I posted this on the Gist forum, but since it affects several units, I wanted to share the info. I just copied and pasted this from the TDC website at 7:50 this morning:

OFFENDER FAMILY ADVISORY
TROPICAL STORM GUSTAV

Visitation for Saturday, August 30th and Sunday August 31st will be CANCELED at the following TDCJ Units:

Stiles Unit in Beaumont
LeBlanc Unit in Beaumont
Gist Unit in Beaumont
Beto Unit in Tennessee Colony, Texas
Coffield Unit in Tennessee Colony, Texas
Gurney Unit in Tennessee Colony, Texas
Michael Unit in Tennessee Colony, Texas
Powledge Unit in Palestine, Texas
Family members wishing to seek information on offenders incarcerated in these or other potentially affected TDCJ units may call a 24-hour TDCJ Hotline.
The TDCJ 24-hour Hotline Number is: 936-437-6127
Updated information will appear on the TDCJ website as additional information becomes available.
Agency administrators and unit staff appreciate your patience and understanding during this time of emergency operations.

These units are receiving inmates from the southern units to house, do to the storm the storm coming in.
ALL inmates WILL be safe, do not worry!
Per Mr. Stevens district supervisor.
Be safe.

Thank you for your words of encouragement. I am worrying more each minute. I live in the Houston/Baytown area, and my husband just transferred to Gist this week. I just checked the TDC site again and it says that Gist and one other unit are in the process of evacuation. So now I am worried about the safety of the inmates there as well as what we may get here. I appreciate you sharing any info you have and am sure others do, too. I tried to call the hotline, but no answer - I'm sure they are swamped with calls right now.

I wish I would have known this at 2 AM when I left my house to go visit my husband and brother in law.. 9 hours of driving time, nearly 400 miles (round trip) and about $70 into my gas tank - I set here in a bad mood.. Ha.

Gosh emo ---- what a bummer! So sorry you didn't get your visit!

There have been other visitation interruptions on other
Units because of staffing adjustments due to the storm


Texas Department of Criminal Justice


<img width="343" height="2"> Brad Livingston
Executive Director




TDCJ Evacuates 2 East Texas Units


Texas Department of Criminal Justice officials initiated the evacuation of two Beaumont prison units Saturday morning in preparation of next week’s landfall of Hurricane Gustav.

Offenders from TDCJ’s LeBlanc Unit and TDCJ’s Gist State Jail were evacuated on Saturday morning and transported to several units in the Huntsville , Livingston and Palestine areas. A total of 1,100 inmates were moved from the LeBlanc Unit and 2,082 inmates were moved from the Gist State Jail. Prison officials currently are planning for offenders housed at the Stiles Unit, also in Beaumont , to remain sheltered at the facility because of its ability to withstand wind and inclement weather.

On Friday night, 14 infirmary patients were transferred from the Stiles Unit to the Estelle Unit in Huntsville to continue their treatment.

Weekend visitation for all three Beaumont units was canceled, and visitation also was canceled at the Beto, Coffield, Gurney and Michael units in Tennessee Colony, the Powledge Unit in Palestine , and the Hightower Unit, Plane State Jail and Henley Unit, all in Dayton .

Family members wishing to have information on offenders incarcerated in these and other potentially affected TDCJ units may call a 24-hour TDCJ hotline at 936-437-6127. Updated information will appear on the TDCJ’s Web site at http://www.tdcj. state.tx. us (http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/) as additional information becomes available.

I'm hoping someone that has been through this before would help me understand. The hurricane is going to where LA. and TX meet. So why would they cancel visitation down at Segovia(by mexico/TX border)? That seems silly. And I cant get through to the 24 hour # they have posted. Does anyone know if they would go as far as evacuating them?

It's possible that some inmates have been transferred to his unit. I' am sure that they are shuffling workers around to assist with the evacuations and that is probably why other units visitations have been cancelled. Just not enough staff to go around.

:)I just got through And Segovia visits have NOT been cancelled. I dont know why I was told that when I called. But I called and spoke to someone else and they confirmed that visits are still available. And They said the ones in TENN Colony have been closed since they are getting some evacuees.


Thank You for your help. I wish misinformed people werent allowed to answer the phones! :idea: