Houston families, emergency crews prepare for Hurricane season

HOUSTON — With the start of hurricane season just two weeks away, emergency crews and families across Houston are making sure they’re ready.

At UTHealth Houston’s McGovern Medical School in the Texas Medical Center, that preparation includes a high-tech, multi-layer flood protection system — and an annual emergency drill they’ve held for more than two decades.

Robert Emory, better known as “Safety Bob,” is the vice president of Safety, Health, Environment and Risk Management at UTHealth Houston. He was working in the building when Tropical Storm Allison hit in 2001, flooding the facility and causing more than $87 million in damages.

“It was tough. It was not enjoyable, I can tell you that,” Emory said.

The storm destroyed not only equipment but also years of irreplaceable research.

“What was all lost 20 years ago? Unfortunately, a lot of research and records that people had put their careers into,” he said.

Since then, the building has undergone more than $20 million in upgrades. Those include reinforced walls, industrial-grade pumps and 23 submarine-style flood doors. The building is also surrounded by a berm — what Emory calls a “reverse moat” — and fortified with materials like aquarium glass that can withstand extreme pressure.

“If there’s misalignment or a leak now, it gives us a chance because Hurricane Season begins June 1st so this gives us time to check the systems,” Emory said during the drill, which he leads annually.

While the upgraded flood system has held strong through recent storms like Hurricane Harvey, the team continues to refine protocols, including increasing staff on site during severe weather.

Elsewhere in the city, Houston’s Office of Emergency Management hosted the Disaster Readiness and Resilience Expo at the George R. Brown Convention Center.

The free event featured expert panels, emergency supply giveaways, clinics, and up-to-date storm prep information. One of the headliners was Jeff Lindner, a meteorologist with the Harris County Flood Control District—a familiar face to many during hurricane season.

“You’ve got to be prepared and understand what we need for power outages, loss of fuel supplies, food, medications — all that you can find at this event,” Lindner said.

Among those attending was Tameka Sims-Ramsey, who brought her daughter to learn more about how to stay safe in a storm.

“We really wanted to ensure that we were prepared for any emergency that our family might have to tackle,” Sims-Ramsey said. “I feel like we’re in good hands.”

As hurricane season officially begins June 1, city leaders are urging Houstonians to review their emergency plans, restock disaster kits, and consider flood insurance, which typically takes 30 days to go into effect.