The effort in Texas to evacuate 3.1 million people during the unprecedented preparation for Hurricane Rita, while successful in getting the state’s citizens out of harms way, certainly exposed weaknesses in Texas’ emergency preparedness planning for fuel availability.In response to these events and their results, Governor Perry created the Task Force on Evacuation, Transportation, and Logistics.The Governor chose Texas Oil & Gas Association as the industry’s representative on this Task Force.

After several months of study and fact finding, the Task Force submitted their final report to the Governor on February 14, 2006.Fuel availability was deemed a critical component of the evacuation and recommendations relating to this availability stated that “the Governor should direct the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to work with the Texas Oil and Gas Association and other industry partners to develop a plan to address fuel availability along major evacuation routes” and that “the Governor should direct local governments to ensure fuel availability for an evacuation.”

On March 21, 2006, the Governor signed an Executive Order which ordered improvements in fuel availability during a mass evacuation to include the Task Force recommendations.Wade Upton, Valero Energy Corporation, a Task Force member and the committee chair for Fuel Availability, was subsequently named as the State’s Fuel Coordinator.

In early May or June of each year, TXOGA participates in a state hurricane drill which focuses on mass evacuations similar to those required during Hurricane Rita. The Association’s role relates to emergency fueling requirements along evacuation routes in the gulf coast areas of Texas.

During the drill, the Fuel Coordinator established a team, including TXOGA Vice President for Environmental Affairs Debbie Hastings, to implement the Governor’s recommendations related to fuel.One of the key objectives of this team is to support and partner with the industry to prevent run-outs at retail sites along the evacuation routes. The team, through expedited fuel deliveries, will help to keep as many sites supplied with fuel during the evacuation as possible by augmenting industry’s existing plans.

In discussing the Fuel Availability Plan, Ms. Hastings said, “This is a living, flexible plan with diverse approaches to fulfilling what industry does best - provide fuel.”