UPDATE ON THE STATUS OF SHELTERING IN LUFKIN: The City of Lufkin has not been activated as a sheltering hub but is on high-alert and ready to answer that call by the State of Texas. If Lufkin shelters are activated, it will be to accomodate overflow from Nacogdoches shelters. The Nacogdoches shelters are housing Jasper County evacuees due to no power in their area. These would be previously registered, state-evacuated individuals (see an additional explanation of that in the press release below from the City of Nacogdoches Offie of Emergency Management). These shelters would not be able to accept "walk-up" registrants and there would be no registration site locally. The City is currently housing 500 National Guard officials at the Pitser Garrison Convention Center following a request by the state. If you see an abundance of military vehicles in town, there is no cause for alarm. Please help us make them feel welcome. Additionally, there are rumors going around of fuel shortages in town. There may be isolated incidents of this along heavily traveled highways (evacuation routes), but fuel seems to be available at most stations in town from what we have found.

287 Update as of 11:30, September 1st: Lufkin police report that one northbound Loop 287 lane has been reopened. The southbound side is still shutdown as TxDOT contractors continue highway repair. Allow extra time to travel within the city today as traffic will be heavy in some areas. Lone Star Hazmat Teams will be set up in a TxDOT/Clark Construction designated area near FM 2021 (Davisville Road) at Loop 287, removing tar/gravel from people's vehicles from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. They have assured us that they are professionals and this is being handled safely and within EPA guidelines for cleanup/removal.

From TXDOT - Noon, Thursday, August 31st: LUFKIN – SL 287 East/Medford Drive in Lufkin is closed for repairs after rock became loose from the roadway due to excessive rainfall in recent days from Hurricane Harvey. TxDOT will be removing the asphalt application placed last week. Motorists are advised to avoid the area, but some vehicles may have suffered damage due to loose rock and asphalt from the roadway. To file a claim for damages that may have resulted from the loose rock or tar, customers should contact the Texas Department of Transportation online at http://www. txdot.gov/contact-us/form.html to file damage claims. SL 287 East will be reopened once work is completed. Until then, motorists are advised to take alternate routes either on SL 287 West to access US 59 North or US 59 South; or BU 59/Timberland Drive and exit Denman Avenue to reach US 69 South, Atkinson Drive to reach SH 103 East, Chestnut Drive to reach FM 58 and Lufkin Avenue to reach Lufkin High School. Motorists are advised to obey all traffic control devices and do not drive around barricades.

Loop 287 update: Loop 287 from the 59 south intersection to the 59 north intersection is SHUT DOWN. There will be ABSOLUTELY NO access to east Loop 287. This is due to tar/gravel issue created from road construction underway by a contract crew with TxDOT. We do not have a timeframe on when it will reopen. Our officers need to be able to get to stranded motorists who have immediate needs for assistance, but our emergency and non-emergency lines are being inundated with complaint calls. If you are stranded, call our non-emergency line at 936-633-0356. It seems the tar/gravel has been spread by passing vehicles from North Timberland Drive to South First Street. Use caution in these areas or avoid them if at all possible. To make a complaint or file a claim, contact TxDOT or Clark Construction (all phone numbers for Clark Construction do not seem to be working at this time.)

On a happier note...the Ellen Trout Zoo will re-open tomorrow, Friday, September 1st, just in time for the holiday weekend. The Zoo will be offering “Hurricane Specials” to our guests visiting from areas impacted by Hurricane/Tropical Storm Harvey. Simply show your ID with an address from an area in Harvey’s path and receive complimentary admission.

Regarding those affected by the Loop 287 construction and damage to your vehicles. We ask that citizens not call the city's emergency and non-emergency lines to complain because they are tying up our lines and slowing down the process of getting help to people who truly need it. TxDOT is directing citizens with damaged vehicles to contact Clark Construction at 210-661-6785 to start the claim process.

From TXDOT: ALERT: Motorists should avoid the east side of SL 287 in Lufkin. Contract workers are beginning repairs. Choose alternate routes on the west side of the loop or through BU 59/Timberland Drive. MOTORISTS ARE STRONGLY ADVISED TO AVOID THE AREA.

From TXDOT ALERT: FM 3150 in Lufkin is closed due to a wash out. It is a crime to drive around barriers. Do not drive through. Too Dangerous.

Civil Service Testing Announcement Firefighter Entrance Examination. The City of Lufkin, Texas will be administering an entrance examination for Civil Service Firefighter at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 26, 2017. Visit the Fire Department's Employment page at the City of Lufkin's website for details. http://cityoflufkin.com/fd/employment.htm

CITY PREPARED FOR STATE ACTIVATION OF HARVEY SHELTERING NEEDS.. (LUFKIN, TEXAS, Aug. 30, 2017) The City of Lufkin is on standby and prepared to assist the state and Red Cross with sheltering needs as they arise. As of Wednesday morning, the state had not activated Lufkin as a sheltering hub, though City Manager Keith Wright contacted the State Operation Center in Austin to offer assistance. The state has opted for shelters farther north and west to prevent the possibility of placing evacuees back in the storm’s path, according to Deputy City Manager Steve Floyd. “During Rita and Ike they sent people here and we were in the eye of the storm,” Floyd said. “So now they send people as far away as they can. The next step will be Tyler and then they will start working their way south as they determine any destruction that we may have here.” The Lufkin Fire Department has a two-man Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System (TIFMAS) team currently working in Montgomery County. And the Lufkin Police Department will send its five-man Special Services Unit to the Beaumont/Lumberton area later this week to assist law enforcement with their needs. In anticipation of the potential need to shelter in Lufkin there is a Red Cross shelter volunteer meeting at the Pitser Garrison Convention Center at 1 p.m. today. To apply to volunteer with the Red Cross go to: http://www.redcross.org/volunteer-interest-form. Shelter maps are also available here: http://www.redcross.org/get-help/disaster-relief-and-recovery-services/find-an-open-shelter. As of late Wednesday morning, the City of Lufkin was not experiencing any major flooding or road closures but there were some reported issues in low-lying areas of the county. By Thursday, the rain is expected to stop in the Lufkin/Nacogdoches area as the remnants of Harvey quickly move north and east through Louisiana. Road conditions can be monitored at drivetexas.org. Lufkin churches and businesses are continuing to take donations for Harvey victims. You can refer to the Lufkin Police Department Facebook page for an up-to-date list of drop sites. -

Notice from Lufkin PD.

Library closed today.