Officials hold two-day hurricane drill today

BROWNSVILLE - Gauging preparedness for the impending hurricane season will be a two-day task for local and state officials attending a  storm drill that begins today.

The scenario simulates conditions for a hurricane threatening the South Texas coastline. The simulated storm will begin as a tropical depression and develop into a powerful Category 5 hurricane.

The exercise will allow officials to test evacuation plans and provisions to shelter special needs residents.

Cameron County conducted a similar exercise last year.

Cameron County's hurricane plan was tested last August when Hurricane Dean threatened to strike the Gulf Coast. A voluntary evacuation was ordered, but later canceled because Dean no longer posed a threat to the area.

The last storm to hit near this area was Hurricane Emily in July 2005 that made landfall about 85 miles of south of Brownsville. At that time, local officials called for a voluntary evacuation. No major damage occurred here from that storm.

After Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans, county officials decided that evacuations would be necessary if the county's levees were breached.

This year's drill will pair Cameron County resources with Emergency Operations Centers in Hidalgo and Willacy counties, and EOCs in Laredo, Austin and San Antonio, Johnny Cavazos, emergency management coordinator for Cameron County, said.

The exercise involves using planes to evacuate patients from hospitals and other facilities, as well as evacuating other people by bus.

Officials won't know what other scenarios they will face until this morning.