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"Texas Task Force Ike" Readied as the State Prepares DALLAS, TX (KERA) -

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State officials have posted a rapid response team in San Antonio to prepare for the aftermath of hurricane Ike. State officials say some 1.2 million Texans in the path of Ike have evacuated from their homes. The state have moved another 12,500 with special needs to shelters and medical facilities. Now as officials count down the hours until landfall near Galveston, they have stationed a special 1,000 member strike team in San Antonio. Texas Task Force Ike includes military personnel, search and rescue teams, Red Cross and FEMA representatives.

Corporate volunteers with food, supplies and fuel are also standing by. Katherine Cessinger from the Governor's office says soon after the hurricane hits task force members will move into the hardest hit areas.

Cessinger: "Certainly infrastructure, residents homes, flooding any of that sort of impact. They'll go in and assess the situation and provide help immediately."

The state expects to deploy most of the task force members to Houston, Beaumont and Port Arthur areas. © Copyright 2009, KERA