GALVESTON, Texas – City and county officials, along with first-responders, are preparing for Hurricane Harvey.
Galveston's city manager said they are expected 2- to 4-foot surges and 15 inches of rain.
Galveston's West End and Jamaica Beach have a voluntary evacuation in place for people with medical assistance.
"We're doing that more as a matter of being able to service them if there is a need because there's concern that we may not be able to get to them if there is an emergency," City Manager Brian Maxwell said. "We're not doing it necessarily as a matter of personal safety for them, but just in case there is a medical need that we can't get to."
All Galveston County Health District public services, including the Galveston County Animal Resource Center, Coastal Health & Wellness and WIC, will be closed Saturday due to Hurricane Harvey.
"Remain calm. Try to get all the supplies in and hunker down. The more people (are) out in the streets for this, the ... (harder) it will be for our first responders," Maxwell said. "We're expecting a lot of street flooding so the old mantra of 'turn around don't drown' still stands even in a tropical event like this."
Galveston Independent School District canceled all events for this weekend. Crenshaw School on the Bolivar Peninsula will be closed Friday.
Galveston County Judge Mark Henry has issued a voluntary evacuation for residents on Bolivar Peninsula effective Friday at 8 a.m. The order includes the unincorporated areas of Port Bolivar, Crystal Beach, High Island and Gilchrist. Residents who rely on medical assistance or those who cannot go without power for an extended period of time are encouraged to leave.
National Weather Service forecasts have predicted at least 15 inches of rain, with some isolated areas expected to receive 20 inches. Heavy rainfall combined with high tides and winds could hinder transportation to and from the peninsula. Power outages are also possible as a result of high winds.
Henry warned residents of the area they might find themselves isolated as the heaviest winds and rains wash ashore, which could cut people off from emergency services. The order will remain in effect through the weekend.
The combination of high winds and tides may also force the temporary disruption of the Bolivar Ferry raising the possibility the area could be cut off during the storm. The Texas Department of Transportation will decide whether to suspend service if tides reach more than 4 1/2 feet or winds reach more than 45 mph. As of noon Thursday, ferry services were still running.
“The voluntary evacuation order is intended to alert residents of Bolivar Peninsula that emergency responders may be unable to reach them,” Henry said. “Elderly residents and people with medical conditions should make plans to leave if they cannot be without power for possibly a few days.”
Maxwell encouraged all area residents to check their city's websites and social media for continued updates.
Check the forecast any time by visiting the weather page of Click2Houston.com or by downloading Frank's forecast app on Apple or Android devices.
