TEXAS CITY, Texas—The phone lines at Houston’s 211 helpline keep ringing as Gustav gets closer.

Those calling are making arrangements for the disabled and elderly to evacuate.

Betty Dean called Friday morning. She uses a walker and her husband has Parkinson’s. 

She says she needs a back-up plan.

“I’m not a swimmer, I am a Baptist. But when I get too much water, I’m ready to go,” she said.

So far in Harris County alone, 30,000 people have called 211 to register for transportation assistance said David Jobe.

Joe is the 211 information director. “This year with the advent of storms in the gulf, people are more concerned how they would get out of town in the event of a hurricane.”

Our neighbors with special needs arguably suffered the most during the Hurricane Rita evacuation nightmare.

And then there was the bus from a Bellaire nursing home which burst into flames.

“Our goal is to stay here. It’s too hard on the residents to move them,” said Stephanie Kuebler who is a Texas City nursing home administrator.

Many of those residents may be too weak to survive an evacuation, still, the state requires the facilities have a plan.

“We have already identified how many resident would require sending them out by ambulance. We’ve already identified where we would be going,” said Kuebler.

Seniors who evacuate will be given ID bracelets just in case they get lost.