Hurricane Beryl made landfall as a Category 1 hurricane around 4 a.m. near Matagorda on July 8. Rain bands producing heavy rainfall and flooding threats continue to impact Texas as the storm moves inland through the eastern half of the state. Texans who sustained damage caused by the tropical weather are encouraged to report it through the Individual State of Texas Assessment Tool (iSTAT).
Being prepared means having your own food, water, and other supplies to last for at least 72 hours. A disaster supplies kit is a collection of basic items your household may need in the event of an emergency.
Make sure your emergency kit is stocked with essential items.
Download the FEMA app to receive real-time alerts from the National Weather Service.
Sign up for community alerts in your area and be aware of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA), which require no sign-up.
Visit Ready.gov/hurricanes or Ready.gov/es/huracanes (en Español) for more readiness tips.
If you are ordered to evacuate, know the local hurricane evacuation routes to take and have a plan for where you can stay. Contact your local emergency management agency for more information.
Snap photos of important documents and save them online or in a secure place you can access during an emergency.
Put together a go-bag: disaster supply kit, including a flashlight, batteries, cash, first aid supplies, medications, and copies of your critical information if you need to evacuate.
If you are not in an area that is advised to evacuate and decide to stay in your home, plan for adequate supplies in case you lose power and water for several days and are not able to leave due to flooding or blocked roads.
Make a family emergency communication plan.
Many communities have text or email alerting systems for emergency notifications. To find out what alerts are available in your area, search online with your town, city, or county name and the word “alerts.”
Hurricane winds can cause trees and branches to fall; therefore, before hurricane season trim or remove damaged trees and limbs to keep you and your property safe.
Secure loose rain gutters and downspouts and clear any clogged areas or debris to prevent water damage to your property.
Reduce property damage by retrofitting to secure and reinforce the roof, windows, doors—including garage doors.
Purchase a portable generator or install one for use during power outages. Keep generators outside at least 20 feet away from windows and doors protected from moisture; never try to power house wiring by plugging a generator into a wall outlet.
Consider building a FEMA safe room or ICC 500 storm shelter designed for protection from high winds in locations above flooding levels.
The websites below provide additional resources: