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2008: Tully staging area huge player in Ike relief
By MEGAN COOPER
Spring Branch ISD’s Tully Stadium served as a Texas Emergency Operations Staging Area for first responders, and was activated twice during the 2008 hurricane season — first when Hurricane Gustav threatened the Texas coast and again for Hurricane Ike less than two weeks later.
In preparation for both storms Department of Public Safety troopers and Texas military personnel set up camp on the stadium’s grounds. Bus drivers and tanker trucks came from across the nation to prepare for deployment once the locations of the storms’ landfalls were determined.
SBISD played a key role in the operations. SBISD Police Chief Chuck Brawner worked closely with DPS and Texas Emergency Operations, playing a lead role in the organization of the entire operations. Food for emergency responders was provided by SBISD Athletics and Child Nutrition Services.
When the site was activated for Hurricane Gustav, everything ran smoothly and went according to plan. Texas was spared when the storm moved east, and the site was deactivated shortly after Gustav made landfall in central Louisiana.
Hurricane Ike was a bit more complicated, but overall the operation was a success. Hundreds of emergency responders were onsite, as well as hundreds of buses and tanker trucks. By the time the staging area was deactivated nearly two weeks late more than 1,000 responders had been stationed there.
When U.S. Rep. John Culberson (R-Dist. 7) broadcast a need for food and water at Tully Stadium, Houstonians flocked to the site. Hundreds of cars lined up to deliver supplies and several area restaurants volunteered their services, preparing hot meals on-site and asking for nothing in return.
It turned out that Culberson had some bad information — site officials said the staging area was never low on food and water, for either first responders or victims.
In preparation for both storms Department of Public Safety troopers and Texas military personnel set up camp on the stadium’s grounds. Bus drivers and tanker trucks came from across the nation to prepare for deployment once the locations of the storms’ landfalls were determined.
SBISD played a key role in the operations. SBISD Police Chief Chuck Brawner worked closely with DPS and Texas Emergency Operations, playing a lead role in the organization of the entire operations. Food for emergency responders was provided by SBISD Athletics and Child Nutrition Services.
When the site was activated for Hurricane Gustav, everything ran smoothly and went according to plan. Texas was spared when the storm moved east, and the site was deactivated shortly after Gustav made landfall in central Louisiana.
Hurricane Ike was a bit more complicated, but overall the operation was a success. Hundreds of emergency responders were onsite, as well as hundreds of buses and tanker trucks. By the time the staging area was deactivated nearly two weeks late more than 1,000 responders had been stationed there.
When U.S. Rep. John Culberson (R-Dist. 7) broadcast a need for food and water at Tully Stadium, Houstonians flocked to the site. Hundreds of cars lined up to deliver supplies and several area restaurants volunteered their services, preparing hot meals on-site and asking for nothing in return.
It turned out that Culberson had some bad information — site officials said the staging area was never low on food and water, for either first responders or victims.
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