CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Nueces County Commissioner's have extended the Hurricane Hanna Emergency Declaration.
The declaration allows for state and federal reimbursement for storm cleanup and includes closing a stretch of beach from the Bob Hall Pier parking lot to Access Road 4. Large amounts of dangerous metal and wood debris from the pier and surrounding county structures have impacted the area.
There was a question of why the beaches were still under restrictions from the COVID-19 disaster declaration that Judge Barbara Canales renewed on August 17.
Canales said she has seen empirical data on the effectiveness of those restrictions and there were consultations with local health professionals.
“There is no greater empirical data than all three CEO's and your local health authority asking you and begging you to make certain that your orders are extended," Canales said. "I don't have to ask for empirical data more than the fact that HCA, Christus Spohn, and Driscoll Children's all believe that this beach order from a medical perspective is absolutely making a difference."
Canales said she has seen evidence that current beach restrictions have had an impact on COVID-19 case numbers.
For the latest updates on coronavirus in the Coastal Bend, click here.
For the latest updates on Hurricane Hanna, click here.