Intro Slate
The alligator capital of Texas was severely damaged due to Hurricane Ike. The biggest annual event of Anahuac, Texas was canceled in September 2008.
As the community gets back to normal they celebrate Gator Fest 2009.

Heather Hawthorn
Chamber County Clerk
September the 10th is the opening season in Texas so people bring their harvest into the festival they compete for prizes money cash money and they can sell their alligator to a buyer right here on site.

Sarah Cerrone
Chamber County
Director of Economic Development
This is year is special because we didn't have a festival last year for the first time in 20 years. Last year would of being our 20th festival, so we are excited to be here this year.

Heather Hawthorn
Chamber County Clerk
Last year in stead of having a gator fest we had a hurricane. Hurricane Ike made land fall right here in Chamber County so needless to say our festival was cancelled Ike made his way up the cost line it became inevitable that the county Judge was going to have to call for a mandatory evacuation so he had vendors already set up and taken down and everybody was out of the county by Friday morning before the storm hit Saturday morning. 

Darla Carney
Anahuac, TX Resident
We need a big party, we need it we deserve it.

Heather Hawthorn
Chamber County Clerk
Everybody volunteers to make this event happen there is no paid staff what so ever, so it's a true economic boost to our area and with a loss of revenue last year we are really counting on this year. Things are getting back to normal that good can do spirit is alive and well in Anahuac, Texas houses are being rebuilt, businesses have come back so we are excited to have this event

Sarah Cerrone
Chamber County
There are communities in Chambers County they are in the state of rebuilding we are pretty well cleaned up and looking forward to moving forward.
 

The overall attendance for the 2009 Gator Fest was approximately 30,000 people. This event brings a huge boost in the economy for Anahuac, Texas.
For more information visit 

www.fema.gov 

www.fema.gov/ike