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.

The likelihood of a hurricane passing though Tomball or Magnolia is low, due to the cities' distance from the coast, said Michael Ott, chairman of the Be Tomball Ready emergency preparedness committee. However, he stressed that residents should be prepared to deal with the widespread effects of a storm.

"It's hard on a sunny clear to day think about what you would do if a storm is coming, but it only takes one hurricane to create a catastrophic situation," Ott said.

Being prepared for a hurricane involves not only preparing for the storm itself, but for potential power outages that can last more than a week, Ott said.

"It may be three or four days before the Fire Department can even get to your house," he said. "You should make sure to have the food, water and supplies to last you five days."

In emergency situations, the City of Tomball also has agreements with various organizations to provide assistance. Tomball ISD has made its buses available to help transport people. Baker Hughes—a local oilfield services company—has agreed to provide a reserve source of fuel.

"If a fire truck needs fuel, but can't access any of the city's resources, Baker Hughes has made itself available as another option," Ott said.

Citizens interested in learning more about emergency preparedness can enroll in free Community Emergency Response Team classes, which are taught by first responders and trained professionals and cover topics such as first aid, sheltering and evacuation. Learn more at www.tomball-alepc.org/training.