Update 2:30 p.m. Aug. 25

For information on evacuations and updated storm projections, click here.

Original story

It is too early to tell for sure, but if tropical storms Marco and Laura make landfall in the Bay Area, they will be different than Hurricane Harvey, said Sarah Greer Osborne, director of communications and media relations for League City.

Early projections show the storms will be surge and wind events, though that could change, Osborne said. Meanwhile, Harvey was a rain event that dropped over 40 inches of rain in the Bay Area.


Surge events present different problems for residents, especially those living along the Clear Creek. During surges, the creek can quickly flood, pushing water into nearby homes.

Wind events can topple trees and power poles. League City officials are telling residents to cut down dead tree limbs and bring in potted plants, outdoor furniture and any other items that could be lost or damaging to people or property during high winds, Osborne said.

In storms such as these, the biggest problem is residents being without power for a week or two at a time. League City’s historic district, for instance, has several power lines next to old trees that could fall down and knock out electricity for residents for days at a time, Osborne said.

City officials recommend residents stockpile nonperishable food, water, medical kits, flashlights and other essentials before it is too late.
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As for the city’s preparation, it is too early to start making concrete plans because the storms’ trajectories could miss the Bay Area, Osborne said. Once the storms reach the Gulf of Mexico, League City officials will begin making more solid preparation, Osborne said. For more information on how to prepare, click here.

According to the U.S. National Weather Service for Houston and Galveston, Marco is expected to move across Louisiana on Aug. 25, putting Galveston Bay on the edge of its trajectory.

Meanwhile, Laura is projected to become a hurricane Aug. 25, and it will reach the Gulf of Mexico on late Aug. 24 or early Aug. 25 and move north to hit eastern Texas and most of Louisiana. Again, Galveston Bay will be on the edge of its trajectory, according to U.S. National Weather Service projections.