AUSTIN, Texas (Texas Insider Report) — When hurricanes make landfall, they can affect the lives of 1,000s of Texans along the coast and across the state. As hurricane season approaches, being aware of hazards and having a plan for evacuation can be lifesaving.
I'd like to talk about the importance of being prepared for the upcoming Hurricane Season. The 2020 Atlantic hurricane season begins on June 1st and concludes on November 30th. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the American Red Cross, the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA,) the Texas Department of Public Safety, and many other agencies work diligently to create hurricane awareness and provide key resources to keep Americans safe throughout hurricane season.
During hurricane season, tropical cyclones are more likely to form. Tropical cyclones are a rotating and organized system of clouds or thunderstorms that originate over tropical or subtropical waters. They have a closed low-level circulation, and rotate counterclockwise.
Not all tropical cyclones produce hurricanes. NOAA defines a tropical cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 38mph or less as tropical depressions.
A tropical storm is a tropical cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 39-73mph.
Hurricanes are a tropical cyclone with wind speeds of 74 mph or higher, and a major hurricane has a maximum sustained wind speed of 111 mph or more.
Its advised to prepare an Evacuation Checklist & Kit ahead of time. The Texas Division of Emergency Management and the National Weather Service recommends all coastal residents to have these items in their evacuation kits:
- First-Aid Kit
- Prescription Medications & copies of prescriptions
- Eyeglasses, Hearing Aids & batteries
- other Special Medical Items
- Important Documents & Records
- Photo IDs
- Proof of Residence
- Information to process Insurance Claims
- Credit Cards & Cash (if power is out, banks and ATMs may not be available)
- Battery-operated radio, NOAA Weather Radio and extra batteries
- Phone #'s of Family, friends and other important phone numbers
- Road Maps
- Extra keys & Booster Cables
- 3-Day Supply of Non-Perishable Food
- 1 Gallon of bottled water per person per day
- Coolers for Food & Ice storage, paper plates, utensils
Manual can opener, knife, tools, fire extinguisher, duct tape, tarp, rope- Flashlight with extra batteries
- Blankets, pillows, sleeping bags for each person, extra clothing, toys for children
- Supplies for Babies, the elderly and family members with special health care needs
- Toilet paper, cleanup supplies, personal hygiene products
- Leash, food, cleaning supplies and Veterinary Records for pets
- To find the best evacuation route, please visit: https://www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/division/traffic/safety/weather/hurricane.html
- For more information on building a Disaster Supplies Kit, visit: https://www.ready.gov/kit
The physical damage from hurricanes can be devastating. There are ways to mitigate damage from the strong winds and rain, though.
Simple fixes include trimming or removing damaged trees and limbs from your yard, as well as, have the proper materials in advance to board windows to protect them. You can also bring loose outdoor items inside, and secure all doors on your property, including the garage door, which is usually the most vulnerable.
- The National Hurricane Center provides several resources to keep you up-to-date. To keep up with potential storms throughout hurricane season, visit: https://www.nhc.noaa.gov.
- For more information on how and what to prepare for hurricane season, please visit the American Red Cross at https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/hurricane.html.
- You can also visit the Texas Department of State Health Services’ website at https://texasready.gov.
- For more information you can visit the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s website at https://www.ready.gov/hurricanes.
If you have questions regarding any of the information mentioned above, please don't hesitate to call my Capitol or District Offices. As always, we're available at any time to assist you with questions, concerns, or comments (Capitol Office, 512-463-0672; District Office, 361-949-4603). And please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or issues regarding a Texas State Agency or if you'd like help regarding Constituent Services.If you'd like to review more about the Texas State Legislature, visit the Texas Legislature Online.
State Representative Todd Hunter serves the constituents of Texas House District 32, which is composed of Aransas, Calhoun, San Patricio and part of Nueces County.
