The 2022 Hurricane Season begins June 1. The Harris County Flood Control District encourages Harris County residents to take the time to prepare for their families and homes for hurricanes and related impacts.

“Hurricanes are one of nature’s most powerful and destructive natural disasters that we face. It only takes one to change your life. While we can never prevent flooding entirely, the Flood Control District offers several interactive tools that are packed with valuable information about area bayous and streams. Knowing what tools are available to you before a disaster will enable you and your family to make the best choices during a hurricane,” said Tina Petersen, Harris County Flood Control District Executive Director.

“The Harris County Flood Control District’s Flood Operations team will monitor rainfall trends and check the gages that measure rainfall amounts and water levels in bayous and creeks during severe weather. Residents need to be prepared, by creating and a hurricane kit and stocking with supplies, having a plan of what you and your family will do if a storm threatens, and frequently monitoring trusted weather sources throughout hurricane season,” said Jeff Lindner, Harris County Flood Control District Meteorologist.

Preparedness is the key to protecting Harris County residents and property. By doing so, residents ensure that they will minimize damages as much as possible if a hurricane threatens the area. Get Prepared: As the storm approaches, it is often too late to get ready. Before hurricane season:

Purchase flood insurance. Harris County Flood Control District recommends that all Harris County residents become informed about their flood risk and have flood insurance no matter where they reside in Harris County. Flood insurance accelerates the rebuilding and replacement of personal property and fosters community resiliency, as a whole. For information on flood insurance, visit the National Flood Insurance Program website or call 1-888-379-9531.

Sign up for FWS alerts. T h e Flood Warning System offers an alert feature that allows residents to subscribe to receive email and/or text alerts that report near real-time rainfall and water levels. Residents can customize alerts and notifications for bayous and tributaries in their areas of interest. Sign up for the Alert Notification System at fwsalerts.org.

Know your home’s risk of flooding. You can view a Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM or floodplain map) at the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Map Service Center.

View the Harris County Flood Control District Storm Center to view the District Hurricane Guide, informa- tion on Flood Insurance and more at: www.HCFCD.org/stormcenter