Danie M. Huffman
wdreporter2@yahoo.com
Devastating was the word Parker County Fire Marshal Shawn Scott used to describe the damage left after Hurricane Ike tore through parts of south Texas.
Scott was sent to the area along with Lannie Padgett and Parker County’s mobile command unit.
Scott is now operating the unit as a central command center for Task Force One and Two.
The Texas Department of Public Safety lost its communications, which the unit is now providing.
LifeCare Emergency Medical Service had five paramedics, its director and an ambulance respond to transport patients from hospitals, rest homes and shelters.
EMS personnel remain on the frontlines today along with about 10 local Department of Public Safety troopers.
Paul Smith, LifeCare director, was requested by the State Emergency Task Force.
The men left Weatherford Wednesday and experienced problems over the weekend finding food, water and electricity for rescue workers.
Randall Young, CEO of the Parker County Hospital District, said the ambulance runs on electric charge making it difficult to keep it running without a proper facility.
EMS staff found a way into the Beaumont Civic Center for shelter and housing needs.
Smith sent a message to Young Monday saying the mobile intensive care unit participated in evacuation efforts of Corpus Christie Hospitals.
Smith said many areas remain inaccessible with the majority of Beaumont and Port Arthur without electricity and other services.
LifeCare alone has more than 350 man hours in the project.
DPS Trooper Adam Jara was one of the locals deployed with Weatherford’s team.
Jara said Monday night the men were stationed in Houston helping with patrol, road blocks, looters and escorting more than a dozen bus loads of evacuees.
The troopers work in shifts assisted by the National Guard, ensuring the evacuees have food and water before loading the buses.
“Most of them are now homeless,” Jara said. “They just don’t have anywhere to go. They’re only taking what they can carry with them.”
Jara added dozers were brought in to remove debris from Interstate 45 so the troopers could make their way into Galveston.
“There are boats and trees on the freeway,” Jara said, slowing their response by more than an hour.
A fueling station remains active for emergency vehicles and evacuee transportation. Jara said public gas stations ran out of regular unleaded gasoline by Thursday evening before Ike made landfall. Premium prices make another stumbling block for motorists to escape Ike’s devastation.
Today, what businesses had electricity reopened.
In Orange County where Scott is stationed, the mobile unit continues to provide satellite, Internet and planning efforts for recovery by using the emergency operations center.
“In Houston, there is indescribable damage,” Scott said. “This is the largest operation I’ve ever seen. I’m amazed at its scope, size and scale. I wish people could see the gears within the machine.”
Scott was also able to provide a morale boost to emergency workers. The Cowboy game was shown on TVs outside of the mobile command unit Monday evening.
Scott said Monday, workers had minimal sleep since they were deployed last Tuesday, only getting an average of two to three hours each night.
“We’re looking forward to coming home, sleeping in our beds and real food, but it’s good to be a part of something like this,” Scott said.
Local News
PC helps in Ike’s aftermath
- Local News
-
-
10 most romantic hotels in the U.S.
Valentine’s Day will be here soon, and a romantic getaway may be just what the heart needs. TripAdvisor has released its list of the 10 most romantic hotels in the country, based on travelers’ reviews about the beautiful scenery, friendly staffs and romantic amenities like hot tubs and fireplaces.
-
Flooding at issue in other subdivisions
While much attention has been given to the Briarwood subdivision, located off of Santa Fe Drive in Weatherford, during the last two months storm water drainage issues have occurred in additional subdivisions and concerned homeowners. This has been an ongoing issue for many areas throughout the city.
- Child paddled, abuse at school not substantiated
-
Wildlife volunteers needed
Like any other mother, Donna Robinson has pictures of her “babies” on her phone.
“Let me show you,” she said eagerly. “I’ve got lots of pictures of the kids.”
She scrolls through the photos — there’s one of a squirrel with milk on its mouth after a feeding. Oh, there’s a cute one of two tiny possums looking over her shoulder as she feeds another “baby.” Aww, there’s the group of four raccoons named after the Beatles: Ringo, Paul, George and John.
Ok. She’s not your “ordinary” mom. -
Water woes on floodplain in Weatherford
When Wendy Walling purchased her home in the Briarwood subdivision off of Sante Fe Drive in the mid-1990s, her son could easily jump from one side of the small creek behind the home to the other.
“My son was in fourth grade (when we moved in) and he could actually jump across the creek,” Walling said.
By 2007, however, Walling said the width of the creek had begun to expand.
“(The creek) can hold water now and before it never could,” Walling said. - DPS: Motorcyclists didn't see slowing truck
- Kidnapper gets 99 years
- Judge tosses plea in horse deaths
-
Weatherford junior to perform with All-State choir
When she was a little girl, Cassandra Kirby used to climb up next to her grandmother’s big fireplace and sing songs during the holiday get-togethers.
While she has a reserved and polite personality, recalling these memories makes a big smile break out onto Kirby’s face.
Get her talking about songs and suddenly she’s effusive and happy. -
Rock solid gymnasts
- More Local News Headlines
-





