Galveston Calls For Voluntary Evacuations

GALVESTON, Texas (AP) – The threat of Hurricane Rita is causing brisk business at some stores in the Galveston area. Some Coastal residents lined up outside a Home Depot in Texas City to buy plywood and other supplies before leaving town.

A store official says generators priced at more than 500 dollars apiece were selling out quickly, and trucks were delivering plywood every two hours. Galveston officials have called for a voluntary evacuation of this island city as Hurricane Rita threatens to slam into the Texas Coast by the weekend.

Governor Rick Perry is recalling all emergency personnel helping with Louisiana recovery from Hurricane Katrina — to prepare for Rita. Buses will begin running tomorrow in Galveston for people who can’t leave on their own — taking them to shelters about 100 miles north, in Huntsville.

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(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

AP-NY-09-20-05 1301EDT