Harris County Urges Preparation for Above-Average Hurricane Season

As hurricane season approaches, the Harris County, Texas, Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HCOHSEM), still recovering from last year’s devastating Hurricane Harvey, set out to remind residents of hurricane dangers and how to prepare.

Harris County Commissioners Court designated the week of May 6 through May 12 as Hurricane Preparedness Week and, ahead of that, urged preparedness as early predictions for 2018 are for an above-average hurricane season.

“Regardless of the number of hurricanes predicted, I would remind our residents that it only takes one to devastate a community,” Harris County Judge Ed Emmett said in a press release. “Be assured that the county will continue to work to prepare our communities, but it is up to each individual to prepare themselves and their families.”

Recommendations for preparations include:
•    Discussing and practicing an emergency plan with family
•    Signing up to receive weather and emergency alerts
•    Assembling an emergency supply kit that includes an NOAA weather radio
•    Having an emergency bag ready to go with important documents in case of evacuation
•    Keeping vehicle gas tanks full
•    Trimming trees and branches that can fall on home or vehicle
•    Securing loose objects outside of homes before severe weather

Building a family disaster plan is important, and the free, HCOHSEM ReadyHarris app can help by providing a step-by-step guide for building a personalized plan. It also sends emergency alerts and offers survival tip sheets, maps evacuation routes and locates emergency services.