SAN ANTONIO -- Here is an interesting twist in the preparation for Hurricane Alex.
Just up I-35 at the Snake Farm, they're rounding up all their slithery residents and feathered friends -- just in case.
Robert Jackson has a plan -- and a backup plan -- should Alex come rolling in.
He deals with more than a hundred venomous snakes on a regular basis -- black and green mambas, King cobras and rattlesnakes.
But when it's time to move them out of their caged-up glass dwellings, he needs special tools and extra staff.
Jackson says they've already begun preparing for the storm by bringing in dozens and dozens of containers and crates for their animals. If need be, they'll put the venomous snakes in secure bags and containers, then house them in a storage room inside the Snake Farm building.
"We have actual venomous buckets for these guys they have screw-on lids that can be screwed on nice and solid," Jackson said.
He says they have more than 400 animals at the farm, including at least 250 snakes, plus alligators, lemurs, turtles, pigs, goats and dozens of birds.
Jackson says they are watching Alex closely, especially for high winds and floods. Some of the animals will be safe at the Snake Farm, while others may need temporary homes to ride out the weather.
Jackson says It can take hours to move the giant pythons and some of the deadliest snakes.
"Those animals go into a secure enclosure," he said. "That way, we know our animals are safe and the public is safe."
Jackson says they haven't made the decision to move the animals yet, but if Alex becomes a serious threat, they'll be ready.
For now, Snake Farm will stay open.
