'Everyone should be making preparations' for possible hurricane, Houston leaders say

HOUSTON — Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said Monday the city and county have spent weeks preparing for the possibility of a hurricane. 

With the threat of Tropical Storm Laura making landfall, they urged Houston and Harris County residents to do their part to get ready for the worst.

“We’re leaving no stone un-turned with preparation and now it is the community’s turn,” Hidalgo said at a Monday afternoon news conference. “Everyone should be making preparations for a possible hurricane. Time, right now, is the most precious resource, so let’s not waste it.”

It’s still too soon to say where Tropical Storm Laura will make landfall but forecasters say it could be a Category 2 hurricane with a dangerous storm surge. 

“Depending on where it goes, it could have minimal impact on our region or it could have significant storm surge,” Hidalgo said.

That would mean coastal communities would likely evacuate.  Galveston has already issued a voluntary evacuation or low-lying areas.

Mayor Turner urged Houston residents to stay off the roads Tuesday into Wednesday to make room for potential evacuees. 

“This has been an incredible year and we’ve been through so much but I believe people are prepared to do what we need to do to get us through,” Turner said.

Overnight, the track of Tropical Storm Laura moved back slightly to the west, putting Houston in the cone of certainty. The center of the forecast cone is now in western Louisiana, but Houston is in the cone’s far western edge. 

This storm has been very difficult to forecast, so it can easily shift and should be watched closely. It is still expected to pick up steam as it moves across the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday.

RELATED: Tropical Storms Marco and Laura: Spaghetti models and track

Gov. Greg Abbott on Sunday declared a state disaster to assist Texans affected by the storms. Abbott announced Monday morning that FEMA had approved the declaration.

The state disaster declaration was issued for 23 counties, including all coastal surge counties, plus Bexar County, which will be for staging and sheltering.

The following counties are included in the disaster declaration: Aransas, Bexar, Brazoria, Calhoun, Cameron, Chambers, Galveston, Hardin, Harris, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Kenedy, Kleberg, Liberty, Matagorda, Newton, Nueces, Orange, Refugio, San Patricio, Victoria, and Willacy

• Make a home inventory
• Have a current copy of your declarations page that has your policy number and your agent’s number
• Review your policy with your insurance agent to determine if you have adequate coverage
• Repair loose boards, shingles, shutters and downspouts to prevent them from becoming an issue in high winds or torrential rain
• Have an evacuation plan, and include plans for your pets
• Make sure your emergency equipment is in working order, including a battery-powered radio, flashlights and extra batteries. 
• Also, make sure to gather all medicine and replenish your first-aid kit 
• Stock a week’s worth of non-perishable food and water
• Your hurricane kit should include face masks and hand sanitizer. 
• Keep your cell phone fully charged
• Fill your car with gas
• Get some cash
• Program all emergency phone numbers

• If you are advised to evacuate, leave as soon as possible. Retain all related receipts – they may be considered in your claim. If you aren’t in a recommended evacuation and you plant to stay home, stay informed by listening to weather alerts
• Keep windows and doors closed at all time, and, if possible, board them up with wooden or metal shutters
• Stay away from the windows and in the center of the room, or, stay in an interior room
• Avoid flood water, as it may be electrically charged from downed power lines
• Check on family members and friends

• Check to be sure your family members are safe
• If you did evacuate, wait for official notice that it is safe to re-enter your neighborhood and your house
• Document damaged property, and take photos and videos. Don’t dispose of any damaged items without approval
• Keep a record of any temporary repairs or expenses to prevent further damage to your property