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NEWS
| SEPTEMBER 27, 2005
Hurricane
Fleeing Family
Police chief, student’s
relatives reach safety from Rita
By Heather
Ann White
The Shorthorn staff
Many UTA community members had family who
evacuated South Texas in anticipation of Hurricane Rita last week.
Police Chief Bob Hayes’ father lives in Beaumont, one of the
hardest hit regions; his brother lives in Port Neches, just south
of Beaumont; and his sister and her family live in Spring, just
outside of Houston.
Hayes said his father, who has lived in Beaumont since 1953, refused
to leave his home at first but officials forced him to evacuate.
“Being in public safety I’d never evacuate,” Hayes
said. “Public safety workers have a higher obligation and
wouldn’t evacuate as readily as others. But with your family
it’s different, you want them to be safe.”
Hayes’ father traveled to Silsby, Texas, where he was ordered
to evacuate again. Hayes’ sister then picked up their father
and took him to her home in Spring where they stayed throughout
the hurricane.
Officials are not letting residents back into the Beaumont or Port
Arthur areas for another two to four weeks because there is no electricity
and water, Hayes said.
“I noticed some buildings on TV that are real close to my
father’s house that were damaged,” he said. “He’s
36 blocks away from Saint Elizabeth’s Hospital, which had
some flooding. I’m sure there’s damage.”
Hayes said his brother’s home in Orange County, Texas, was
damaged when three trees fell on the property.
He also has two cousins in the Beaumont Police Department who did
not evacuate.
“They worked through the entire ordeal,” he said. “I’m
sure as soon as they can, they will let family and friends know
that they are OK and that it’s safe to come home.”
Graphic design sophomore Megan Wellspring’s parents left their
Baytown home Thursday to escape Hurricane Rita. While many evacuees
are returning to their homes, Wellspring’s parents will remain
in Fort Worth a while longer.
“They’re not leaving until the schools reopen,”
she said. “One of our neighbors went back. He said the power
is out all over town.”
After the nine-hour drive to Fort Worth, Wellspring’s parents
were not eager to get back on the road.
“They are angry about how long the evacuations took,”
she said. “Yesterday they bought a gas can because they assume
the trip back is going to take as long.”
— Nathan Sauerhage contributed to this article
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