Cy-Fair Fire Department urges Houston-area residents to prepare now for hurricane season

Cy-Fair Fire Department is urging Houston-area residents to get ready before a storm is named, warning that August is one of the Gulf’s most active months for hurricane development. The department’s Mike Clements laid out steps for families to protect homes, power, flood safety, pets and medical needs before, during and after severe weather.

Why it matters: - August is historically one of the most active months for storm development in the Gulf. - Houston-area families face risks from high winds, flash flooding, power outages and evacuation orders. - Waiting until a weather advisory is issued can leave residents with fewer options and less time to prepare.

What happened: - Cy-Fair Fire Department urged residents to prepare now, before a storm is in the forecast. - Mike Clements, Assistant Chief–Administration at Cy-Fair Fire Department, outlined storm-preparation steps for families before, during and after severe weather. - The department pointed Houston-area residents to additional resources.

The details: - Before a storm, residents should trim bushes and trees to reduce damage from falling limbs. - Homes should be prepared with plywood and tarps to help protect windows and doors from wind, debris and water intrusion. - Families should stock at least three days of nonperishable food and water, plus flashlights, batteries, a first aid kit and portable battery chargers. - Households should account for infant formula, pet food and supplies for anyone with a medical condition. - Residents should not let prescriptions run low, since pharmacies may lose power and be unable to fill medications for days after a storm. - Clements recommended checking where to get weather updates if phones, Wi-Fi and power fail. - A battery-powered weather radio can provide emergency alerts, evacuation orders and shelter information when other systems are down. - Families should gather and protect financial, medical, insurance, educational and legal documents in a waterproof bag and back up electronic copies on more than one device. - Residents should locate insurance policies and record a video tour of their home to document belongings and the property’s condition. - Families should set a meeting place, identify where they will stay and share evacuation plans with friends or relatives outside the home area. - Households should pack a go bag that can be grabbed quickly in an evacuation. - Clements said a ready go bag should let a family leave within 15 minutes. - The department provided a go bag checklist. - Pet owners should pack food, water, medications, leashes and vaccination records for each animal. - Families should identify pet-friendly shelters or hotels in advance, keep pets microchipped and use ID tags. - Residents should charge devices before the storm arrives. - If charging in a car is necessary, the garage door should be open and the car backed out of the garage. - Generators must be used outdoors, at least 20 feet from windows, doors and attached garages. - The department warned never to run a generator in a garage, even with the door open. - Clements said generator-related carbon monoxide poisoning remains a preventable cause of serious injury and death. - Residents using medical equipment such as O2 concentrators, ventilators or CPAP machines should have a backup power plan. - If no backup generator is available, the department recommends three days of power supply for the equipment. - Patients on oxygen should keep several portable O2 cylinders in reserve. - Residents should know their flood zone by entering their address into the FEMA flood portal. - Clements said flooding can happen anywhere in Houston, not just in high-risk flood areas. - Flood-proofing steps include shutting off the main circuit breaker, keeping gutters and drains clear and installing check valves in sewer lines. - Residents should stock protective materials such as plywood, plastic sheeting and sandbags. - Heating systems, water heaters and electric panels should be elevated if they are vulnerable to flooding. - During a storm, the safest place in the home is an interior room away from windows and glass, such as a hallway, bathroom or closet. - For added protection, residents can shelter under a sturdy table or workbench. - People should call 911 for medical emergencies, but response times may be longer during weather events. - Non-life-threatening calls may be triaged, and some units may be kept at stations if road conditions are unsafe. - After the storm, residents should inspect damage only when the severe weather threat has ended. - Long pants, a long-sleeved shirt and sturdy shoes are recommended when walking through storm damage. - Damaged buildings should be avoided, and residents should watch for limbs or trees that may fall. - Flooded areas may hide debris in roadways and other unexpected places. - People should avoid walking through moving water unless it is absolutely necessary. - Drivers should never enter a flooded roadway. - Downed power lines should be treated as energized and dangerous. - Residents should stay at least 30 feet away from downed power lines and call 911 immediately. - No one should approach, touch or drive over a downed line, and others should be warned to stay away. - Candles should be avoided because of fire risk; battery-powered lights and flashlights are safer. - Generators, grills and camp stoves should be used only outdoors and in well-ventilated areas. - Food that got wet or warm should be thrown out to avoid illness.

Between the lines: - The guidance reflects a broader emergency-preparedness message: the most useful decisions are the ones made before a storm is imminent. - The focus on pets, medication, documents and backup power suggests storm planning in Houston is not just about sheltering from wind and water, but about maintaining access to daily essentials during outages and evacuations. - The emphasis on flood risk in all parts of Houston underscores how quickly familiar conditions can become dangerous in a coastal storm.

What's next: - Residents are being urged to complete preparations now rather than wait for a named storm. - Clements said families that prepare early will have more options when severe weather arrives. - For more storm-prep information, residents can visit readyharris.org.

The bottom line: - Houston-area households that prepare before hurricane season peaks can reduce damage, speed evacuation and improve safety during outages, flooding and recovery.