By Ashley Rowland
Staff Writer
State and local officials say they’re ready in case another influx of hurricane evacuees comes to Tennessee this year.
“We have some know-how that we didn’t have before of how to get the job done,” said Paul Lynch, executive director of the Southeast Community Services Agency.
Hurricane season began Thursday and lasts through the end of November. About 18,000 evacuees arrived in Tennessee after hurricanes Katrina and Rita last fall, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Officials here say they learned lessons after Katrina that will help them be more prepared for another major hurricane, though they don’t expect one of that magnitude.
E-mail Ashley Rowland at arowland@timesfreepress.com
See tomorrow’s Chattanooga Times Free Press for full coverage.
