The Boy Scouts of America’s motto is always be prepared. That may be some good advice too for the residents of Port Arthur as Hurricane Harvey makes its way up the Texas Gulf coast.

Port Arthur mayor Derrick Freeman held a press conference Thursday afternoon with city staff to give information and answer questions.

The tropical storm was upgraded to a hurricane Thursday morning. It could be a Category 3 storm when it hits the Corpus Christi area.

Freeman said the big threat to the area is rainfall. He added there should only be a storm surge of three feet. Repairs to the levee are in place and Freeman thinks it will be able to handle the surge.

“It’s safe and protected,” he said.

It was reported the city received numerous calls for who’s in charge of sandbags. Jefferson County has some available at Highway 73 and Jade Avenue and there’s eight tons of dirt and 4,000 sandbags at the south side parking lot of the Bob Bowers Civic Center in Port Arthur. Crews will be filling sandbags until 8 p.m. or if the sand lasts that long over the weekend. Residents are allowed a limit of six to eight bags. They must bring a driver’s license or a utility bill that identifies them as Port Arthur residents. They are also encouraged to bring a shovel.

Sandbags are available too at Precinct 2 at 7759 Viterbo Road in Nederland, and at Precinct 3 Highway 124 in Hamshire.

Sabine Pass is a concern because it’s a low-lying area. Highway 87 can be washed over with one-foot or two-feet of tidewater.

The city of Port Arthur is calling for a voluntary evacuation of Sabine Pass. There will be a staging area at the multipurpose building at the school. Freeman said there would be resources, city staff, PAFD and Port Arthur Police personnel there as well as Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office personnel.

Residents are encouraged to come to the higher ground of Port Arthur.

Additionally, the governor has declared Jefferson County and 29 other coastal counties disaster areas. As a disaster area, the counties can set up supplies and begin operations beforehand. It also opens them up for funding.

Robert Havens, deputy chief of the Port Arthur Fire Department, said the city has activated its emergency operations plan to put in motion certain protective measures.

“We’re anticipating 10 inches to 15 inches of rain over the weekend. It’s not unreasonable to expect double that in some locations,” Havens said. “We’re anticipating minor flooding problems initially.

“We will order additional sandbags. We’ll go to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Galveston to get additional sandbags.”

Havens said the Jefferson County Drainage District 7, the Corps and Mason Construction have given a “Herculean effort in scale” by using super sacks and pilings in repairing the storm levee. He estimates the levee can handle a full 15 feet of storm surge as it always has.

DD7, moreover, has checked all pumping stations and their facilities and they’re all 100 percent operational.

Havens reminded residents it’s prudent to stay off roads during the flood. Freeman added the Texas Department of Public Safety says turn around, don’t drown.

Landfall is estimated at 2 a.m. on Saturday. Winds may reach 25 mph to 40 mph. There may also be eight inches of rain from Sunday through Thursday.

Questions were then taken from the audience.

One resident asked what if Harvey goes back into the Gulf of Mexico and re-intensifies.

The answer was that topic will be on next Tuesday’s agenda of the regular meeting of the Port Arthur City Council with the possibility to extend the disaster declaration. Additional emergency and support equipment may be gathered if necessary.

Havens said there are contingencies in place ready to “pull the trigger.”

Another resident asked if the American Red Cross or other emergency services will be in the staging areas.

If an evacuation order is issued, the Port Arthur Civic Center will be a staging area as in the past. The Jack Brooks Regional Airport will also be a state air medical hub as in the past.

State military forces may be ready if a full evacuation is called.

“We’ve been in constant contact with the state,” Freeman said.

Michael Fratus, an assistant chief with PAPD, said on Monday he checked with the National Weather Service and they were clear for the next six days until Harvey appeared.

“This storm is very dynamic,” he said. “We have information on the city of Port Arthur website. Our public information department did an excellent job in revamping the website. The emergency management section has some helpful links.”

Residents who register with STAN — Southeast Texas Alerting Network — can get information straight to their cell phone, their home phone or their email. Those who need special assistance can contact 2-1-1 who will redirect the caller to the local 2-1-1.

LaRisa Carpenter, public information officer, said information will be sent out via Facebook, Twitter and the city’s website. An alert will flash on the site’s homepage and users may see all the notifications.

One resident asked if evacuation routes were listed on the website.

Carpenter said there’s a link on the emergency management page with routes.

City Manager Brian McDougal said city crews have been working overtime cleaning ditches and filling sandbags.

Havens expects some power outages to occur, particularly in Sabine Pass, but he expects the outages to last hours, not days or weeks until utility repairs are made.

School is still pending for the Port Arthur ISD until Monday. McDougal said, however, he spoke with Superintendent Mark Porterie who will make a decision on Saturday night.

As of Thursday, Sabine Pass schools are mulling cancelling classes for Friday and possibly delay the start of school by an hour on Monday morning.

Furthermore, a plan is in place to tag, crate and transport companion animals to shelters where their owners will care for them.