Emergency Preparedness

hurricane season

Hurricane Preparation Kit - Suggested Items

  • Water - 1 gallon per person for 7 days
  • Non-perishable food - enough for 7 days
  • Battery-powered or hand-crank radio
  • Flashlight
  • First Aid Kit
  • Extra Batteries
  • Whistle to signal for help
  • Moist towlettes, garbage bags, and plastic ties for personal sanitation
  • Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
  • Manual can opener for food
  • Cellphone with charges and backup battery
  • Prescription medications - suggested 30 day supply
  • Nonprescription medications such as pain relievers, anti-diarrhea medication, antacids, or laxitives
  • Glasses and contact lens solution
  • Infant formula, bottles, diapers, wipes, and diaper rash cream
  • Pet food and extra water for your pet(s)
  • Cash or traveler's checks
  • Important family documents (ie insurance policies, identification and bank account records) saved electronically or in a waterproof, portable container
  • Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person
  • Complete change of clothing appropriate for climate and sturdy shoes
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Matches in a waterproof container
  • Feminine supplies and personal hygiene items
  • Mess kits, paper cups, plates, paper towels and plastic utensils
  • Paper and pencil or pen
  • Books, games, puzzles or other activities for children
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Preparedness Recommendations from CenterPoint Energy


CenterPoint Energy urges customers to be prepared for potential impact as disturbances develop in the gulf. Customers are encouraged to have a plan in place, particularly if they depend on electricity for life-sustaining equipment requiring continuous power.

Tropical storms and hurricanes pose multiple threats including strong winds, areas of heavy rainfall, and storm surge potential. CenterPoint Energy crews are prepared to respond as soon as it is safe to do so and will work to restore power safely and efficiently.

Electrical and Gas Safety Tips from CenterPoint

The company also urges customers to follow important pre-and post-storm electric and natural gas safety tips.

Electric:

  • Stay away from downed power lines and electrical equipment. Be especially mindful of downed lines that could be hidden in floodwaters and treat all downed lines as if they are energized.
  • If you experience flooding and water has risen above the electrical outlets in your home, contact a licensed electrician before turning on the main circuit breaker or trying to restore power.
  • All electrical appliances and electronic equipment that have been submerged in water need to dry thoroughly for at least one week. Then, have them checked by a qualified repair person before turning them on. Attempting to repair a flood-damaged appliance could result in electrical shock or death. Attempting to restart it could result in further damage and costly repairs.
  • If the outside unit of an air conditioning system has been under water, mud and water may have accumulated in the controls. Have the unit checked by a qualified air conditioning technician.

Natural Gas:

  • Do not turn off your natural gas service at the meter; doing so could allow water to enter the natural gas lines.
  • Be alert for the smell of natural gas. If you smell gas, leave the area immediately and tell others to leave, too.
  • If you smell gas, do not turn the lights on or off, smoke, strike a match, use a cell phone or operate anything that might cause a spark, including a flashlight or a generator.
  • Do not attempt to turn natural gas valves on or off. Once safely away from the area, call 888-876-5786, and CenterPoint Energy will send a trained service technician immediately.
  • If your home was flooded, call a licensed plumber or gas appliance technician to inspect your appliances and gas piping to make sure they are in good operating condition before calling CenterPoint Energy to reconnect service. This includes outdoor gas appliances including pool heaters, gas grills, and gas lights.
  • Before conducting debris cleanup or digging on the property, or to locate underground natural gas lines and other underground utility lines, call 811 - the nationwide Call Before You Dig number.
  • Be aware of where your natural gas meter is located. As debris is put out for heavy trash pickup, make sure it is placed away from the meter. In many areas, the meter may be located near the curb. If debris is near a gas meter, damaging it and causing a potentially hazardous situation. If this happens, leave the area immediately and call CenterPoint Energy at 888-876-5786.

Texas Water Development Board - Flood Stakeholder Workshops

The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) has added a fourteenth workshop to its roster of flood outreach meetings around the state. The meeting will be held at Houston City Hall on Friday, August 23, at 9:30 a.m.

texas flood stakeholders workshops

Sign Up with HCFCD to Receive Customizable Water Level and Rainfall Alerts

Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) has announced enhancements to their website to provide residents the option to receive automated alerts regarding water levels and rainfall via text message, email, or both.

Harris County Flood Warning System Alert Sign Up

Harris County Flood Warning System Map

hurricane preparedness flyer 2019 outside
hurricane preparedness flyer 2019 inside

Helpful Phone Numbers

  • Red Cross - 1-800-733-2767
  • Coast Guard - 281-464-4852
  • CenterPoint (to report outages) - 713-207-2222
  • Donations Management - 1-800-924-5985
  • Volunteering - 281-656-1533 
FEMA

Cmr. George P. Bush Statement in Response to HUD Announcement Regarding Mitigation Funds

Aug. 2, 2019 AUSTIN  – Today, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced that it will soon publish Federal Register notices for disaster mitigation funds. The first notice will include funds for Texas, Louisiana, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, West Virginia, California, Missouri and Georgia; and the second will include funds for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Once the first Federal Register Notice is published, the Texas General Land Office will be able to begin drafting an action plan for how the state will use $4.3 billion in mitigation funds.

“Today’s announcement that HUD will soon release rules for Texas’ long awaited mitigation funds is welcome news,” said Commissioner George P. Bush. “These rules will determine how we can use our funds to better protect Texans living along our coast. Our hope is that these rules will be limited, allowing for the greatest flexibility to best protect coastal communities as quickly as possible. We are now in the third month of the 2019 Hurricane Season – these funds cannot come quickly enough.”

  1. Greater Harris County 911
  2. Texas 211
  3. TDEM
  4. HCOHSEM

Greater Harris County 9-1-1

For 30 years GHC 9-1-1 has made it its mission to ensure that anyone, at anytime, in any place, using any device shall be able to reach emergency services. This year they are rolling out the new Emergency Notification System (ENS.) This is a voluntary alert system that will notify residents of events that could threaten lives, property, or could be dangerous. Previously, only landlines were eligible to receive notifications, but with the new ENS cell and Internet phones can now be contacted. For more information or to register, click on the link below to visit the GHC 9-1-1 home page.
Texas OEM
Texas OEM Spanish