What to Do
- Monitor current conditions with the National Weather Service at weather.gov/houston and the National Hurricane Center at hurricanes.gov.
- During high wind, shelter in a small, interior, windowless room or hallway on the lowest, dry floor.
- Stay off bridges over fast-moving water.
- Stay inside if your car is trapped in fast-moving floodwater. If water is rising in the vehicle, go onto the vehicle's roof.
- If trapped in a building, go to its highest level (avoid closed attics). Go onto the roof only if necessary.
How to Prepare
- Are You Rice Ready? Hurricane Preparedness (English)
- Are You Rice Ready? Hurricane Preparedness (Spanish)
- Are You Rice Ready? Hurricane Checklists
- Are You Rice Ready? Lab Preparedness Guidelines
- Make sure Wireless Emergency Alerts are turned on in the settings of your mobile device. They are on by default on Apple and Android devices.
- Other email and SMS weather alert services.
- For all Research Laboratories - follow these guidelines.
- Be sure you have five to seven days' worth of food, water and supplies; including prescription medication.
- Be sure you have a way to stay informed even if the power goes out, such as a battery-powered or hand-crank radio.
- Depending on your location and current information, plan to either evacuate or shelter in place. Review your evacuation zone, evacuation route and shelter locations.
- Know how to turn off utilities, including electricity, water and gas. Only turn off gas if instructed by local officials or by CenterPoint Energy. For safety tips from CenterPoint Energy, visit houstonemergency.org.
- Move vehicles away from floodprone areas, such as neighborhood streets.
- Ensure that street drains are clear of debris. Also, secure items that might float away and become lodged in drains.
- Cover windows with permanent storm shutters or board up windows with 5/8” exterior grade or marine plywood, cut to fit.
How to Recover
- Use generators or gasoline-powered machinery outdoors and away from windows.
- Do not use wet electrical equipment or while standing in water to avoid electric shock.
- Do not wade in floodwater which can contain contaminants.
