Corpus Christi is home to several sensitive facilities, and the state's largest nuclear power plant is in Bay City, just up the coast, and all of them are taking steps to prepare for Hurricane Harvey, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
At the South Texas Nuclear Project, spokesman Buddy Eller tells News Radio 1200 WOAI the facility was built to withstand hurricane force winds.
"From a regulatory standpoint, if we have a wind speed of more than 74 miles an hour, we will safely shut both units down," he said.
Even though Bay City is north of the target zone, at least right now, 74 mile an hour winds are not out of the question.
"The region that rule is in place is that, at that wind speed, you are likely to have some transmission infrastructure issues, so there is nowhere to send the power.
The Navy says Naval Air Station Kingsville has been closed to all non essential personnel until further notice.
Capt. Erik Spitzer says non essential personnel will be evacuated to the Joint Reserve Base in Fort Worth.“I spoke with Kingsville Mayor Sam Fugate and Kleberg County Judge Rudy Madrid earlier today,” said Spitzer. “We are all of the same mindset that personal safety is paramount.”
Nearly all of the 30 T-45 aircraft assigned to Training Wing 2 at the base will relocate to Ft. Worth as well. Several others will be placed inside hardened hangars to ride out the storm.
At the Port of Corpus Christi, which is emerging as the leading oil export terminal in the country, spokeswoman Rose Collins says this is the first direct hit they've had since Celia in 1970.
"We are tying things down, we are going to all the docks to make sure all the safety mechanisms are in place," she said.
Collins says the Port of Corpus Christi has routine hurricane training exercises throughout the year, so officials are prepared for this activity, and she is confident the ships and the docks can be protected.
PHOTO' NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION