< PreviousWhen you’re from the Texas Gulf Coast area, you know that severe weather and natural disasters occur this time of year. These powerful forces of nature can lead to financial devastation if your home is in its path. While you can’t stop a catastrophe from happening, you can take preventative measures to protect your home. By preparing your home, you’ll be confident that your home will remain strong even if disaster strikes. • Home generators • Storm windows/shutters • Tree removal and trimming • Home solar power systems Don’t Wait for the Unexpected! At AMOCO, our Disaster Preparedness Loan can help you prepare for these natural disasters. Here’s how you can update your home to withstand a storm: Scan QR code to learn more or to apply for the Disaster Preparedness Loan. Ready to weatherproof your home? In the event of severe weather, AMOCO will utilize all forms of communication to keep members informed. This includes but is not limited to, our website, mobile app, Facebook, Twitter, email communications, etc. Visit AMOCOfcu.org for continuous updates regarding important credit union notices and information. STAY INFORMED 800.231.6053 | AMOCOfcu.orgDON’T WAIT FOR A DISASTER. MAKE A PLAN. PREPARE. We play a critical role not only in disaster response, but also in preparedness by providing valuable business recovery. GALVESTON REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE We serve on a local, state and national level to better serve our members in time of disaster. Gina M. Spagnola, IOM President and CEO, Galveston Regional Chamber of Commerce • Governor Abbott Appointee, Business Advisory Council to the Texas Division of Emergency Management • Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives, Disaster Recovery Subject Matter Expert • U.S. Chamber of Commerce, National Business Recovery Corps Member • Acknowledged by the State of Texas and United States Emergency Response Teams • Community Counsel and Mentor for Natural Disasters in Texas, Alabama, Louisiana, Missouri, New Jersey, Oklahoma, and Canada • One of 10 individuals invited to serve on the Delegation US-Japan Grassroots Disaster Exchange Program PROTECT. We continuously monitor legislation and we advocate for the local business community on important issues such as flood protection. PRESERVE. We help businesses recover and provide resources such as banking, filing insurance claims, replacing office equipment and supplies, and finding temporary digs. GALVESTONCHAMBER.COM(409) 763-5326www.Galvestonwbm.com Locally Owned and Operated by Kaleb Apffel STOCKING DEALER For Trex Decking 1x6 & 2x6 In Stock Stocking Dealer For Smart Products Siding, Trim, Soffit PREMIER DEALER For piling in stock 6x6, 8x8, 10x10, 12x12 y e a r s SERVING GALVESTON COUNTY EST. 1892 CALL (409) 740-1251 VISIT WWW.GIA-TX.COM THERE FOR YOU THEN, HERE FOR YOU NOW. HOME | AUTO | BENEFITS FLOOD | WIND | COMMERCIAL 22 | The Daily News | Hurricane Preparedness | 20222022 | Hurricane Preparedness | The Daily News | 2324 | The Daily News | Hurricane Preparedness | 2022 24 Hour Call Out Service Available Store Hours: Mon-Fri: 7am-6pm24 Hour Call Out Service Available Store Hours: Mon-Fri: 7am-6pm 2022 | Hurricane Preparedness | The Daily News | 25Hurricane 411 County, cities provide wealth of storm info DICKINSON • To get the quickest, most up-to-date information when it comes to hurricanes and evacuations, Dickinson police encourage residents to like both the city, police department and Office of Emergency Management’s Facebook pages. • Residents also are encouraged to visit the city’s website, www. ci.dickinson.tx.us, where they can sign up for DickinsonALERT. This resource will give residents access to important information in a timely and accurate fashion through phone calls, text messages, email and a user-friendly app. • The main number for the police department is 281-337-4700. FRIENDSWOOD • The city will communicate through multiple sources if a mandatory or voluntary evacuation is issued. Friendswood residents should register for the Friendswood notification system, so they can receive phone calls, text messages and emails from the city at www.ci.friendswood.tx.us. • The city will inform residents when it is safe to return to the city. Stay tuned to local media, city social media accounts and register for emergency notifications and city newsletters or download the app. • The city’s main number is 281-996-3200, and the Office of Emergency Management is 281-996-3335. GALVESTON • Galveston residents who will need a ride or do not have their own transportation during a hurricane evacuation can call 409-797- 3701 to register for the city’s evacuation transportation program. • Residents can sign up for city of Galveston’s emergency notification system online by visiting alert.galvestontx.gov/ subscribe. The city’s emergency management department also posts updates on Twitter at @GalvestonOEM or on Facebook at Facebook.com/GalvestonOEM. KEMAH • Kemah residents must register at www.kemahtx.gov to set up preferences for notifications. Residents can sign In the case of a hurricane, alerts would be provided via home phone, cell, text message or email. This is the city’s primary direct communication tool but requires residents to register. • To contact a staff member of the Kemah Emergency Management, contact Police Chief Holland Jones at 281-334-5414 or Fire Chief Robert Suniga at 281-538-5727. LA MARQUE • For general, nonemergency, emergency management questions, residents may call 409-938-9262. During an emergency, the city prefers that residents utilize the city’s website, www. cityoflamarque.org, as it will be updated on a regular basis and Channel 16 also will provide residents with the critical information needed during emergency situations. • Visit lamarqueconnect.bbcportal.com to sign up for emergency phone notifications. LEAGUE CITY • League City residents can register with the city’s mass notification system, SwiftReach, by visiting www.leaguecitytx. gov. Residents can choose to receive alerts via phone call, text message or email if a storm impacts the area. • The city’s website, social media sites (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram) and Channel 16 also will provide residents with the critical information needed during emergency situations. • City officials encourage residents who would need evacuation assistance during a hurricane to call 211 and register with the State of Texas Emergency Assistance Registry program early. • League City’s nonemergency number for the League City Office of Emergency Management is 281-554-1300. • Additional information is available at www.readylc.com. SANTA FE • Residents may sign up to receive phone notifications via Alert Santa Fe by visiting www.ci.santa-fe.tx.us/ emergency-management or by calling 409-925-2000. The city uses the notification system to update people about road closures, community events and storm and weather updates. TEXAS CITY • Residents can sign up to receive emergency notifications through the city’s website, www.texascitytx.gov, or by calling 409-948-3111. • Buses transporting people between the county and the shelter do pickups in Texas City. Residents can call 409-948- 3111 to learn where the buses will arrive. UNINCORPORATED GALVESTON COUNTY • For information on hurricane preparedness in all unincorporated areas in the county, contact Galveston County Emergency Management at www.gcoem.org or by calling 281- 309-5002 or reach the 24/7 hotline at 888-384-2000. Find the department on Facebook and Twitter for emergency updates. • Visit www.gcoem.org to sign up for transportation in the event of a hurricane if you are without a vehicle or have medical considerations. If you know of neighbors or friends who may need transportation, encourage them to sign up. You are not required to take the assistance, but it will ensure you will get help if needed. • Sign up for the county Blackboard Connect system, which will provide alerts in case of a hurricane by phone, text and email. The tool is the best way to get emergency alerts. • Residents in San Leon and Bacliff can contact their water department to sign up for the notification systems for interrupted service in a hurricane and other water notices. • County emergency management officials say communities in low-lying areas of the county should be especially aware of the need to evacuate. Those areas often hardest hit by a hurricane include Bayou Vista, Bolivar and San Leon. Many people in those areas stayed during Hurricane Ike in 2008 even after the Bolivar Ferry stopped running and water service was halted. More than 120 had to be evacuated in Bolivar. Emergency management officials said residents should take notice of those major closures as a sign it is necessary to leave when a hurricane may be on its way. From Staff Reports 26 | The Daily News | Hurricane Preparedness | 2022LET ME CHECK YOUR INSURANCE COVERAGE AN EASY WAY TO PREPARE FOR A HURRICANE © 2009 Allstate Insurance Co., Northbrook, IL 81916 Frederick Gintert (281) 470-9900 417 N. 10th Street Laporte, TX 77571 I’ll take a look at your policies. I’ll help you make sure your coverage is hurricane-ready. And don’t forget flood insurance. There’s a 30-day waiting period before it starts, so now’s the time to get it. I can help. For more easy ways to prepare, call me first. 2022 | Hurricane Preparedness | The Daily News | 27Staff Reports The Daily News Last year could have been The Big One. In 2021, the hurricane season produced 21 named storms. Of those, seven became hurricanes and four became major hurricanes. Some models published in advance of the start of the season are predicting that this year’s hurricane season will have above-normal activity. One forecast, published by Colorado State University pre- dicted that there would be 19 named storms in the Atlantic this year. But, while predictions can be made ahead of a hurri- cane season, it’s impossible to know how many storms actually will form. Last year was a prime example. Like last year, experts advise people to consider not only hurricanes but the pandemic while making emergency plans. While cases of COVID-19 have decreased, the public health emergen- cy isn’t over, and there are still extra things to consider during the public health emergency. TAKE STOCK The headline advice about getting ready for hurricane season remains the same as it ever was, officials said. Ev- eryone should make a plan, build an emergency kit and stay informed. State, county and federal officials have published evac- uation plans on where and when residents should go in case an evacuation is called. Some plans are more specific than others. In Galveston, for instance, the city has a desig- nated evacuation site where people who don’t have their own transportation off the island can meet with buses for transportation. If your city doesn’t have a pre-arranged plan where to get evacuation assistance, you should make sure to sign up for local emergency alerts that will give you informa- tion during a storm. A list of emergency alert signups is available at gcoem.org/ mass-notification-alerts. Keep in mind, if you evac- uate on publicly provided buses, you won’t have much choice on where to go or the conditions you stay in. Galveston County has agreements with the city of Austin to house evacuees in partnership with the Red Cross. Traditionally, shelters are set up in large spaces, like a convention center. But in 2020, because of the virus, officials arranged for evacuees to stay in hotels in order to keep people spread out and isolated during the pandemic. Shelters are normally meant for people who have special circumstances and don’t have the means to find another place to stay during a hurricane evacuation, officials said. People who are able to find other places to shelter, should do so — whether that means arranging with inland relatives or booking lodging in advance. STOCK UP It’s also important to en- sure you’re stocked up with proper supplies ahead of the storm season and to take the virus into consideration when preparing your hurricane kit. The Federal Emergency Management Administration published guidance about how to prepare for hurricanes during the pandemic. The agency suggests buying extra hand sanitizer, cleaning materials and face coverings as part of emergen- cy kits. Stocking up early will help ease shortages in the aftermath of a major storm, officials said. It’s normal for there to be shortages of some essential supplies for days after a hurricane comes ashore. Even in the days before landfall, there can be rushes at supermarkets and other stores as people seek items they realize they don’t have and would need during a storm and its aftermath. The Big One is always around the corner The Daily News file photo High water covers the Interstate 45 frontage road near Omega Bay in the aftermath of Hurricane Nicholas on Sept. 14, 2021. 28 | The Daily News | Hurricane Preparedness | 2022JENNIFER REYNOLDS/The Daily News file photos CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE: Tommie McNeil, from right, Elisabeth Pelham and other Galveston residents wait to be evacuated at the Island Community Center in Galveston on Aug. 25, 2020 Ahead of Hurricane Laura. The city transported 900 residents to shelters in Central Texas after city officials called for a man- datory evacuation. Curfews also were in effect for Galveston; Texas A&M University at Galveston students wait to board a bus Aug. 25, 2017, as they evacuate the Mitchell Campus on Pelican Island in Galveston before Hurricane Harvey; Avenue Q at Saladia Street in Galveston is flooded with from the extreme high tides from Hurricane Laura on Aug. 26, 2020. Streets in the neighborhood frequently flood during extreme tides. 2022 | Hurricane Preparedness | The Daily News | 29Next >