Tomball area residents, first responders prepare for hurricane season

Although the Tomball area is roughly 80 miles inland from the Texas coast, several organizations are working to educate citizens in preparation for hurricane season, which began June 1 and runs through Nov. 30.

During the July 8 Greater Tomball Area Chamber of Commerce luncheon, Frank Billingsley, chief meteorologist for KPRC 2 in Houston, said an average hurricane season includes 12 tropical storms, six of which become hurricanes. Billingsley said the Gray/Klotzbach forecast for 2016 estimated there will be two major hurricanes. In years with weather conditions similar to those of 2016, hurricanes did not hit Texas until August or later, he said.

A hurricane forms when the water in the ocean is at least 80 degrees at a depth of 150 feet and cool air sits overhead, Billingsley said. The warm air rises, the cool air sinks, and as the earth rotates, a hurricane is likely to form. 

[caption id="attachment_168479" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Hurricane season began June 1 and lasts through Nov. 30. There are a number of resources and organizations in the Greater Houston area that offer information and tips to help residents prepare before a storm hits the Gulf Coast.[/caption]

Billingsley said it is important to remember the storm surge—the water coming in off the coast—hits land before the hurricane. Thus, evacuation routes may be flooded before a hurricane makes landfall.

“The point is get out when they say, ‘Get out,’ if you’re a coastal resident,” he said.

Tomball Fire Chief Randy Parr said there is typically no need for Tomball residents to evacuate during a hurricane unless they live under a canopy of trees, which may cause damage to their homes in high winds. However, he said residents should still prepare for high water, heavy winds or power loss.

Old trees near a house or residence should be removed, and pet owners should consider where to shelter their pets in an emergency, Parr said. Additionally, residents should have cash or blank checks available as ATMs or credit cards will not work in a power outage.

To help citizens prepare for emergencies, the Tomball Fire Department offers a nine-week Community Emergency Response Training program, Parr said. CERT is a Federal Emergency Management Agency program that trains citizens to prepare for disasters, put out small fires, provide basic medical aid and perform search and rescue. Parr said the Tomball program also includes CPR training. Class materials and equipment are provided at no charge to attendees.

“This is nine weeks of getting you to where you take care of yourself [in an emergency],” Parr said. “If you can take care of yourself, that’s one less [resident for an officer] to worry about.”

The next CERT session will take place Tuesdays 6:30-9:30 p.m. from Aug. 16-Oct. 11.