Texas Governor Greg Abbott flew over Orange and Newton County Wednesday before holding a press conference to thank officials and first responders for their efforts.
Texas Governor Gregg Abbott viewed the devastation of Southeast Texas flooding first hand Wednesday. The governor flew in a helicopter over the flood ravaged areas of Orange and Newton Counties. Afterwards he spoke at the Orange County Convention and Expo Center.
Abbott thanked the many first responders for their efforts and was thankful that citizens have exercised caution in dealing with the dangers from the flooding waters. Abbott commented that the waters have not gone down yet and that preventing the loss of life was the top priority for everyone. He asked citizens to still be diligent and aware of the dangers they could be in from the high water. Governor Abbott emphasized there has been no loss of life as a result of the flood.
During his press conference in Orange County Wednesday Governor Abbott was asked when Texans can expect assistance from the federal government. Abbott stated that 17 counties have been put on an emergency disaster declaration in Texas and that four other counties would be added. He added that Texas will work swiftly to make sure the standards have been met in getting the list to Washington and pushing for federal assistance.
The governor thanked Nim Kidd the chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management for his assistance in directing relief operations. Chief Kidd explained the criteria for Texans to be eligible for federal assistance. Kidd said Texas had much higher criteria to meet because of Texas’ much larger population than neighboring Louisiana which has already received its federal disaster declaration. Kidd concluded as soon as local officials and state officials meet the required federal disaster relief criteria Texas will be asking for it.
Orange County Emergency Management Coordinator Ryan Peabody along with other Orange and Newton County officials briefed Governor Abbott before the press conference. Peabody said much of eastern Orange County is still under flood conditions, and they are still waiting for the water to reach its maximum height. He predicted flood waters not to recede for another few weeks. Peabody promised Orange County would continue to shelter Orange County residents that have been displaced by the flood and when the water has receded would do what is necessary to get them back into their homes as quickly as possible.
One of those citizens forced out of his home is Calvin Johnson of Orange. Johnson said the water came up very fast Wednesday morning at his home on Park Avenue and 7th Street in downtown Orange. Johnson told how he woke up at about two o’clock to find water already lapping at his front step. He put on shorts and sneakers to check out the rising water to discover it was up to his knees in the street.
Johnson got in his car and was instructed to go to the North Orange Baptist Church. He got there at 4:00 AM only to find the Red Cross Shelter there had been closed. He was directed to Community Church on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in Orange. Community Church is being used as a staging area for buses to take evacuees to the Montagne Center in Beaumont. The Montagne Center on the Lamar University campus will be the primary shelter for Orange evacuees. As of Wednesday afternoon Emergency Management Coordinator Peabody indicated about 200 people have been transported to the shelter in Beaumont.
-Dan Perrine, KOGT-
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