Dear Friend,
Thursday was the 10th anniversary of Hurricane Ike wrecking havoc on Galveston Island and much of the Galveston-Houston region. While we slept, Ike swept ashore, bringing 110-mile per hour winds, a 22 foot-storm surge, and wide spread devastation.
We cannot forget Ike. This storm and our region matter to the entire nation. The Texas Gulf Coast is a hub of population and industry.
This region produces critical amounts of fuel for our nation. When refineries go offline, like during Ike and Harvey, we see the immediate effect it has on our nation. The price of gas goes up as refining capacity goes down. Ike did a number on pipelines, offshore oil rigs, and land-based oil refineries.
For years, the Texas General Land Office and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers studied the benefits of a coastal spine to determine the best plan of action. Coastal barrier protection has long been one of my top priorities. At the end of last Congress, my COAST Act, which provided funding for an expedited study, passed in the greater WIIN (S. 612) package. In this year’s WRDA bill (The America's Water Infrastructure Act, S. 3021), which we are sending to the President for his signature, funding is provided for levees and flood walls in Jefferson, Orange, and Brazoria counties: three of the six noted in the Texas Coastal Spine study.
Together with federal, state, and local officials, we are working with the same goal in mind: Protect the Texas Gulf Coast. A coastal spine is vital. We are protecting countless lives, as well as enormous amounts of infrastructure and industry. This is an investment in the future identified by Hurricane Ike, and it is an investment further highlighted by Hurricane Harvey.
With the memories of Ike and Harvey never far off, we have another weather system headed toward to the Texas Gulf Coast. The Governor declared Brazoria and Galveston counties in a state of emergency.
5 Steps to Follow:
Know where to go in the event of an evacuation. Check evacuation routes with your county’s EOCs.
Have a go-bag prepared with the important documents (Social Security card, banking information, insurance documents, etc.) and necessary supplies.
Should you stay at home, have adequate provisions on hand. Plan to be without power for at least a week.
Have an emergency communications plan set up with family members.
Sign up for community-wide alerts.
Helpful Resources:
Before, during, and after any storm, our local officials provide up to date, community-specific information.
Brazoria County Office of Emergency Management
brazoriacountytx.gov/departments/emergency-management
Facebook: Brazoria County
Twitter: @BrazoriaCounty
Galveston County Office of Emergency Management:
gcoem.org
Facebook: City of Galveston Office of Emergency Management
Twitter: @GalvCoTX
Jefferson County Office of Emergency Management
co.jefferson.tx.us/em.htm
Facebook:Jefferson County, Texas Office of Emergency Management
Additional Help:
For information on how to prepare for a natural disaster, please visit the Department of
Homeland Security website at ready.gov.
NOAA’s Hurricane Center provides tracking information on storms at nhc.noaa.gov
Download the FEMA App – it provides emergency information on a county-by-county basis.
For updates on road closures, please visit drivetexas.org
For updates on severe weather, please visit dps.texas.gov
For assistance in filing a personal insurance claim, please call the Texas Department of Insurance’s Help Line: 800-252-3439
For information on taking care of your utilities during a disaster, visit www.ready.gov/safety-skills.
For fire safety tips, visit www.ready.gov/home-fires.
Learn flood mitigation techniques by reading Reducing Flood Risk to Residential Buildings That Cannot Be Elevated.
Other Important Reminders:
Make sure all doors and windows are secured and locked. Keeping your blinds closed is also a good idea in case flying debris should hit or damage the window/door.
If you have a balcony or outdoor area, bring in any furniture or plants so that in strong winds they do not turn into flying objects.
Charge all electronics in case the power goes out.
If you have an exterior flood drain near your home, please ensure it is clean and free of any debris.
If you are in a Manufactured Housing Unit or Temporary Housing Unit due to Hurricane Harvey, please heed this advice: Fact Sheet FEMA Manufactured Housing Units and Severe Weather
With several storms churning, and our ground already saturated, the best thing we can do is be prepared.
Sincerely,
Randy K. Weber
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