JEFFERSON COUNTY, Texas — This article contains ongoing updates on Hurricane Laura, including weather-related closures and event cancellations and updates on evacuation orders. Here are some key updates for Tuesday, August 25, 2020. You can find more details by scrolling through the story, which we are updating throughout the day. The newest items will be at the top.
Multiple school districts across Southeast Texas have canceled both online and in-person classes ahead of Hurricane Laura.
Laura is expected to be a category three storm at landfall along the Texas-Louisiana border. Here's the latest forecast from the 12News StormTrackers team.
Aug. 25, 9:15 p.m. — Chambers County is evacuating residents Wednesday morning, August 26 with buses provided by the Texas Department of Emergency Management. The buses will be departing from Anahuac High School at the Kyle White Stadium North Parking Lot on Willcox Street and Winnie-Stowell Park at 335 South Park Street.
Buses are available for anyone who wants to evacuate but is not able to on their own. Evacuees should arrive at 6:30 a.m. for check in and buses depart at 8 a.m. Buses are first come, first serve. Evacuees will be taken to San Antonio, Austin or Dallas and cannot choose what location they are taken to.
When it is safe to return, evacuees will have the option to return via bus, Chambers County officials said. Transportation to the departure location is not available. Riders will be spaced out and must wear a mask due to COVID-19.
Each person is allowed to bring one suitcase, one small personal bag and one pet that weighs 30 pounds or less with a pet carrier. Anyone under home quarantine or isolation due to COVID-19 will not be permitted to board buses or enter a shelter. Everyone will be screened for COVID-19 symptoms prior to boarding.
Aug. 25, 9 p.m. — Nederland ISD announced the school board originally pushed back the start of school to Sept. 2, but the district will be continuing to monitor Hurricane Laura and update students and parents.
Aug. 25, 8:45 p.m. — Residents in Hardin County who need help evacuating should call (409) 209-5400 before midnight Tuesday. If no one answers your call, Hardin County officials ask that you leave a voicemail with your name, address and phone number and someone will return your call.
Aug. 25, 7:15 p.m. — Entergy Texas announced the company has assembled a response team of nearly 7,400 prepared to respond to outages after Hurricane Laura. Crews will continue to practice social distancing while in the field due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and Entergy asks that customers do the same.
Aug. 25, 6 p.m. — USPS is temporarily suspending some services in the Texas Gulf Coast region in the path of Hurricane Laura. Retail and delivery services are suspended at the following locations until further notice:
- Galveston Finance, 601 23rd Street, Galveston, TX 77550
- Galveston Bob Lyons, 5626 Broadway Street, Galveston, TX 77551
- Kemah Post Office, 1129 Hwy 146, Kemah, TX 77565
- Seabrook Post Office, 1600 Main Street, Seabrook, TX 77586
- Bridge City Post Office, 900 Texas Ave, Bridge City, TX 77611
- China Post Office– P.O. Box, 305 N Broadway St, China, TX 77613
- Port Bolivar, 2500 Broadway Ave, Port Bolivar, TX 77617
- Groves Post Office, 6230 39th Street, Groves, TX 77619
- Hamshire Post Office, 25142 Highway 124, Hamshire, TX 77622
- High Island Post Office, 2008 5th Street, High Island, TX 77623
- Mauriceville Post Office, 11424 Highway 21, Mauriceville, TX 77626
- Nederland Post Office, 223 N 14th St, Nederland, TX 77627
- Nome Post Office – P.O. Box, 2285 Highway 90, Nome, TX 77629
- Orange Post Office, 500 4th Street, Orange TX 77630
- Orangefield Post Office, 5481 FM 408, Orangefield, TX 77639
- Port Arthur Post Office, 345 Lakeshore Dr., Port Arthur, TX 77640
- Crystal Beach Post Office, 2000 Highway 87, Port Bolivar, TX 77650
- Port Neches Post Office, 1324 Port Neches Avenue, Port Neches, TX 77651
- Sabine Pass Post Office, 5424 Tremont Street, Sabine Pass, TX 77655
- Winnie Post Office, 324 Hwy 124, Winnie, TX 77665
- Vidor Post Office, 285 Archie St, Vidor, TX 77662
- Lumberton Post Office, 650 S Main St, Beaumont, TX 77657
- Beaumont South End Post Office, 3501 Avenue A, Beaumont, TX 77701
- Beaumont Tobe Hahn Post Office, 3910 N Dowlen Rd, Beaumont, TX 77703
- Downtown Beaumont Post Office, 300 Willow Street, Ste. 1, Beaumont, TX 77704
- Beaumont GMF, 5815 Walden Rd, Beaumont, TX 77707
Aug. 25, 5:30 p.m. — Beaumont Mayor Becky Ames issued a mandatory city-wide evacuation order and a dusk-to-dawn curfew for the city of Beaumont.
Aug. 25, 4:15 p.m. — The Texas Department of Public Safety and the Texas Department of Transportation will closed the Rainbow and Veterans Memorial Bridge in Jefferson and Orange Counties when wind speeds reach 44 mph due to safety concerns for drivers and first responders. Visit DriveTexas.org for more information on road conditions.
Aug. 25, 4 p.m. — Due to the high potential for loss of city services and utilities, the City of Beaumont is strongly recommending all citizens, especially those requiring scheduled medical treatment such as dialysis and chemotherapy evacuate the City immediately, Beaumont Office of Emergency Management spokesperson Carol Riley said in a statement.
"Please do not rely or assume that these services will remain available locally as this could be detrimental to your health," Riley said.
Aug. 25, 3:45 p.m. — Orange County amended the mandatory evacuation order to include an exemption for employees engaged in communications, utility work, insurance claims and disaster recovery. The cities of Orange, West Orange and Pinehurst instituted a curfew from 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. beginning Tuesday, August 25 for the safety of the citizens and to protect the community in dealing with Hurricane Laura. Orange County also issued a curfew.
Aug. 25, 3:30 p.m. — Reception centers are opening for evacuees across Texas. Here is a list:
- San Antonio, 254 Gembler Road, opening at 3 p.m. Tuesday
- Austin, Circuit of the Americas, 9201 Circuit of the Americas Boulevard, opening at 4 p.m. Tuesday
- Dallas Fort-Worth, Mesquite Reception Center, 15515 East I-20, Mesquite, opening at 7 p.m Tuesday
- Ellis County, Knights of Columbus Hall, 850 South I-45, Ennis, opening at 7 p.m. Tuesday
Aug. 25, 3 p.m. — The City of Vidor issued a curfew from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. except for essential personnel traveling to and from work.
Aug. 25, 2:50 p.m. — Acadian Ambulance has evacuated or is in the process of evacuating 223 patients from facilities in Southeast Texas and Southwest Louisiana. First responders have also activated 102 extra crews and 43 additional ambulances and two ambulance buses from other Acadian areas to increase capacity in Southeast Texas.
Aug. 25, 2 p.m. — Orange County residents who cannot evacuate themselves can find transportation at these two locations:
- Lamar State College Orange, 410 Front Street, Orange Texas
- Vidor Elementary, 400 Old Hwy 90 E, Vidor Texas
Residents need to arrive at the embarkation site no later than 4 pm and the final bus will leave at 5 pm on Tuesday, August 25. After this time, there will be no evacuation assistance available. If you are unable to get to one of the transportation sites on your own, you can call the following numbers
- For County Residents — Emergency Management — 409-745-9794 or 409-745-9765
- For City of Orange Residents — City of Orange — 409-883-1050
- For City of West Orange Residents — City of West Orange — 409-883-7574
- For City of Pinehurst Residents — City of Pinehurst — 409-886-2221
- For City of Bridge City Residents — City of Bridge City 409-735-5028
- For Vidor area Residents — City of Vidor 409-238-6444
Aug. 25, 2 p.m. — Hardin County issued a mandatory evacuation order for all citizens of Hardin County, effective at 2 p.m.
Aug. 25, 1:45 p.m. —CHRISTUS hospitals plan to close to all visitors at the end of business day Tuesday.
Aug. 25, 1:15 p.m. — Chambers County issued a mandatory evacuation order for at-risk areas of Chambers County, effective immediately.
Aug. 25, 1 p.m. — Mayor Frank George of Kirbyville issued a mandatory evacuation of all residents as of 3 p.m.
Aug. 25, 12 p.m. — Jasper County issued a mandatory evacuation order effective at 1 p.m. Tuesday, August 25 until further notice.
Aug. 25, 11:45 a.m. — Newton County issued a mandatory evacuation order starting at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 25 until further notice.
Aug. 25, 11:20 a.m. — Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo has granted free passage to motorists on the Harris County tollway system to support evacuations along the Gulf Coast.
Aug. 25, 10 a.m. — Hurricane warnings were issued from San Luis Pass, Texas, to Intracoastal City, Louisiana; and storm surge warnings from the Port Arthur, Texas, flood protection system to the mouth of the Mississippi River.
Aug. 25, 9:40 a.m. — Judge Wayne McDaniel issued a Voluntary Evacuation Notice to the citizens of Hardin County. The order goes into effect at noon on Tuesday.
Aug. 25, 7:50 a.m. — Acadian Ambulance has evacuated 131 patients from facilities in the Port Arthur, Vidor and Groves areas of Southeast Texas. These patients are being moved in preparation for the landfall of Hurricane Laura.
Aug. 25, 7:15 a.m. — National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's storm hunter reported Laura strengthened to a hurricane.
Aug. 25, 4 a.m. — Marco becomes a "remnant low" just south of Louisiana, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Monday's Headlines:
Aug. 24, 8:15 p.m. — Jefferson County Judge Jeff Branick confirms to 12News there is a mandatory evacuation order being issued for Jefferson County. The order will go into effect at 6:30 a.m. on August 25. It's set to remain in full force and effect for a period of 10 days from the effective time unless extended or terminated.
Aug. 24, 6:30 p.m. — The Southeast Texas Food Bank Senior Food Box program distribution set for Tuesday, August 25 at Eastgate United Pentecostal Church in Vidor is being postponed. It's now set for 3 p.m. on Monday, August 31.
Aug. 24, 5:30 p.m. — Orange County and city officials are calling for a mandatory evacuation for the entire county at 6 a.m. on Tuesday, August 25. Citizens who can't evacuate themselves can find transportation resources at two sites at 9 a.m. on Tuesday. Those two sites are Lamar State College Orange at 410 Front Street, and Vidor Elementary at 400 Old Hwy. 90 E in Vidor.
If you can't get to one of the sites on your own, you can call the following phone numbers starting at 6 a.m. Tuesday.
- For County Residents – Emergency Management – 409-745-9794 or 409-745-9765
- For City of Orange Residents – City of Orange – 409-883-1050
- For City of West Orange Residents – City of West Orange – 409-883-7574
- For City of Pinehurst Residents – City of Pinehurst - 886-2221
- For Vidor area Residents – City of Vidor 409-238-6444
Aug. 24, 3:30 p.m. — Tyler County Judge Jacques Blanchette issued a county-wide disaster declaration ahead of Tropical Storms Marco and Laura.
Aug. 24, 3:30 p.m. — Orange County Judge John Gothia issued a declaration of disaster and a voluntary county-wide evacuation and a mandatory evacuation for nursing homes.
Aug. 24, 2:15 p.m. — Texas Governor Greg Abbott mobilized more than 70 members of the Texas Army and Air National Guard in response to Tropical Storms Marco and Laura.
Aug. 24, 2 p.m. — President Trump approved an emergency declaration for Texas. FEMA is available to help state and local agencies to areas that will be affected by Tropical Storms Marco and Laura to coordinate disaster relief efforts starting Monday. The declaration includes Aransas, Bexar, Brazoria, Calhoun, Cameron, Chambers, Galveston, Hardin, Harris, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Kenedy, Kleberg, Liberty, Matagorda, Newton, Nueces, Orange, Refugio, San Patricio, Victoria, and Willacy counties.
Aug. 24, 1:30 p.m. — The City of Beaumont issued a city-wide disaster declaration due to Tropical Storms Marco and Laura.
Aug. 24, 12:35 p.m. — Jasper County Judge Mark Allen issued a county-wide disaster declaration due to Tropical Storms Laura and Marco.
Aug. 24, 12:33 p.m. — Chambers County Judge Jimmy Sylvia issued a county-wide disaster declaration in advance of Tropical Storm Marco and Tropical Storm Laura’s landfall, expected later this week. There is currently no evacuation order for Chambers County.
Aug. 24, 12 p.m. — Hardin County Judge Wayne Wayne McDaniel issued a county-wide disaster declaration due to Tropical Storms Laura and Marco.
Aug. 24, 11:30 a.m. — Port Arthur Mayor Thurman Bartie announced Monday he is calling for a mandatory city-wide evacuation beginning at 6 a.m. Tuesday, August 25. Mayor Bartie originally announced a voluntary evacuation of Sabine Pass, Saturday, August 22.
Aug. 24, 10:30 a.m. — The Texas Department of Criminal Justice is evacuating the Gist, LeBlanc and Goodman units, and part of the Stiles unit in advance of Tropical Storms Marco and Laura. The evacuation will include some halfway houses in Southeast Texas and includes a total of about 3,400 offenders.
Aug. 24, 10 a.m. — Port Arthur Mayor Thurman Bartie signed a disaster declaration due to the imminent threat of Tropical Storm Laura and Tropical Storm Marco.
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This is a developing story. We will update with more if and when we receive more confirmed information.