By Amy Moore

The News staff writer

Mandatory evacuations have started in parts of Southeast Texas.

Residents in Sabine Pass, battered three years ago by Hurricane Rita, have been ordered out of the area first.

Evacuations are set to continue through midday across a three-county region stretching to the Louisiana state line, with the last mandatory evacuation starting at noon in Beaumont.

County officials in the area announced the evacuations Saturday in advance of landfall by Hurricane Gustav, which could hit Monday or Tuesday from the Texas Gulf Coast to Florida.

Port Arthur, Beaumont and Orange County officials are asking residents to leave the area ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Gustav.

The staging area for evacuation out of Port Arthur will be the Robert “Bob” Bowers Civic Center, 3401 Cultural Center Drive, adjacent to the Port Arthur Public Library.

Persons who may need transportation to the Civic Center should call 983-8794.

In Orange County, 2-1-1 registries should embark to their destination locations of Vidor Elementary School, Hwy. 90 and Lamar Student Center, Orange.

Orange County area’s should follow the recommended evacuation routes of State Hwy. 87 North, FM 105 North to Hwy. 96 and Hwy. 62 N. to Hwy.

“If you have no means of transportation or if you are physically unable to evacuate on your own and have not registered with 211, contact 670-4125,” Orange County officials stated in a press release.

Marc Shepherd, of TXDot said limited routes will be available to drivers once the evacuation call is ordered Sunday morning. Those wishing to follow their own routes must leave prior to the mandatory evacuation order being called.

“We’re in position to preposition some barricades when the evacuation is called. Our crews will work throughout the night to put them in different place,” Shepherd said.

His advice to evacuees is simple.

“Head north. Really, that’s what it turns into. They should go until they feel safe, it’s up to them,” he said.

Shepherd said gas stations along the evacuation routes have been keeping a “wet system”, meaning they have been refueled to ensure they have enough gas for drivers. But don’t wait to fill up, he said.

“Tomorrow (Sunday) morning is no time to look for a (gas) station. Traffic is already starting to back up on evacuation routes,” he said.

But for those who don’t leave, Sgt. Ken Carona of the Port Arthur Police Department has a message.

“There will come a point when people have no police or fire protection, no medical staff for those who decide to stay after the mandatory evacuation is called,” Carona warned. “If we (police, fire, medical) have to leave, we leave. We can’t drag you from your home and make you go, but know that there’s no safety net. If you’re injured, you’re on your own.”

When officials do come back into town after the storm passes, their first task will be to secure the city and set up an infrastructure — not check on people who chose to stay behind.

“I urge people to just go ahead and leave,” he said. “If you want to be safe and be able to sleep, go ahead and get out of town. Think of this as an excellent drill.”

Carona said the fact is that officials simply do not know what Gustav will do over the next few days, making preparations more difficult.

“That is the biggest and hardest thing. There’s no perfect crystal ball. How strong and when Gustav will hit, we can’t tell. It’s a difficult thing to do,” Carona said.

Carona said emergency officials are working to deal with either tropical storm force wind and rain or a 120 mph hurricane.

Video footage of evacuation routes can be found at http://traffic.houstontranstar.org/cctv/txdot/txdot_regional_camera_list.html?road=ih-10_east