By Rebecca Simmons
Less than a month after Hurricane Katrina devastated a large swath of the Gulf Coast, the storm's wicked stepsister, Hurricane Rita, was poised late Friday to hit Texas and Louisiana with nearly the same ferocity. The Lamar-Dixon emergency shelter in Gonzales, Louisiana, currently home to about 1,000 animals displaced by Katrina, was expected to feel Rita's wrath—even if the facility was well away from the eye of the storm.
Not that anyone at the shelter was taking chances on Friday. Nonessential volunteers were evacuated, animals were secured in their converted horse stalls, and the remaining staff on the ground were holed up wherever they could find shelter.
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Despite wind gusts predicted to reach 50 mph on Saturday, Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The HSUS, said on Friday that the three large, open-air barns on the Lamar-Dixon grounds, where animals are being housed in stalls, can withstand high winds. "We are very confident in those structures," he said.
To further fortify the barns, commanders at Lamar-Dixon positioned tractor trailers around the sides of the structures to form a protective barrier from the wind and rain. Commanders also stored supplies—including food, crates, equipment, and carriers—in the trailers to keep them dry and damage-free.
Katey Briggson, a volunteer from Grass Valley, California wasn't worried about the safety of the animals. "I think that we are very well-prepared for this storm. The whole operation is very organized," she said.
The Volunteer State
Once preparations for the hurricane were completed, the number of volunteers on-site was scaled back from approximately 180 to 40-50 emergency personnel to care for the animals.
"We have asked all nonessential volunteers to evacuate the premises until Sunday morning, when the storm is expected to pass," said Pacelle. "We don't want to put any more people at risk than absolutely necessary."
As a precaution, the volunteer housing tent—a giant air-conditioned facility provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to sleep about 300 people—was dismantled on Friday morning, lest Rita rip it to shreds. By the early afternoon, FEMA had arranged an alternate shelter in Baton Rouge with 100 beds, where volunteers could stay through Sunday morning. Cots in the barns were made available for emergency volunteers who planned to stay on site at the Lamar-Dixon shelter.
If volunteers and staff didn't have enough to worry about on Friday, they also had to deal with two tornado warnings in the Gonzales area. Workers were forced to find shelter in bathrooms and wait out the threat of twisters. No one was injured.
Unfinished Business
The weather certainly slowed down the primary work of the Lamar-Dixon facility: rescuing and sheltering animals. That work could prove even more vital after Rita passes. On Friday, Rita's rains opened up breaches in previous damaged levees in New Orleans, pouring water into the predominantly poor Ninth Ward, which had already sustained heavy flooding. The rising water levels have the potential to make rescuing animals, who have been waiting for help for nearly a month, even more difficult.
Despite Rita bearing down on them, workers at Lamar-Dixon continued to move animals, with the idea of opening up more space for rescued dogs and cats. On Thursday, approximately 150 dogs were transported to the Dixon Correctional Facility in Jackson, Louisiana, where the animals will stay until they are reunited with their owners. "The inmates and wardens are very enthusiastic," said Pacelle.
More animals will be exported once the storm clears on Sunday or Monday, allowing additional animals to be brought into Lamar-Dixon.
Fifty to 60 rescue teams also set out for New Orleans on Thursday. Because Lamar-Dixon was running at capacity, the teams spent most of the day feeding and watering animals who appeared relatively healthy and/or comfortable in their current locations. The teams did rescue animals who were in critical condition, and brought them to Gonzales.
The Eyes on Texas
West of the Lamar-Dixon facility, residents in Texas were bracing for a direct hit from Hurricane Rita, but one thing was different compared to the folks in Katrina's path: This time around, animals were a part of the evacuation orders. In Texas, evacuees were urged to take their pets with them.
Katey Briggson, for one, noticed the difference. The Californian drove through Texas on her way to Louisiana, and noticed many animals being evacuated from south Texas. "It was great to see cars with pets leaving with their owners," she said.
In addition, many shelters in Texas were heeding Katrina's warning. "Texas has a stronger infrastructure in terms of shelters. Many shelters in south Texas have already evacuated, including those in Houston and Galveston," Pacelle said.
"It really seems that officials in Texas understand the importance of evacuating people and their animals together," Pacelle added.
Rebecca Simmons is the Outreach Communications Coordinator for the Companion Animals section of The HSUS.
