The 2018 storm season blows in on June 1. If disaster strikes, Missouri City’s Emergency Operations Center is ready to respond.
“In a disaster, communication between the City and residents is key; we saw this first-hand last year with Hurricane Harvey,” said City Manager Anthony J. Snipes. “Over the next 24 days, residents are encouraged to visit our emergency management website,www.MissouriCityReady.com, to sign up to receive emergency alerts and to learn how to prepare supply kits and stock up on necessary items such as non-perishable food, water, flashlights, batteries, radios, first-aid kits, cell phones, chargers, maps and important documents.”
Residents may also sign up for emergency alerts via Twitter.com/MissouriCityEM.
While Fort Bend is designated by the State as a pass-through county for evacuees who live along the Gulf Coast, residents are still encouraged to prepare themselves and stay aware of the potential for severe weather that can accompany tropical systems.
As the “Show Me City” and the region witnessed during Harvey, hurricanes can produce heavy winds, storm surges, torrential rains, inland flooding and tornadoes. It is important that all citizens and businesses be aware of the hazards severe weather presents. Emergency management officials stress the importance of keeping a list of informational resources for reference. Recommendations for City residents include:
- Police and Fire Departments: 911 or 281.403.8700
- CenterPoint Energy: 713.207.2222
- American Red Cross, Fort Bend County Branch: 281.342.9480
- Enable Fort Bend (www.enablefortbend.com); 281.238.3514; the agency assists individuals with functional and medical needs during an emergency or disaster
- MCTV: Comcast Ch. 16; AT&T U-verse Ch. 99
- WQMN – 1690 AM: Emergency advisory radio station
Officials also encourage residents to:
- Assess your risks and know your home’s vulnerability to storm surge, flooding and wind.
- Understand National Weather Service forecasts, and especially the meaning of hurricane and tornado watches and warnings. Hurricanes: For a storm watch in this category, forecasters would report a possibility of winds of 74 mph and higher within 36 hours. For a warning, forecasters would report a possibility of winds at the same speed within 24 hours. Tornadoes: A watch is an alert to monitor the skies and a warning signals that a tornado has struck the ground and shelter must be sought immediately.
And, for the following types of severe weather, experts offer these safety tips:
- Lightning: Avoid high objects, stay away from isolated trees, telephone poles or communications antennas. Avoid contact with metal surfaces and do not bathe, swim or boat. Only use the telephone for emergency purposes.
- Flash Floods: Never drive through flooded roadways, do not cross flooded roads or waterways on foot, avoid ditches and storm drains and stay tuned to local media for road reports and updates.
- Tornadoes: Texas is struck by more tornadoes than any other state. The safest places to seek shelter in homes, schools or workplaces are interior rooms, such as bathrooms, closets, rooms without windows, hallways, auditoriums and gyms. If driving when a tornado strikes, leave the vehicle and lie flat in a ditch or ravine, if possible.
For more information about Missouri City, please watch the City website:www.missouricitytx.gov, like us on Facebook—fb/MissouriCityTX, follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat—@MissouriCityTX and watch Missouri City Television (Ch. 16 on Comcast and Ch. 99 on AT&T U-verse).
