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Storms, and even hurricane season itself, can be scary. Some of us lived through traumatic natural disasters. Others have moved here from other parts of the country (or the world) and have heard harrowing stories of our community coming together and helping each other during big storms. No matter your perspective on hurricane season, it is a common source of anxiety for Fort Bend County residents.

We are not helpless in the face of disaster. The office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management has plans in place and established relationships with response organizations which spring to action when disaster strikes. You can’t sit back and hope for the government to help you, however. There are things you can do, even today, to make sure you’re better able to weather any storm.

Check in with family and friends

During severe weather, some people need the additional care and support of loved ones. Be the one to reach out and communicate with your loved ones to make sure they are alright. A phone call, text, or email message can go a long way for someone who has anxiety about storms or may need extra help in a  disaster.

Consider people who are sick or elderly, or children who may be alone

Especially consider people who are sick and may require a little more help if the situation worsens. Encourage  them to register with Enable Fort Bend (www.enablefortbend.com) , the disaster emergency assistance registry for people in the county with functional and medical needs. Also consider elderly friends, family members, or neighbors who may appreciate hearing from you and may have additional needs during a disaster.

Have a plan for communicating

When you reach out, make a plan with people for connecting if adverse conditions develop. Great tools are things like a group text thread, a pre-set time to call, or a  group email. Also consider discussing where you could meet in person if you’re forced to evacuate, caught away from home or work, or without mobile phone or data connections when dangerous conditions develop. It is better to have a plan you don’t need than to have no plan at all!

Register for emergency alerts

You can sign up to receive emergency alerts, including automated weather alerts, from FBC Alert, Fort Bend county’s emergency notification system powered by Everbridge. For more information about FBC Alert, visit the FBC Alert page on the Homeland Security & Emergency Management website.

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Today at 1:00 PM. Tropical Storm Imelda made landfall near Freeport. Fort Bend County is experiencing some of the rainfall form this storm already, and the office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management encourages residents to be prepared.

Being prepared and staying informed is the best thing you can do to protect yourself, your loved ones, and your property. Take time now to prepare a family communication plan and have emergency telephone numbers available.

If storms frequently leave you without power, it is a good idea to have flashlights on hand and extra batteries in case you lose power in the storm. By using flashlights instead of your mobile phone’s flash, you can ensure that your phone stays charged longer.

Follow the guidance of public officials, and stay informed by following credible sources of information like like official Facebook, Twitter, and Nextdoor pages.

The office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management will keep you informed as Tropical Storm Imelda continues to move inland.

 

Hoy a la 1 pm. La tormenta tropical Imelda toco tierra cerca de Freeport. El Condado de Fort Bend está sintiendo alguna porción de la lluvia de esta tormenta, y la Oficina de Gestión de Emergencias anima fuertemente a sus residentes que estén preparados e informados.

Manteniéndose informado y preparado le ayudara a proteger su vida, la vida de su familia, y sus bienes personales. Tome tiempo ahora para establecer un plan de emergencia familiar y mantenga números de emergencias a su disponibilidad.

Si las tormentas suelen dejarlo sin energía, sería una buena idea mantener baterías extras y linternas en caso de un corte de energía. Usando una linterna en lugar de el flash de su dispositivo móvil, aseguraría una carga de batería más larga en su dispositivo.

Siga la guía de los funcionarios públicos y manténganse informado por nuestras fuentes oficiales y redes sociales de Facebook, Twitter, y Nextdoor.

La Oficina de Gestión de Emergencias les mantendrá actualizados sobre la tormenta tropical Imelda y su curso de vía.

Every hurricane season, The Fort Bend County office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management updates our plans, coordinates with our partners, tests our equipment, and monitors the tropics.

We are prepared to a level most residents won’t attempt, and that’s OK since our role is so different. Regardless of the level of preparedness, everyone should have their own plan, get whatever disaster supply kit they can, and be informed.

Where you get your information is important when you’re making decisions for your safety; fortunately you have access to many of the tools we do! You might not be able to sign into the interactive real-time chat with meteorologists and the weather service, but when their advisories are posted you can read them and view the associated maps here: https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/graphics_at2.shtml

We also have some trusted media partners and websites, like Space City Weather, which post realistic and hype-free information that can help you understand the products from the National Weather Service.

Remember to use common sense; when you see someone sharing something online or on your TV screen that seems sensational or exaggerated, check against known reputable sources and use your judgement to determine if it is accurate or not. You can also follow @fbcoem on Twitter, Like our Facebook page, and Subscribe on YouTube for official updates from our office.

This week it will be hot, with a heat index over 105 degrees, leaving many vulnerable to heat-related illnesses.

Read about how you can be prepared on Homeland Security & Emergency Management’s Heat and Drought preparedness page.