Beaumont Enterprise: Officials, residents prepare for possible evacuation

Quotes of interest:

As Hurricane Ike hustles toward the Gulf of Mexico, local officials could decide Tuesday afternoon whether to begin evacuations of the sick, elderly and financially needy.

Hurricane Ike's quick jaunt through the Caribbean Sea and expected arrival in the Gulf Tuesday has left Southeast Texas with little time to plan, officials said.

An evacuation call for those with special needs must be made about 72 hours before the storm's projected landfall of Friday.

Gov. Rick Perry declared Texas a disaster area Monday in order to initiate the pre-deployment of resources to more than 88 counties that could be affected by the storm. Perry also requested a presidential disaster declaration for those 88 counties, according to a press release issued by his office.

"Our window is closing on how much time we have to make these decisions," said Greg Fountain, Jefferson County emergency management coordinator.

Computer models have predicted the storm could hit a variety of locations, but Fountain has paid close attention to a forecast of Ike hitting near Galveston, which he said could send a 10-foot storm surge into High Island and Sabine Pass.

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