Released September 3, 2008

COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Veering to the north and bypassing East Texas, Hurricane Gustav proved to be a dry run for Texas AgriLife Extension Service personnel emergency plans.

But many AgriLife Extension agents still worked throughout the weekend, preparing for the worst-case scenario. The "worst" would have been that Gustav dropped 8 to 18 inches of rain, constituting a 100-year flood event, said Chad Gulley, AgriLife Extension agent for agriculture and natural resources in Nacogdoches County.

"As county agents we were involved out at the Expo Center registering and checking people who were evacuating the Gulf Coast with their livestock, dogs, cats, that type of thing," said Gulley on Sept. 2, after it was learned the worst of the storm would not hit East Texas.

"I think the last count I had there were 50 to 60 dogs, cats, 22 to 23 horses with more that were planning to come."

"That was the biggest area that we were assisting in: dealing with the animals that were evacuated to several of our counties here in East Texas," said Ramona Kellam, AgriLife Extension district administrator for Northeast Texas. "Most of our agriculture agents served as coordinators for the shelters that had the animals."

Kellam also noted that in addition to managing shelters for people, livestock and pets, AgriLife Extension agents distributed thousands of print publications dealing with food, water and other safety concerns after a disaster.

"Our emergency plan was ready,” Gulley said. "Everybody was on go. We were well prepared. Preparation was good. It was a lot better than it was a couple of years ago when we had Hurricane Rita."

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http://agnews.tamu.edu/showstory.php?id=696

Contacts: Andrew B. Crocker, 806-677-5600, abcrocker@ag.tamu.edu

Kay Ledbetter, 806-677-5600,SKledbetter@ag.tamu.edu