The Houston Patch - August 25, 2017
Hurricane Harvey is slowly churning in the Gulf of Mexico and is expected to make landfall late Friday evening as a major hurricane.
The National Weather Service is predicting that Harvey, the first hurricane to hit the Texas coast since 2008, could strike the coastline as a Category 3 hurricane with winds as high as 130 miles per hour, which could damage trees, power lines and homes.
By comparison, Hurricane Ike was a Category 2 storm when it struck Galveston Island in September 2008, causing $38 billion in damages and killing dozens of people.
The National Weather Services has issued Hurricane Warning from Port Mansfield north of South Padre Island, to Matagorda Island, and a Tropical Storm Warning from north of Matagorda, to High Island and Crystal Beach, KTRK reported.
The constable’s office plans to deploy several 5-ton trucks for potential high-water rescues in the Greater Houston area.
The Harris County Constable's Office and ReadyHarris are urging residents to review their family emergency plans, restock their disaster supply kits and stay informed. Here is a suggested supply kit to prepare for the hurricane:
- NOAA weather radio and batteries
- Flashlight and batteries
- Extra eye glasses
- Bottled water
- Non-perishable food
- Clothing and bedding
- First aid kit, medications and prescriptions
- Special products for babies, elderly and medically fragile family members
- Cash and credit cards
- Photo ID, important documents and records
- Food, medication and water for pets
Rotarians - Take care of your family and home and your business. Stay in touch with other in your Rotary club to identify needs which may surface over the weekend. Most Rotarians are not First-Responders, but are always willing to offer helping hands where needed. Use common sense - do not drive into flooded streets, prepare for loss of electricity and prepare for food preparation without cooking. It can be a memorable family adventure if you plan to wear headlights and play board games or card games in the dark. Be safe!