By Amy Moore

The News staff writer

Residents in Mid-County who chose not to follow the mandatory evacuation order could be without water and sewer as city officials decide what steps to take in evacuating.

“We’re going to be the last ones in town and police and fire will be the last ones out. The last one out will shut down the water and sewer until we get back in — and maybe not even then,” LaDonna Floyd, Nederland city clerk said. “It could be Tuesday morning, who knows. If it is then (Tuesday), it’ll be pretty late, but there’s too much costly damage if we leave it running.”

Port Neches city manager, Andre Wimer said if water plants are left operating without consumption, the system will continue to push water through with no where to go.

“We had line breaks in (Hurricane) Rita because pressure built up in the system,” he explained.

Groves city manager D. Sosa said city officials are still unsure of their Hurricane Gustav evacuation plans, but said they will turn the water off if they decided to leave.

“All fire and police and public works crews are staying until the last minute and may not leave. We just might get a rain event and wind,” he said about the threat of Gustav. “We’ll make the decision when it gets closer to us, Sunday evening or Monday morning.”

Sosa said because the city’s sewer system mostly works on gravity, flushing won’t be a problem for those who stay behind.

“The only problem we’ll have is with lots of rain,” he said. “We filled up the (water) towers so they’ll be stronger to withstand wind.”

Wimer said the final track of the storm will help determine what Port Neches city officials will do, but a concern is protecting equipment.