Disaster Preparedness

Are you ready?

Being ready for a disaster is key to keeping your family, pets, and home safe when the unexpected happens. Whether it's a hurricane, flood, or other emergency, having a plan in place reduces stress and confusion in the moment. A little preparation can go a long way in helping you make quick, smart decisions when it matters most.

Get Prepared:

Emergency Essentials Kit
STEAR
Extreme Heat Resources
Smart Paz
Food Safety

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Being ready for a disaster is key.

Be Prepared

Avoid panic buying by stocking up on essential items over the entire year. It is safer, more efficient and less expensive than waiting until disaster strikes. Take time to review your family’s emergency plan in case you need to evacuate.

Emergency Essentials Kit

Evacuation Prep

STEAR Program

The State of Texas offers the option to register with the STEAR program, a free registry that provides local emergency management planners and responders with information related to your needs during an emergency. You must register annually.

‍Who Should Register?

People with disabilities
People who are medically fragile
People with functional needs such as: limited mobility, communication barriers, require additional medical assistance during an emergency event, require personal care assistance., or transportation assistance.

STEAR Registry

Extreme Heat Resources

When temperatures soar, beating the heat can be a real challenge.

With the onset of summer and extreme heat warnings in place for the Houston metro area, we encourage everyone to take steps to prepare. Extreme heat is a period of high heat and humidity with temperatures above 90 degrees for at least two to three days.

Heat-Related Illnesses
Cooling Centers

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Winter Weather Resources

When freezing temperatures and winter weather alerts are in place for the Houston metro area, we encourage everyone to take steps to prepare. During freezing temperatures, remember to protect the four P's:

PEOPLE should dress warmly, in layers, to avoid hypothermia (abnormally low body temperature).
PETS should be brought indoors or provided with a warm place to sleep.
PIPES that run outside or under a house should be wrapped in pipe insulation to avoid cracks due to water freezing in them.
PLANTS may need to be covered or brought inside to avoid frost damage.

Learn More

Food Safety

When in Doubt, Throw it Out!

The loss of power from high winds, snow, or ice could jeopardize the safety of your food, Knowing how to determine if food is safe and how to keep food safe will help minimize the potential loss of food and reduce the risk of foodborne illness. Keep in mind:

Your refrigerator will keep food safe for up to 4 hours during a power outage.
Keep the door closed as much as possible.
Discard refrigerated perishable food such as meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and leftovers after 4 hours without power.
A full freezer will hold a safe temperature for approximately 48 hours (24 hours if it is half full and the door remains closed)

After a power outage never taste food to determine its safety. You will have to evaluate each item separately—use the chart below as a guide.

Food Safety Chart