 Owing to the abrupt nature of Abby 's development on August 7 , residents had little time to prepare for the storm . According to Irvin Velbrecht , " in the absence of aircraft reconnaissance and radar information , two reasonably new tools in storm detection , Abby could well have formed and approached the shore before knowledge of a tropical storm was gained . " Gale warnings were raised from Galveston to San Antonio immediately following the storm 's formation and were kept in place through the morning of August 8 . Evacuation orders were issued for Matagorda Island and most complied , with some deciding to remain at their homes . Personnel at Matagorda Island Air Force Base were evacuated to Victoria . Red Cross facilities were readied and public shelters were opened in the area . At the mouth of the Colorado River , seagoing vessels were tied down with extra rope . Within the Weather Bureau , members of the Galveston office were the first to notice the system and relayed to the other offices in the area to attune their radars to follow the system . 
 Owing to the abrupt nature of Abby <a href='null_genetive' title='1'><mark>'s</mark></a>development on August 7 , residents had little time to prepare for the storm . According to Irvin Velbrecht , " in the absence of aircraft reconnaissance and radar information , two reasonably new tools in storm detection , Abby could well <a href='been_done' title='2'><mark>have</mark></a> formed and approached the shore before knowledge of a tropical storm was gained . " Gale warnings <a href='uninflect' title='3'><mark>were</mark></a> raised from Galveston to San Antonio immediately following the storm <a href='null_genetive' title='4'><mark>'s</mark></a>formation and <a href='uninflect' title='5'><mark>were</mark></a> kept in place through the morning of August 8 . Evacuation orders <a href='uninflect' title='6'><mark>were</mark></a> issued for Matagorda Island and most complied , with some deciding to remain at their homes . Personnel at Matagorda Island Air Force Base <a href='uninflect' title='7'><mark>were</mark></a> evacuated to Victoria . Red Cross facilities <a href='uninflect' title='8'><mark>were</mark></a> readied and public shelters <a href='uninflect' title='9'><mark>were</mark></a> opened in the area . At the mouth of the Colorado River , seagoing vessels <a href='uninflect' title='10'><mark>were</mark></a> tied down with extra rope . Within the Weather Bureau , members of the Galveston office <a href='uninflect' title='11'><mark>were</mark></a> the first to notice the system and relayed to the other offices in the area to attune their radars to follow the system . 
Owing to da abrupt nature of Abby  development on August 7 , residents had lil time to prepare fir the storm . According to Irvin Velbrecht , " in the absence of aircraft reconnaissance and radar information , two reasonably new tools in storm detection , Abby could well done formed and approached the shore b4 knowledge of a tropical storm was gained . " Gale warnings was raised from Galveston to San Antonio immediately following the storm  formation and was kept in place through the mornin of August 8 . Evacuation orders was issued for Matagorda Island and most complied , w/ some deciding to remain at their homes . Personnel at Matagorda Island Air Force Base was evacuated to Victoria . Red Cross facilities was readied and public shelters was opened in tdaarea . At thdaouth of thedalorado River , seagoing vessels was tied down wiwxtra rope . Within the dather Bureau , members of the Gdaeston office was the first to notice the system and relayed to the other offices in the area to attune their radars to follow the sydam .