Even though Hurricane Gustav was still more than 700 miles from the Gulf Coast, local emergency management crews worked Saturday as if they could already see waves of incoming evacuees.

Volunteers spent Saturday converting the Southwest Center into a Gustav evacuee reception and intake center, said Dave Hall, Texarkana Emergency Management coordinator.

“We are expecting buses to come tonight (Saturday) and we expect maybe a second round of evacuees either Sunday afternoon or evening,” Hall said.

Throughout Saturday, Texarkana Office of Emergency Service pers...

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