Damage from Hurricane Ike in the Houston-Galveston area is substantial and widespread. Of 10 Houston area parole offices that are reporting, four have significant wind and water damage. None of the offices has power, and estimates of when power will be restored vary according to location. It appears, however, that power will be out for the remainder of this week.

Probation offices in the Houston-Galveston area are closed as well. It is estimated that those will be closed for at least a week.

The city of Galveston is closed. Downtown Houston is closed. Galveston is extensively flooded, and there is no way to determine when normal operations can resume. The downtown area of the city of Houston, which includes the courts and the Harris County probation office, is closed because of extensive street debris from broken windows and downed trees, billboards and signs.

In addition to the Houston-Galveston area (Harris and Galveston counties) Jefferson County (city of Beaumont) and Orange County (city of Orange) have extensive water and wind damage. It is too soon to estimate when these will reopen. A comprehensive report is being prepared, and I will update you when I get that.

The Texas Interstate Compact Office in Austin is open for business and all operations are normal. However, neither Regina Grimes nor Ethel White is in the office today because they are in Dallas conducting ICOTS training, which had been previously scheduled. Therefore, any emails that you have sent to them will not be received until Tuesday at the earliest.

Please try to bear with us as we recover from the storm.

Kathie Winckler
Commissioner
State of Texas