What’s happening?
County officials and Clear Channel Outdoor, a nationwide billboard company, gathered May 7 at South Main Service Station in Stafford to unveil 10 digital billboards that will provide up-to-date updates throughout the hurricane season.
There are a total of 54 billboards across the Greater Houston area, which can provide updates within minutes that are specific to each area, said Lee Vela, vice president of public affairs for Clear Channel Outdoor.
“We concentrate on giving back to the community,” he said. “This [hurricane] program is just one that we do; we do a lot of programming on trafficking, and we have a missing children program coming later this month.”
The billboards, which are installed near along major thoroughfares across the county, have been donated annually by Clear Channel Outdoor for the last six years, Fort Bend County Judge KP George said.
Zooming in
Greg Babst, emergency management coordinator for Fort Bend County, said the county has increased its capacity for shelters and cooling centers since Hurricane Beryl last July. The county will soon launch satellite systems to collect data, including a flood camera system.
It’s important for residents to prepare for weather ahead of hurricane season, Babst said. He also said county residents should have supplies ready, whether they plan to evacuate or shelter in place during storms. He also said residents should be prepared in case mandatory evacuations are ordered.
Babst said recommended preparations include:
- Creating “go-kits” for evacuation that provide at least 72 hours of supplies
- Stockpiling at least two weeks of supplies if choosing to stay during a hurricane
“If you’re prepared, and we’re prepared, then we can weather this hurricane season together,” he said.
In case you missed it
The first 2025 Colorado State University hurricane forecast is predicting 17 named storms in the Atlantic Ocean, nine of which could develop into hurricanes, said Phil Klotzbach, senior research scientist in the Department of Atmospheric Science at CSU, at an April 3 forecast announcement. Additional forecasts will be issued June 11, July 9 and Aug 6.
Of the nine predicted hurricanes, four are anticipated to be at a Category 3 or higher, with winds of at least 111 mph, Klotzbach said.
Going forward
Atlantic hurricane season runs through Nov. 30, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
