BELLAIRE • MEMORIAL • RIVER OAKS • TANGLEWOOD • WEST UNIVERSITY

Storm Season: How to Prepare

By Natalie French, Contributing writer | June 21, 2024

Updated:

Sunday, July 7, 8:51 am

Click the Buzz Me button to receive email notifications when this writer publishes a new article or a new article in this column is published.

We’ve gathered some tips and resources to stay weather-aware and prepared going into this hurricane season.

Meteorologists are predicting a particularly active storm season. (Watch a video from Eric Bereger, Space City Weather, discussing the 2024 hurricane season outlook here.) If recent storms are an indicator, it’s even more important to stay prepared. Space City Weather is a good source for Houstonians to stay aware of changes in the weather forecast (and his “no hype” promise is helpful especially for Houstonians who experience storm anxiety after the devastating impacts of past weather events). Here, we’ve rounded up tips and resources for staying prepared and tips to keep in mind for those planning to travel this summer.

Be prepared:

Neighborhood notifications

Sign up for Alert Houston to receive timely information through email, text message, phone calls, or phone push notifications.
Sign up for neighborhood-specific alert systems to get the most relevant alerts: Bellaire; West U; Memorial Villages
Sign up to receive power outage updates from Centerpoint

Prepare an emergency supply kit:

Flashlight with extra batteries
Water bottles
First aid kit
Sleeping bag for each person
Important family documents in a waterproof container
Essential medications
For more suggestions, find Harris County’s checklist here
Pet owners: Make sure you have extra pet food, essential medications, and any other supplies needed. Find a disaster preparedness checklist from the Houston SPCA here.
Prepare your pantry: Bottled waters, instant coffee, canned foods, granola bars, cereal, nut butters, dried fruits, breads. Find some specific ideas here.

Leaving town?

Before you head out on vacation, be sure to sign up for your neighborhood vacation watch. Neighborhood police will check up on your house while you are out of town, which could be particularly useful if the power goes out, with an increased risk of attracting looters. Sign up for your neighborhood watch: Bellaire, West U, Memorial Villages, Tanglewood, City of Houston.

Check the Harris County Flood Warning System, which allows you to type in your address and see real-time water levels nearby.

Stay calm

If you are experiencing any anxiety about past flooding or leading up to future summer storms, the Texas Tribune put together a list of resources to care for your mental health before, during, and after extreme weather.

Stay safe and dry.