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Mexicans Living on Texas Gulf Hurry Home

By OLGA R. RODRIGUEZ, Associated Press Writer 1 hour, 20 minutes ago

MONTERREY, Mexico - Hundreds of Mexicans living on the Texas Gulf Coast were rushing home Thursday to avoid Hurricane Rita, while authorities in northern Mexico readied shelters and prepared for heavy rains.

In Nuevo Laredo, across from Laredo, Texas, Mexican families coming from Houston, Galveston, South Padre Island, Corpus Christi and Pasadena, Texas, waited in long lines to get temporary import permits for their cars.

"We're heading to Monclova because what happened in New Orleans could also happen there," said Moises Ramirez, a resident of Pasadena, Texas, who was heading to the Mexican border state of Coahuila with six relatives.

Nuevo Laredo authorities said families crossing from Texas started coming to the border city late Wednesday, and by Thursday morning more than 1,000 people had crossed into Mexico.

"Hearing Rita was one of the most powerful hurricanes in the history of the Gulf was enough for me to leave," said Roberto Garcia, who left his home in Corpus Christi and was heading to a suburb of Monterrey, where his family lives.

The influx of Mexicans fleeing the Texas Gulf Coast was expected to increase, and authorities were adding customs agents and personnel at the border.

Many families in northern Mexico have relatives in Texas, and South Padre Island is a popular vacation spot for people from Monterrey.

In Nuevo Leon state, which includes Monterrey, Gov. Natividad Gonzalez sent a letter to Texas Gov. Rick Perry offering to send in medical and rescue crews. Gonzalez also said Nuevo Leon was prepared to set up shelters near the border in case they are needed.

"Just like you have helped the victims of Katrina, we in Nuevo Leon are ready to offer help to our friends in Texas," Gonzalez wrote.

Salvador Trevino, public safety director for Tamaulipas state, which borders the Texas Rio Grande Valley, said no evacuations have been ordered because Rita is expected to make landfall in Galveston, Texas.