Texas Gov. Rick Perry has issued a disaster declaration for 61 counties as the state prepares for a possible brush with Tropical Storm Gustav.

Perry said today that more than 5,000 national guardsmen and other state resources are on standby in case the storm comes ashore along the Texas Coast.

Forecasters said Gustav, which has winds approaching hurricane force, could make landfall Tuesday anywhere from Texas to the Florida Panhandle.

In Beaumont, some residents were already preparing by filling up their tanks and stocking their pantries. In Tyler, tourism officials said most of the 2,200 hotel rooms in the East Texas city are occupied or reserved as Gulf Coast residents make plans to head north.

From The Associated Press