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Emergency Preparedness
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
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.
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.
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
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.”
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 2-1-1
2-1-1 Texas is a free help line answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 2-1-1 Texas is connected to nearly every service in the state, including government agencies, food pantries, career services, after-school programs, counseling services and many other state and local resources. During any statewide disaster response, a special Option Number 4 is activated to point callers directly to disaster-related information. When Option Number 4 is activated for disaster response, that is the first option that the caller hears.
For more information on Texas 2-1-1, visit the Texas 2-1-1 website.
Texas Divison of Emergency Management
The Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) coordinates the state emergency management program, which is intended to ensure the state and its local governments respond to and recover from emergencies and disasters, and implement plans and programs to help prevent or lessen the impact of emergencies and disasters.
TDEM implements programs to increase public awareness about threats and hazards, coordinates emergency planning, provides an extensive array of specialized training for emergency responders and local officials, and administers disaster recovery and hazard mitigation programs in the State of Texas.
For more information, visit the Texas Division of Emergency Management website.
Harris County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management
The City of Southside Place actively works with the Harris County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management to help prepare, safeguard and protect the residents and property of Southside Place from the effects of disasters through effective planning, preparation, response and recovery activities.
Harris County Homeland Security and Emergency Management
The Regional Joint Information Center (JIC) is your best source fore timely and accurate information when emergency conditions exist in the greater Harris County area. Please visit their site for more information on how to prepare for any event.
Regional Joint Information Center