ROCKPORT, Texas — Aransas County is preparing for Beryl.
Officials announced Friday night that they "strongly advise" all residents and visitors to evacuate the county if they can. The Aransas County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) met on Friday in Rockport to make the decision.
“If you wait until the storm gets here and then you decide that you want to evacuate, it’s going to be too late,” Rockport Police Chief Nathan Anderson said.
Anderson said the county's EOC is essential for planning during natural disasters. He said there was significant flooding in Rockport last month during Tropical Storm Alberto and the EOC helped with the response.
Rockport resident Debbie Guzman evacuated during Hurricane Harvey. She said she plans to leave with her husband again ahead of Beryl.
“We take it very seriously, cause we know what can happen," Guzman said. "If we have the means to leave, you might as well leave.”
She said they prepared their home with storm shutters. Her husband will also pick up plants, pots and furniture and store them in the garage.
“I just hope everybody’s safe, and I hope everybody heeds to whatever the officials tell us to do and take care of yourself,” Guzman said.
She plans to come back on either Tuesday or Wednesday.
Anderson explained how the EOC makes decisions during these storms.
“Each one of these briefings that we get from the National Weather Service, we get more information and we’ll better be able to tell the public on what we recommend that they do,” he said.
Anderson talked about why it helps to have everyone at the EOC meetings to plan.
“We can all speak with one voice, and so it’s very important to do that, and we’ve been sharing that information with our local residents in Rockport and Aransas County,” he said.
Anderson said the Rockport Police Department will work 12-hour shifts starting Sunday morning and they will keep going as long as needed during the storm.
He encouraged residents with special needs and those who are elderly and need help to sign up for the State of Texas Emergency Assistance Registry (STEAR).