Authorities encourage preparation

As the Houston area enters the height of hurricane season—which lasts from June 1 to Nov. 30—authorities are encouraging residents to be prepared for an emergency situation.

"Our big focus is to get people to make a kit that allows you to survive on your own for five to seven days," said Michael Walter, public information officer with the Houston Office of Emergency Management.

When a hurricane is about to hit, evacuations are ordered by mayors and county judges, Walter said. Since northwest Harris County is not in an evacation zone, residents are urged to stay off the road before the storm to make room for others who need to leave, said Francisco Sanchez, public information officer for the Harris County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.

"It is much easier for northwest Harris County residents who want to evacuate due to loss of power to stick around and ride out the storm first," he said. "Then you can make the determination of whether you should go after you see whether or not you have power and any damage to your property."

To prepare for a hurricane, residents should conduct drills annually, test smoke detectors and fire extinguishers once a month and make sure children know important phone numbers, Walter said.

"It's difficult to judge when a hurricane is going to hit," he said. "If people make the effort to be prepared, it can make a huge difference."

Citizens interested in learning more about emergency preparedness can enroll in free Harris County Citizen Corps training classes, which help residents prepare for and respond to natural disasters. Learn more at www.harriscountycitizencorps.com.