Cmr. George P. Bush Announces Hurricane Preparedness Public Outreach Campaign

Cmr. George P. Bush announces hurricane preparedness public outreach campaign

May 5-11 is National Hurricane Preparedness Week

AUSTIN – Today Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush announced the Texas General Land Office (GLO) has begun a preparedness public outreach initiative to encourage Texans to be prepared and stay prepared for hurricane season, which begins June 1.

The outreach coincides with FEMA’s National Hurricane Preparedness Week May 5-11 and urges Texans to take time now to know their risk, review their flood insurance policy or sign up for one, protect their home, safeguard documents and prepare emergency supplies and an evacuation route.

“Natural disasters damage homes and devastate the livelihoods of families, but Texans can take time now to prepare,” said Commissioner Bush. “Every day we are working hard at the General Land Office to change the way Texans prepare for natural disasters, and that begins at home. I encourage all Texans to follow the GLO on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for helpful info you can share with family, friends and neighbors. Learn how to be prepared and stay prepared.”

Texans can follow along on social media, watch the GLO’s preparedness tips on YouTube, and find resources for family and pet preparedness at https://youtu.be/LsAtaCoA2mk

BE PREPARED, STAY PREPARED

Natural disasters damage thousands of homes and devastate the livelihoods of families every day, but you can take time now to prepare.

Know Your Risk – Sign up for your community’s emergency warning system. The Emergency Alert System (EAS) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio also provide emergency alerts.

Gather Supplies – Keep in mind each person’s needs, gathering supplies for at least three days. Stock up on items such as food and water, non-perishable foods, first-aid supplies, prescriptions, pet supplies, flashlights and batteries. Don’t forget to charge electronics you may need.

Secure Documents – Remember to secure copies of important personal documents. Filing for government assistance requires documentation. Be sure to keep documents in a secure location and take them with you if you need to evacuate.

Make Your Evacuation Plan – Be familiar with the route and shelter locations. Discuss and practice drills for your evacuation plan with your family each year.

Protect Your Property – Shutter your home as needed, review your flood insurance policy (or sign up for one) and declutter drains and gutters. Most homeowner and renter insurance policies do not cover flood damage. A flood insurance policy generally does not take effect until 30 days after purchase, so be sure to maintain your policy.

WEATHER WEBSITES

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) – https://www.noaa.gov/
NOAA – Watches, Warnings or Advisorites for Texas – https://alerts.weather.gov/cap/tx.php?x=1
LCRA Flood Operations Report – https://floodstatus.lcra.org/
Corpus Christi Weather – https://www.weather.gov/crp/
Houston Weather – https://www.weather.gov/hgx/
Brownsville Weather – https://www.weather.gov/bro/
Lake Charles, LA (Southeast Texas) Weather – https://www.weather.gov/lch/
U.S Geological Survey app to let users locate stream gauges and water conditions near them – https://txpub.usgs.gov/water-onthego/

DISASTER PREPAREDNESS TIPS

FEDERAL DISASTER ASSISTANCE

Once there is a federal disaster declaration, residents of impacted counties can register for individual assistance by visiting disasterassistance.gov or calling 1-800-621-3362.

You can also email FEMA from the Disaster Assistance webform.

FEMA DISASTER RECOVERY CENTER (DRC)

A Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) is a readily accessible facility or mobile office where applicants may visit for information about FEMA or other disaster assistance programs.

There are two ways to find a DRC near you:

Use the DRC Locator to find addresses and DRC details. Find info like the hours of operation, services offered, and driving directions.
Text DRC and a Zip Code to 43362. Example: DRC 01234. Using this option doesn’t add you to any messaging service. It’s just like doing a search on the Web. (Standard text rates may apply.)

PREPAREDNESS & PARTNERS