Texas Crews At The Ready For Hurricane Laura Cleanup

AUSTIN, TX — State transportation crews are poised to mobilize more than a dozen workers from the Austin area to help with storm cleanup efforts after Hurricane Laura makes landfall on the Gulf Coast, officials said Wednesday.

The Texas Department of Transportation will mobilize 17 maintenance crew members from the Austin area to assist in cleanup efforts, according to an advisory. To that end, the maintenance team will clear debris and repair damaged traffic signals and signs in the Beaumont area after the storm makes landfall, officials said. Additional crew members are on standby to respond to the storm aftermath, according to the advisory.

"We remind drivers to obey all warning signs and watch for flooding on roadways," transportation officials wrote. "Don’t drive around barricades and remember, Turn Around, Don’t Drown. Plan your route and check weather reports at DriveTexas.org or by calling 800-452-9292."

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Hurricane Laura is expected to make landfall overnight as a Category 4 hurricane. At last check, its winds were whipping up at some 170 miles per hour, and the tye of the story measured about 35 miles in diameter.