Not taking any chances, Texas officials began mandatory evacuations for residents along the coast as Hurricane Ike takes aim and gains strength.

Otis Latin, Director Homeland Security, said we don’t want our citizens to be afraid. 

“We just want them to understand we're taking it serious; they should take it serious we want them to be prepared,” he said. 

The powerful storm is predicted to strike on the Texas coast early Saturday.  

Nine days after Hurricane Gustav, the Delco Community Center is once again preparing for another wave of evacuees.   

 “The evacuees will come here before the storm so we have to start before the storm,” said Sara Hartley of the Austin Homeland Security Department. 

 Wednesday emergency management teams started getting ready for their arrival.

 American Red Cross volunteers loaded up trucks full of supplies.

Over at Town Lake Animal Shelter, volunteers packed last minute items from towels to dog crates-- everything they'll need to run an off site animal shelter. 

The shelter director said they are prepared. 

“The plan is to keep the animals at the shelter with their humans as much as possible,” said Dorinda Pulliam, Shelter Director.  

The threat of severe weather for our own area is making preparations that much more difficult. 

We don’t know how much rain may come our way so were ready for whatever Ike may throw at us,” said Susana Juarte, Emergency Management Coordinator. 

President Bush has declared a state of emergency for 25 of the 88 counties Governor Perry requested.

 If more mandatory evacuations are ordered, it would be the first large-scale evacuation in south Texas history.