Hays County officials were reviewing their Katrina playbook Tuesday as  Hurricane Laura churned in the Gulf of Mexico. 

When Katrina hit New Orleans in August of 2005 many evacuee eventually found their way here, as did dozens of pets. 

County Judge Ruben Becerra, who cut local emergency management officials loose after their coronavirus update during Tuesday’s meeting, said he has been in contact with officials in Brazoria County southeast of Houston.

The hurricane’s advance as the COVID-19 pandemic continues complicates evacuations. Commissioners questioned whether evacuees would be tested prior to getting on buses to Central Texas, and there were questions about facilites available to shelter them. Schools, which were used for that purpose in the aftermath of Katrina, are not available now because of the pandemic.

Laura is forecast to move ashore near the Texas/Louisiana border on Wednesday with a storm surge of up to 13 feet.