As Texans, we are not strangers to hurricanes and tropical storms and their aftermath. Hurricane season runs from June 1^st through November 30^th.  Do you have a disaster preparedness plan in place?  Check out the information below to make sure you and your family are prepared for any storm that hits our community.

I have compiled a list of resources below to help you reduce the impact of a hurricane on your family and home.

For immediate and life-threatening emergencies, call 911.

For non-emergencies, dial 211.

Prepare by Protecting Yourself BEFORE the Storm:

• Determine your risk and know your local hazards. Find out if you live in an evacuation zone so you are ready to follow evacuation orders.
• Develop an evacuation plan. Don’t forget to plan an alternate evacuation route and remember that you might not need to travel too far to be safe.
• Assemble disaster supplies. Be sure to have at least three days of essentials and supplies on hand. Food and water, medicine, extra cash, a battery-powered radio and flashlight, and a cell phone charger can all go a long way.
• Get an insurance checkup before hurricane season. It’s important to know what damages can be covered.
• Ensure the safety of pets. Many public shelters and hotels do not allow animals. Make sure your pet is microchipped and contact local resources for information on how to care for your pet in case of emergency.
• Get to know your neighbors and learn how you can help them, especially seniors.
• Write down your plan. It’s easy to forget plans made far in advance, so it’s important to record your plan.

Prepare to Protect Yourself DURING the Storm:

• Shelter in an interior part of your home. Be sure to stay as far away as possible from windows and doors. 
• Do NOT go outside during the calm period as the eye of the storm passes. This is the most dangerous part of the hurricane.
• Stay out of flooded areas. Flood waters are dangerous and can carry disease. 
• Keep a battery-powered radio and a flashlight or camping lantern nearby. Keep in mind that LED flashlights use less power.

Prepare to Protect Yourself AFTER the Storm:

• Do not overexert yourself. Overexertion after a hurricane can lead to dangerous medical emergencies, such as heart attacks and heat stroke.
• Practice proper generator safety. Generator accidents can be common after hurricanes, so familiarize yourself with generator safety. Keep your generator dry and in a well-ventilated area.
• Be careful around power tools commonly used for cleanup. If you aren’t trained to use these tools, leave it to the experts.
• NEVER drive through flooded roads. Just one foot of water is enough to float a car. Turn around, don’t drown.

Important Phone Numbers:

• 2-1-1 for shelter, food and disaster services
• 7-1-1 for Relay Texas Service
• 1-800-452-9292 for TxDOT statewide road closures
• 1-800-525-5555 for roadside assistance
• 512-424-2208 for Texas Department of Emergency Management
• 1-800-621-3362 for FEMA Disaster Assistance

Helpful Resources:

• Texas Hurricane Center
• Texas Ready 
• Hurricanes.gov
• Disaster Assistance
• Flood Smart
• Ready.gov
• Texas Department of Insurance - Before the Storm
• Drive Texas 
• TDHCA weatherization tips
• HUD disaster resources

Brazoria County Emergency Management 24 Hour Hotline: 979-864-1064

• 2024 Brazoria County Disaster Guide
• Angleton Emergency Manager: 979-849-4364 x 2137
• Alvin Emergency Manager: 281-388-4363
• Clute Emergency Manager: 979-265-9653
• Danbury Emergency Manager: 979-480-7091
• Lake Jackson Emergency Manager: 979-415-2500
• Freeport Emergency Manager: 979-233-2111
• Liverpool Emergency Manager: 281-581-2342
• Iowa Colony Emergency Manager: 281-3696-3444
• Surfside Emergency Coordinator: 979-239-1151
• Sweeny Emergency Manager: 979-482-4617
• West Columbia Emergency Operations Manager: 979-345-5121
• Hillcrest Emergency Manager: 281-756-0577
• Jones Creek Emergency Manager: 979-292-6393
• Brazoria Emergency Manager: 979-798-2489
• Bonney Emergency Manager: 281-595-2269
• United Way of Brazoria County: 979-849-9402
• Salvation Army: 979-233-5420

Galveston County Emergency Management: 281-309-5002

After Hours: 888-384-2000

• 2024 Galveston County Disaster Guide
• Bayou Vista Emergency Manager: 409-935-8348
• Dickinson Emergency Manager: 281-337-2489     
• Friendswood Emergency Manager: 281-996-3200
• Galveston Emergency Manager: 409-797-3500     
• Hitchcock Emergency Manager: 409-986-5591   
• Jamaica Beach Emergency Manager: 409-737-1142         
• La Marque Emergency Manager: 409-928-9200   
• League City Emergency Manager: 281-554-1000
• Texas City Emergency Manager: 409-948-3111   
• Santa Fe Emergency Manager: 409-925-6412       
• Clear Lake Shores Emergency Manager: 281-334-2799
• Tiki Island Emergency Manager: 409-935-1427     
• United Way of Galveston County: 409-948-4211
•  Salvation Army: 409-763-1691

Jefferson County Emergency Management: 409-835-8751

• Jefferson County Disaster Guide
• Beaumont Emergency Manager: 409-980-7280
• Groves Emergency Manager: 409-962-4460
• Nederland Emergency Manager: 409-723-1531
• Port Arthur Emergency Manager: 409-983-8632
• Port Neches Emergency Manager: 409-722-5885
• United Way of Beaumont and North Jefferson County: 409-835-4575
• Salvation Army: 409-896-2361

Orange County Emergency Management: 409-882-7895

• Southeast Texas Emergency Preparedness Manual
• Orange County Emergency Preparedness Site
• Bridge City Emergency Manager: 409-735-5028 Police Department
• Orange Emergency Manager: 409-883-1050
• Mauriceville Volunteer Fire Department: 409-745-1636
• Little Cypress Volunteer Fire Department: 409-882-9200
• Pine Forest Emergency Manager: 409-786-4100
• Pinehurst Emergency Manager: 409-886-3873
• Rose City Emergency Manager: 409-769-6809
• Vidor Emergency Manager: 409-769-4561
• West Orange Emergency Manager: 409-883-3468
• United Way of Orange County Texas: 409-883-3591
• Salvation Army: 409-291-8400

This week, I spoke on the House Floor in honor of the 80th Anniversary of D-Day:

Eight decades ago, brave men stormed Normandy's beaches to confront tyranny and secure our freedoms. On this 80th D-Day anniversary, we honor their courage and resilience. Their sacrifice reminds us of humanity's resilience in adversity.

I'll share quotes from a sergeant and a lieutenant, highlighting the USS Texas' power, now proudly stationed in TX-14, and the bravery of its sailors.

“As the sky lightened, the armada became visible. The smoking and burning French shoreline also became more defined. At 0600, the huge guns of the Allied navies opened up with what must have been one of the greatest artillery barrages ever. The diesels on board our craft failed to muffle the tornadic blasting. I could see the TEXAS firing broadside into the coastline. Boom-ba-ba-boom-ba-ba-boom! Within minutes, giant swells from the recoil of those guns nearly swamped us and added to the seasickness and misery. But one could also actually see the two-thousand-pound missiles tumbling on their targets.”

SGT ROBERT BIXLER, 116TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 29TH INFANTRY DIVISION

“The ramp was lowered immediately after the rockets fired. It was our hope and desire to run right up on the beach for a dry landing, not because we were afraid of getting wet but because if we were soaked it would be added weight to carry while climbing. The British Navy man had promised to put us down dry, but suddenly we ran aground with the ramp dropped. The officer said, ‘Everybody out.’ Looking ahead, I could see fifteen or twenty feet of water, a muddy dirty gray stretch. The Entire area was marked by craters, shell holes from the guns on the TEXAS and the bombers.”

LT. GEORGE KERCHNER, 2ND RANGER BATTALION

I thank Lieutenant Kerchner, 2nd Ranger Battalion. I want to tell you, Madam Speaker, we should never forget the bravery of the Greatest Generation. Let us always uphold the principles for which they fought so valiantly. Most importantly, let us ensure that we teach our children, the latest generation, about the Greatest Generation and about their remarkable legacy. They came home from World War II. They destroyed the vilest enemy the world had ever seen and kept the world safe. They simply came home and built the greatest country the world has ever known.

Today, Joe Biden announced an executive order that would still permit a minimum of 1.8 million illegal immigrants to enter the country. To put that in perspective that is 4.5 times the number of illegal immigrants that were encountered at our Southern Border in FY20. 
 
According to the New York Post: 
 
“The Biden administration announced an executive order Tuesday that it claims would shut down the US-Mexico border once illegal crossings hit 2,500 per day between points of entry for seven consecutive days — a “crackdown” that will still permit a minimum of 1.8 million new arrivals into America every year even if enforced properly.” 
 
Biden spent the past three and half years actively working tirelessly to implement his failed Far Left Democrat open border policies which have turned every American community into a border community. Now, just three weeks before the first presidential debate, Biden is attempting to stabilize his plummeting poll numbers with an executive order that he could have made months ago and does nothing to address the Biden border crisis. 
 
MAKE NO MISTAKE: House Republicans know that border security is national security, and we know the best way to secure our borders is by reimplementing President Trump’s successful policies. That is why we passed H.R. 2, the Secure The Border Act of 2023,  the strongest border security bill in history. It would reimplement President Trump’s successful border policies and put an end to Joe Biden’s border crisis. 

This week, Team Weber joined the Dickinson Bayou Watershed Steering Committee for their annual boat tour of the bayou to review current conditions and plan for future drainage infrastructure improvements. They attended a fireside chat at Venus Aerospace with Senator Ted Cruz and the CEO Sassie Duggleby. Venus is a cutting-edge company laser-focused on engineering the future of hypersonic flight—a critical capability that will keep America in the driver's seat on many fronts. I'm incredibly proud of the work Venus is doing and honored to represent such an innovative company in Southeast Texas. 

In Beaumont, Team Weber stopped by City Hall to celebrate 100 years of the National League of Cities. They are celebrating its centennial anniversary with an exciting year-long, coast-to-coast road trip, making stops in 100 cities nationwide to highlight local communities. We were thrilled to welcome the NLC team to Beaumont. Yesterday, the Port Arthur Juneteenth Committee kicked off Juneteenth events with a beautiful ceremony. 

After being in Washington at the beginning half of the week, I was able to attend the Galveston Friends of Scouting Distinguished Citizen Breakfast, hosted by the Boy Scouts of America - Bay Area Council, where we celebrated the remarkable contributions of Rodger Rees to our community. It was a privilege to stand alongside fellow Texans and express our gratitude for Rodger Rees' dedication to Galveston.
This event underscored the importance of local engagement and appreciation for those who make Southeast Texas a better place while highlighting the invaluable work of the Boy Scouts of America in shaping future leaders.