Tropical Storms Marco and Laura Updates & Preparedness Information
As we continue watching the uncertain path of Tropical Storms Marco and Laura, now is the time to prepare for potentially bad weather to our area.
- Stock your emergency kit, refill prescriptions, fill your car with gas, and have a plan ready. More preparedness information can be found here.
- Sign up for AlertHouston for updates.
- Turn on your emergency alerts on your cell phone so that you can get information about evacuations based on your location if that becomes necessary. Information about how to turn this on can be found here: iPhone or Android. Settings may vary by phone. Please contact your phone manufacturer if necessary.
- Clear your drains of leaves and trash. You can even adopt a drain by visiting www.houstonadoptadrain.org. There is also a contest to name the drain on the website.
- If you need assistance in evacuating during a disaster, register for the State of Texas Emergency Assistance Registry (STEAR). STEAR allows residents to provide information on their specific situation to emergency management officials who will work to help them evacuate safely or provide them with the appropriate life-sustaining help they need in a disaster. Call 2-1-1 or visit www.TexasSTEAR.org for more information.
Disaster Preparedness Guide
Prepare today by following a four-step preparedness process: make an emergency plan, have an emergency kit, be informed about disasters, and help members of your community prepare themselves.
Make an Emergency Plan
The first step in preparing for disasters is to make a plan. Have a plan for what you and your family will do in an emergency. Consider how you will communicate with each other, where you will meet, and who you can leave messages with out-of-state if you can’t reach people locally.
Houston residents who might need additional help in evacuating during a disaster can register for the State of Texas Emergency Assistance Registry (STEAR), which allows residents to provide information on their specific situation to emergency management officials who will work to help them evacuate safely, or provide them with the appropriate life-sustaining help they need in a disaster. Call 2-1-1 or visit www.TexasSTEAR.org for more information.
The City of Houston Disaster Preparedness Guide (DPG) is updated annually and provides information about emergency planning to Houston residents. The Guide is available in six languages for download:
- English
- Español (Spanish)
- Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)
- 中文 (Chinese)
- العَرَبِيَّة (Arabic)
- Français (French)
Have an Emergency Supply Kit
After you have your plan, start building a kit. Houston residents should have what they need to be on their own for 5-7 days following a storm. This includes food, water, medications, and individual needs such as medical devices or pet supplies.
Home delivery is the safest choice for buying disaster supplies this year. Protect yourself and others when filling prescriptions by limiting in-person visits to the pharmacy. Sign up for mail order delivery or call in your prescription ahead of time and use drive-through windows or curbside pickup, if available.
If you need to evacuate, prepare a “go kit” with personal items you cannot do without during an emergency. Include items that can help protect you and others from COVID-19, such as hand sanitizer, or bar or liquid soap if not available, and two cloth face coverings for each person.
Stay Informed
If you stay informed, you’ll know when disasters are going to strike. Know where to go to get updated information, including local television and radio, as well as official websites such as:
- Houston Office of Emergency Management: www.houstonoem.org
- Houston Emergency Site: www.houstonemergency.org
- Official Social Media Channels:
- City of Houston Emergency Information:Twitter: @
alerthouston - Facebook: facebook.com/
alerthouston - City of Houston Office of Emergency Management:Twitter: @
houstonoem - Facebook: facebook.com/
houstonoem - Instagram: @houstonoem
- Nextdoor: nextdoor.com/pages/houston-
office-of-emergency- management
The City of Houston offers emergency alerts through the AlertHouston emergency notification system. People who live or work in Houston can receive emergency notifications via email, text message and through a mobile app.
Register for alerts today at www.alerthouston.org
Know your Neighbors
Your neighbors can be a great source of help immediately after a disaster. Get to know your neighbors, particularly those too elderly or too ill to independently plan or prepare themselves for a disaster. By knowing your neighbors ahead of time, your community will work better as a team when disasters strike.
When you check on neighbors and friends, be sure to follow social distancing recommendations (staying at least 6 feet, about 2 arms’ length, from others) and other CDC recommendations to protect yourself and others.
For more information about helping your neighborhood get ready for hurricane season, visit www.houstonoem.org/ preparedness-are-you-ready
Sign Up for the Flood Warning System
Sign up now for Harris County Flood Control District’s (HCFCD) Flood Warning System to start receiving real-time rainfall amounts and water levels. The purpose of the Flood Warning System is to provide residents and emergency personnel with access to timely information collected by the gages.
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Plan for Your Electricity Needs During Hurricane Season
During hurricane season, there is a strong possibility that you might be left without electricity for at least a short amount of time. Please plan ahead now, especially if you have medicine or other necessary itmes that need to be refrigerated or that need an electricty source to use.
Visit https://www.houstonoem.org/ request-preparedness- materials/ to learn more about planning for a hurricane.