Fort Bend County HS&EMFort Bend County HS&EM

Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management

Were you impacted by the May severe weather? Click here for response and recovery information.

May 2019 Severe Weather

Fort Bend County Emergency Operations Center Moves to Level III – Increased Readiness

Fort Bend County, Texas – On Monday, May 6, 2019, a rain system moved over Fort Bend County, leading to Flash Flood Warnings as the Brazos River began to rise. On Tuesday, rainfall rates began to exceed forecast levels, so the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) moved to Readiness Level III (Increased Readiness), and issued a county Disaster Declaration in anticipation of continued heavy rainfall throughout the week.  By Wednesday morning, flooding had occurred in low-lying areas of the county.

minor flash flooding at cummings road near rosenberg, texas on may 8, 2019

On Thursday, after monitoring weather conditions and river level projections, the County increased operations to Readiness Level II (Escalated Response Conditions).  By Friday, May 10, over 12 inches of rain had fallen in Fort Bend County. Several roads and schools closed within the county. The Brazos River crested Friday near 48 feet, and the San Bernard River is still experiencing moderate flooding.

On Saturday afternoon, conditions had improved sufficiently to allow the Emergency Operations Center to return to Readiness Level III and demobilize additional resources in the Joint Information Center.  Fort Bend County Homeland Security & Emergency Management staff will continue to monitor weather and river conditions throughout the weekend and keep county residents updated on any new developments.

If you have suffered any impacts from this storm system, see our page on Immediate Disaster Recovery on the Fort Bend County Homeland Security & Emergency Management website: https://fbcoem.org/recover/.

May 2019 Severe Weather Disaster Information

Information about the May 2019 severe weather can be found on this page.

If your home was damaged in the storms, please click here to report your damage. We have compiled recovery information related to this event on the FortBendRecovers.org page for this disaster.

pumping operations in simonton

Fort Bend County Emergency Operations Center Moves to Level III – Increased Readiness

Posted: May 11, 2019

Fort Bend County, Texas – On Monday, May 6, 2019, a rain system moved over Fort Bend County, leading to Flash Flood Warnings as the Brazos River began to rise. On Tuesday, rainfall rates began to exceed forecast levels, so the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) moved to Readiness Level III (Increased Readiness), and issued a […]

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flooding in the area of galler road with homes, cars, roads, and livestock inundated

May 2019 Severe Weather Disaster Information

Posted: May 11, 2019

Information about the May 2019 severe weather can be found on this page. If your home was damaged in the storms, please click here to report your damage. We have compiled recovery information related to this event on the FortBendRecovers.org page for this disaster.

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Water Sample Instructions (May 2019)

Posted: May 10, 2019

Regardless if a water well is new or existing, water sampling must be done with special consideration to obtain a good water sample and avoid additional contamination. Please read this document completely, as it outlines the correct procedure for taking a water sample. All samples must include a sample label on the container (or write […]

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Media Advisory: May 10 News Conference at 2:00 PM / Mayo 10 Conferencia de prensa a las 2:00 PM

Posted: May 9, 2019

Fort Bend County, TX – Fort Bend County office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management will be hosting a news conference May 10 at 2:00 pm at the Fort Bend County Emergency Operations Center at 307 Fort Street, Richmond, TX  77469. Fort Bend County Judge KP George and EOC staff will brief on current conditions, reported […]

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Heavy rainfall likely tonight

Posted: May 9, 2019

Heavy rainfall is forecast for tonight. Stay put and avoid unnecessary travel. If you do get out, slow down and use caution when approaching low lying areas like underpasses and always check for road closures before you travel. #knowbeforeyougo Se pronostica lluvia fuerte esta noche. Mantente alerta y evita viajes innecesarios. Si sales de tu […]

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Media Advisory: News Conference at 2:15 PM / Conferencia de prensa a las 2:15 PM

Posted: May 8, 2019

Fort Bend County, TX – Fort Bend County office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management will be holding a news conference today at 2:15 pm  at the Fort Bend County Emergency Operations Center at 307 Fort Street, Richmond, TX  77469. Fort Bend County KP George will brief on current conditions and the expected river levels and […]

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fort bend county disaster declaration may 7 2019

Fort Bend County Issues Disaster Declaration

Posted: May 7, 2019

Fort Bend County judge KP George has issued a Disaster Declaration for flash flooding and potential Brazos River flooding. A disaster declaration authorizes the County to take certain response and recovery actions, and is the first step which can ultimately result in State or Federal declarations. “Our residents need to understand that this is a […]

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Flash Flooding Update

Posted: May 7, 2019

The Fort Bend County Emergency Operations Center is ramping up operations in response to this flash flooding. We will continue providing updates here throughout the incident as we have them. Over 12 inches of rain over the past 4 hours in some parts of Fort Bend County. Flash flooding occurring. STAY INDOORS ON HIGH GROUND. […]

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pivotalweather map showing forecast presipitation this week, with 5-8 inches in immediate Brazos river watershed

Brazos River levels rising, Homeland Security & Emergency Management Monitoring this Week

Posted: May 6, 2019

Fort Bend County officials are closely monitoring the Brazos River forecast this week. Heavy rainfall upstream in the river’s watershed last week is sending a lot of water our way. The upstream reservoirs are not releasing and are holding back a lot of water; the reservoirs are doing their job and we’re glad they’re there! […]

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Water Sample Instructions (May 2019)

Regardless if a water well is new or existing, water sampling must be done with special consideration to obtain a good water sample and avoid additional contamination. Please read this document completely, as it outlines the correct procedure for taking a water sample.

All samples must include a sample label on the container (or write the sample information directly on the bottle). All sample label must include the PWSID number, date and time of sample collection, sampler’s initials and the address/location where the sample was collected. Any sample submitted without a label will be rejected and a replacement sample will need to be submitted.

1. Obtain an approved sterile sampling container and current Water Sample Form. These may be picked up from our office or the City of Houston Water & Dairy Laboratory. Do not use jars or other containers from home or other sources. Use approved water sample containers only.
2. Select a cold water faucet or tap nearest the well. Most wells have a faucet located on the water line exiting the tank. Samples should come directly from the well or the tank.
3. Remove anything attached to the faucet. Hoses, aerators, or anything else attached to the sample faucet may cause contamination.
4. You want fresh well water in your sample. Turn on the tap or faucet. Let it run for at least ten minutes so that the well pump is activated and you obtain a fresh supply of water from the well.
5. Do not get your hands dirty. While the water source is running, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water. Do not handle animals, place anything in your mouth, or do anything that might contaminate your hands and cause the water sample to become inadvertently contaminated.
6. Turn off the faucet and sanitize it. If the faucet is metal, it can be done by heating it with a cigarette lighter or a propane torch. Heat the faucet until it is dry. If the sample is to be taken from a plastic or chrome faucet such as your kitchen sink, do not heat it. Swab inside and around the opening of the faucet with a cotton ball soaked in rubbing alcohol or use a spray bottle containing a water/bleach mixture.
7. Collect the sample. Turn the faucet on to a slow trickle. Carefully open the water bottle making sure not to touch the inside of the cap or the bottle threads. Fill the bottle to the neck and secure the cap. While filling the bottle, do not lose or rinse out the white substance inside the bottle. This is sodium thiosulfate. Its purpose is to neutralize any chlorine in the water sample.
8. Protect the sample. Keep the sample out of direct sunlight and away from heat. Until you are ready to bring the sample in, keep the sample cool, not frozen, in a refrigerator or cooler. After you take the sample, you have twenty-eight (28) hours to deliver it to the lab.
9. Fill out a sample form. Complete the form using black ink only. Make sure the information is complete. If you have a Public Water System, make sure to include the ID number in the space provided on the form. If you have a chlorinated well, make sure to test the chlorine residual and include that information in the space provided on the form. After completion of the form, include a check or money order for $16.50 payable to the City of Houston. No cash. If you have an account with the Houston Lab, include your account number on the form or the sample may not be processed.
10. Get the sample to the lab. As a courtesy, this office will courier water samples submitted on Wednesdays between the hours of 8:00am and noon. You should receive the laboratory report within 7-10 days. The following information will be required to locate the results: (1) the date the sample was brought in (2) the county in which the sample was collected and (3) the return address exactly as the form was completed.
11. What the laboratory report means. If coliform organisms are not found, the water is bacteriologically safe to drink. If coliform organisms are found, the water contains bacteria commonly present in sewage which might include typhoid or other disease producing bacteria. Contaminated water should not be used for drinking or washing teeth, wounds, or vegetables which are to be eaten raw. Use bottled water until the water supply is decontaminated. Contaminated water may be boiled for a minimum of 20 minutes or may be treated with 6 to 10 drops of household chlorine bleach per gallon at least 30 minutes before use.
12. How to treat a contaminated well. Obtain 1 gallon of chlorine bleach. Dilute it with 5 gallons of water and pour it directly into the well casing. Connect a garden hose to a faucet near the well and let it flow into the well casing until the odor of bleach is detected from the hose. Shut off that faucet and open all other cold water faucets until the bleach odor is detected from each faucet. Then open all hot water faucets to allow the bleach into the cold water line serving the water heater. Let the bleach remain in the well and piping for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight. Then open one exterior faucet and let the water run until the bleach odor is gone. Next flush each cold water faucet similarly. Wait 3 days before taking a new sample to the laboratory. It is not unusual repeat this treatment 3 or 4 times before no contamination is found by laboratory tests. All wells should be tested for contamination at least twice each year.

Water samples are only tested for the presence of fecal coliform bacteria. If you desire your water tested for other substances, contact the Texas Commission of Environmental Quality at (713) 767-3500 for further information.

Contact the Environmental Health Department at 281-342-7469 for questions.

Media Advisory: May 10 News Conference at 2:00 PM / Mayo 10 Conferencia de prensa a las 2:00 PM

Fort Bend County, TX – Fort Bend County office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management will be hosting a news conference May 10 at 2:00 pm at the Fort Bend County Emergency Operations Center at 307 Fort Street, Richmond, TX  77469.

Fort Bend County Judge KP George and EOC staff will brief on current conditions, reported and assessed damage, and the expected river levels and rain forecast. Key personnel will be hand to answer questions. ASL interpretive services will be offered and Spanish-speaking officials will be present to answer questions.

This is an old building and a small space; please plan to arrive early for setup and testing. The door to the media room will be locked when the conference starts.

We will be hosting similar news conferences daily at 2:00 PM throughout the duration of this incident.

For additional questions, please give the Joint Information Center a call at 281-342-6185.

Please RSVP at eocpio@fortbendcountytx.gov

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Fort Bend County is located in the Texas Southeast, immediately South and West of Harris County and the city of Houston. It is the home of just under 800,000 people and is one of the fastest growing counties in the United States. For more information about Fort Bend County, visit the county homepage at http://www.fortbendcountytx.gov.

The office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management (HS&EM) was established to protect the residents and property of Fort Bend County from damage relating to disasters. HS&EM accomplishes this through effective planning, preparation, response, and recovery. For more information about Fort Bend County HS&EM, visit the HS&EM webpage at http://www.fbcoem.org.

Condado de Fort Bend, TX – La oficina de Seguridad Nacional y Manejo de Emergencias del Condado de Fort Bend llevará a cabo una conferencia de prensa el 10 de mayo a las 2:00 pm en el Centro de Operaciones de Emergencia del Condado de Fort Bend en 307 Fort Street, Richmond, TX 77469.

El Juez del Condado de Fort Bend KP George y personal del Centro de Operaciones de Emergencia del Condado informará sobre las condiciones actuales y los niveles y pronósticos del río previstos. Personal clave estará a mano para responder a las preguntas. Se ofrecerán servicios de interpretación ASL y habrá funcionarios que hablan español para responder preguntas. 

Este es un edificio antiguo y un espacio pequeño; por favor planee llegar temprano para la instalación y prueba. La puerta de la sala de medios se bloqueará cuando comience la conferencia

Tendremos conferencias de noticias similares todos los días a las 2:00 p.m. durante toda la duración de este incidente.

Para preguntas adicionales, llame al Centro de Información Conjunta al 281-342-6185.

Por favor confirme su asistencia en eocpio@fortbendcountytx.gov

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El Condado de Fort Bend está situado en Texas Suroeste, inmediatamente al Sur y al Oeste del Condado de Harris y la ciudad de Houston. En cuál es el hogar de más de 715,000 y es uno de los condados de más rápido crecimiento en los Estados Unidos. Para más información del Condado de Fort Bend por favor de visitar http://fortbendcountytx.gov.

 Officina de Seguridad Nacional y Manejo de Emergencias (HS&EM) se establecio para protégé los recidentes y propiedad del Condado de Fort Bend daños relacionados con desastres. HS&EM logra esto a través de una planificación, preparación, respuesta y recuperación.

Para más informacion visite el Condado de Fort Bend HS&EM http://www.fbcoem.org.

Heavy rainfall likely tonight

Heavy rainfall is forecast for tonight. Stay put and avoid unnecessary travel. If you do get out, slow down and use caution when approaching low lying areas like underpasses and always check for road closures before you travel. #knowbeforeyougo

Se pronostica lluvia fuerte esta noche. Mantente alerta y evita viajes innecesarios. Si sales de tu casa, baja la velocidad y ten precaución cuando estés cerca de zonas bajas como pasos subterráneos de las autopistas y siempre revisa los cierres de carreteras antes de viajar.

Media Advisory: News Conference at 2:15 PM / Conferencia de prensa a las 2:15 PM

Fort Bend County, TX – Fort Bend County office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management will be holding a news conference today at 2:15 pm  at the Fort Bend County Emergency Operations Center at 307 Fort Street, Richmond, TX  77469.

Fort Bend County KP George will brief on current conditions and the expected river levels and forecast. Key personnel will be hand to answer questions. ASL interpretive services will be offered and Spanish-speaking officials will be present to answer questions.

We will be hosting similar news conferences daily at 2:00 PM throughout the duration of this incident.

For additional questions, please give the Joint Information Center a call at 281-342-6185.

Please RSVP at eocpio@fortbendcountytx.gov

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Fort Bend County is located in the Texas Southeast, immediately South and West of Harris County and the city of Houston. It is the home of just under 800,000 people and is one of the fastest growing counties in the United States. For more information about Fort Bend County, visit the county homepage at http://www.fortbendcountytx.gov.

The office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management (HS&EM) was established to protect the residents and property of Fort Bend County from damage relating to disasters. HS&EM accomplishes this through effective planning, preparation, response, and recovery. For more information about Fort Bend County HS&EM, visit the HS&EM webpage at http://www.fbcoem.org.

 

Condado de Fort Bend, TX – La oficina de Seguridad Nacional y Manejo de Emergencias del Condado de Fort Bend llevará a cabo una conferencia de prensa hoy a las 2:15 pm en el Centro de Operaciones de Emergencia del Condado de Fort Bend en 307 Fort Street, Richmond, TX 77469.

El Juez del Condado de Fort Bend, KP George, informará sobre las condiciones actuales y los niveles y pronósticos del río previstos. El personal clave estará a mano para responder a las preguntas. Se ofrecerán servicios de interpretación ASL y habrá funcionarios que hablen español para responder preguntas.

Tendremos conferencias de noticias similares todos los días a las 2:00 p.m. durante toda la duración de este incidente.

Para preguntas adicionales, llame al Centro de Información Conjunta al 281-342-6185.

Por favor confirme su asistencia en eocpio@fortbendcountytx.gov

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El Condado de Fort Bend está situado en Texas Suroeste, inmediatamente al Sur y al Oeste del Condado de Harris y la ciudad de Houston. En cuál es el hogar de más de 715,000 y es uno de los condados de más rápido crecimiento en los Estados Unidos. Para más información del Condado de Fort Bend por favor de visitar http://fortbendcountytx.gov.

 Officina de Seguridad Nacional y Manejo de Emergencias (HS&EM) se establecio para protégé los recidentes y propiedad del Condado de Fort Bend daños relacionados con desastres. HS&EM logra esto a través de una planificación, preparación, respuesta y recuperación.

Para más informacion visite el Condado de Fort Bend HS&EM http://www.fbcoem.org.

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