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GlobeSt.com UPDATE: Ports Batten Down Hatches for Approaching Storm

HOUSTON-With Hurricane Rita driving toward shore, the Ports of Galveston and Houston are as ready as possible to weather the storm. The facilities are closed to all but essential personnel, with cargo, property and vessels anchored in place.

By Amy Wolff Sorter | Updated on September 22, 2005

HOUSTON-While Hurricane Rita, a still-powerful category 4 storm, continues to plow its way toward the northwestern Gulf Coast, two major shipping areas in southeast Texas–the Ports of Galveston and Houston–have shut down to all but essential personnel, with cargo, property and vessels anchored in the face of the oncoming, potentially dangerous and damaging storm.

“The port is closed and we’re here with a skeleton crew,” says James Thompson, chief of police with the Port of Galveston. “We’ll stay here as long as we can, but if it looks like we’ll end up under water, we’ll have to leave.” The “we,” he tells GlobeSt.com, are him and his handful of police officers.

A source with the Port of Houston Authority tells GlobeSt.com that all personnel were “released by the directors as of about 5:00 p.m. [CST] Wednesday night. The employees won’t return to work until Monday, depending on conditions.” He adds all cargo and ships have been secured as well, with plans for telephone calls and queries possibly being routed through the port’s New York City branch office.

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