Houston firefighters are ready if Gustav comes our way. On Thursday, crews were busy preparing, including pulling out rescue boats that will help pull people out of troubled waters if it comes to that.

At Houston Fire Department’s Station 11, crews were also making sure all the gear was in place.

“Checking all of our other gear. Our life vests, our helmets (and) our dry suits,” said firefighter Joel Simmons. 

The firefighters may even have to switch uniforms at some point and join Texas Task Force 1 if help is needed elsewhere.

“Several of us are pre-rostered to go should the state of Texas need our help,” said Simmons.

Firefighters were the only ones getting prepared.

The checking of flood gauges gets more important and will become an electronic first responder should Gustav come this way and deluge Houston. Upstream gauges will signal which downstream neighborhoods could flood before the water comes.