FEMA Sets Up Office in Texas As Rita Nears
Sep 22 12:32 PM US/Eastern
By APRIL CASTROAssociated Press Writer
AUSTIN, Texas

Hundreds of federal officials are on the ground in Texas, where truckloads of water, food, ice and medical supplies are set to head for the coast once Hurricane Rita makes landfall.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has set up a field office in Austin, where its mobilizing to prepare for the Category 5 storm and readying to respond to the anticipated Saturday landfall on the Gulf Coast.

"I don't think we're doing anything differently than we would for a (Category 5 storm) anywhere else," said Laird Basehoar, spokeswoman for the Texas FEMA office.
The FEMA field office was set up two weeks ago to aid in Texas' response in sheltering Hurricane Katrina evacuees, but now is doubling as a base for Rita preparations.

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