Baytown, Texas: Giant Alligator Evacuated During Hurricane HarveyBaytown, Texas: Giant Alligator Evacuated During Hurricane Harvey As Hurricane Harvey unleashed its fury upon the Texas Gulf Coast in August 2017, one unusual evacuee captured the attention of the nation: a massive alligator named Big Tex. Weighing over 800 pounds and measuring 11 feet long, Big Tex had become a beloved resident of a retention pond behind a Baytown shopping center. As the hurricane approached, authorities realized they needed to evacuate Big Tex to ensure his safety and prevent any potential encounters with displaced residents. A team of animal control officers and firefighters carefully maneuvered a large crate into the pond, luring Big Tex with raw chicken. After a tense few moments, the alligator entered the crate and was secured. The crate was then loaded onto a flatbed truck and taken to a secure facility outside of the hurricane zone. “It was like trying to catch a runaway train,” said one of the animal control officers involved in the evacuation. “But we got him, and we’re all relieved.” Big Tex’s evacuation became a symbol of the unprecedented challenges faced by first responders and animal welfare organizations during the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. The massive scale of the flooding and the number of displaced animals required an extraordinary response, and the safe evacuation of Big Tex was a testament to the dedication of these individuals. After the storm passed, Big Tex was returned to his pond in Baytown, where he resumed his role as a local celebrity and a reminder of the resilience of the community. His evacuation story became a widely shared tale of the extraordinary efforts undertaken to protect both human and animal lives during a natural disaster.