall much farther north than originally anticipated.
In the end, however, Dolly finally moved inland sometime before 2 p.m. Although local officials breathed a sigh of relief the county was spared a direct hit, they then had to face the reality of tropical storm conditions, including the threat of tornados and flooding.
Those calls, however, also were not excessive as local residents weathered the tropical storm effects much as they would any storm.
Emergency Management Coordinator Rick McLester pointed out the Aransas County Sheriff's Office did not have extra personnel on patrol, but just reassigned day personnel accordingly.
Communications Center Administrator Lee Zapata reported there were about 10 or 11 fire calls related to arcing lines, or downed power lines. One of those calls involved a power line which was hitting another line due to the wind moving the tree branches around it. The lines sparked and made popping noises which sounded like fireworks, until the line eventually broke in two sometime before noon Wednesday. Rockport Volunteer Fire Department officials as well as AEP personnel responded. The AEP crew was unable to begin repair until a tree-cutting crew was called to trim the branches around the lines. Power was not restored to that area until about 7 p.m. that evening.
Overall law enforcement traffic related to water on the roadway or other road traffic numbered about a dozen. There was only one report of a stalled vehicle on Enterprise when the driver attempted to travel through high water.
Three tornados also went across and/or through Aransas County but caused no damage and no loss or life or property.
In the wake of the disaster declaration by the governor, Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott issued a reminder state law prohibits price gouging. Once the declaration is issued, vendors are prohibited from charging exorbitant prices for necessities such as groceries, clothing, medical supplies, lodging, repair work, and fuel during and after such a crises.
Anyone who believes they may have been deceived by fraudulent business practices may call the AG's toll-free complaint line at 800-252-8011 or file a complaint online at www.texasattorneygeneral.gov.
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cheri palmer wrote on Mar 15, 2009 10:38 PM: