LIVE: Mayor Whitmire joins Houston-area public safety leaders to provide update on winter storm
Mayor John Whitmire will join leaders Tuesday from the Houston Police Department, Houston Fire Department, Houston Public Works, the Office of Emergency Management, and others to provide an update on the weather conditions and the cityโs preparedness and response operations.
Organizers prepare for Saturdayโs Houston Pride Parade
To avoid the heat this year, Houston Pride Parade organizers decided to reroute the daytime festivities. They are asking people to go support restaurants and bars in the Montrose area before heading to the parade downtown which starts Saturday at 7 p.m. on Smith and Milam.
Texas explains requirements after social media posts suggest vaccine was open to all
HOUSTON โ Despite some social media posts, the Texas Division of Emergency Management said certain COVID-19 vaccination events in Liberty and Matagorda counties will not be open to almost anyone. The doses initially went to folks who are homebound, as well as those 65 and older, said TDEM spokesman Seth Christensen. People ages 50 to 64 are part of group 1C in Texas, which is open for vaccination. Also on Thursday, a post on the Matagorda County Emergency Operation Centerโs Facebook page discussed a vaccination event at the county fairgrounds scheduled for Thursday and Friday. Christensen said nothing has changed in terms of which population groups have been approved to receive the vaccine.
Tips for preparing your home, pets and plants for freezing temperatures
Eccles said to start by letting cold water drip from your faucet. Safety TipsThe Harris County Fire Marshalโs Office encourages residents to follow these heating safety tips:Place space heaters on solid and flat surfaces. Check space heaters for cracked or damaged cords and plugs. Plug space heaters directly into wall outlets, donโt use an extension cord or power strip. Create a โkid-free zoneโ three feet from open fires and space heaters.
Galveston, Jamaica Beach residents prepare for Hurricane Delta
JAMAICA BEACH, Texas โ It hasnโt even been a month since Tropical Storm Beta led to coastal flooding across southeast Texas. However, residents in Galveston and Jamaica Beach are preparing once again for what Hurricane Delta could bring. The weather was perfect along Jamaica Beach on Wednesday. Many Texans are already fatigued after Hurricane Laura and Tropical Storm Beta. Smith lives in Jamaica Beach and is moving all his items upstairs.
Houston-area residentsโ power restored after experiencing periodic outages due to Hurricane Laura
HOUSTON โ Texans, along with Houston-area residents, experienced power outages due to Hurricane Lauraโs impact. According to Entergy, the power has since been restored for most Houston-area residents. Entergy announced the outages to its Texas customers Thursday after its transmission system suffered extensive damage from the hurricane. The current transmission line issue that has caused our power outages has been located and is in the process of repairs. Here were some suggested ways Entergy customers could reduce their electricity usage:Raise the central air conditioner thermostat to 78 degrees.
Severe weather social media: This is who weโre following for the best, up-to-the-minute info on TS Beta
HOUSTON โ As the Houston-area and the Gulf Coast is bracing for severe storms, it is very important to keep connected with accurate local, state, and national social media accounts. The following list below contains social media accounts from local and national connections and sometimes websites with all the latest information if applicable. KPRC 2 meteorologists and our traffic expertKPRC 2 meteorologists are staying on top of Tropical Storm Beta with all the latest information as it comes in. Frank BillingsleyBritta MerwinJustin StapletonKhambrel MarshallEric BraateAnavid Reyes - KPRC 2 Traffic ExpertFederal social mediaBoth the NWS and the National Hurricane Center are issuing advisories on both Laura and Marco. NWS Houston/GalvestonNational Hurricane CenterHouston-area meteorologistsThe following local meteorologists are also providing the latest info on Laura and Marco in the local sector.
WATCH LIVE: Galveston County Judge provides update on countys storm preparations
HOUSTON Galveston County Judge Mark Henry will hold a press conference Sunday to provide an update on the countys storm preparations. The Galveston County Office of Emergency Management continues to prepare for the potential tropical weather that could impact the region early next week. The Galveston County Office of Emergency Management is closely monitoring the storms. Have you plan ready kit ready be prepared for anything, County Judge Mark Henry said. Residents brace for possible stormsSaturday was another hot and humid day in Galveston, but that will change soon as we continue to track Tropical Storm Laura and Marco.
This year is different. What you need to pack in your hurricane emergency kit
HOUSTON Getting ready for hurricane season during the pandemic may look a little different, but emergency officials said prepping early and giving yourself lots of time to get everything in order will help keep you and your family safe. We recognize that COVID-19 adds a new level of complexity to our hurricane planning, said Franciso Sanchez, with the Harris County Office of Emergency Management. Sanchez said that with a storm threat looming this week, everyone should try to get all their hurricane preps done as soon as possible. Because of coronavirus, your kit may look a little different. Also, sign up for emergency alerts to stay informed.
'So heartbrokenโ: This is what residents say it was like to experience tornado as it ripped through Polk County
ONALASKA, Texas โ Residents were fearful and in shock after a tornado ripped through multiple neighborhoods in Onalaska in Polk County Wednesday evening. Y'all please keep Onalaska Texas in your prayers. this is yaupon cove drive pic.twitter.com/18QusOTPV7 โ Joe Smith SDK (@JoeSmithSDK) April 23, 2020my dads entire neighborhood in onalaska tx just got completely destroyed by a tornado. 2020 is out for blood pic.twitter.com/948AqfVF5V โ kasey (@eattmyshorts_) April 23, 2020Please pray for everyone who lost everything here in Onalaska, TX. A command post was set up at the Onalaska Fire and Rescue as first responders worked to rescue trapped residents and assess the damage.
3 killed, at least 20 injured after tornado rips through Onalaska in Polk County Wednesday
ONALASKA, Texas โ At least 20 people were injured and three people were killed after a tornado ripped through multiple neighborhoods in Onalaska in Polk County Wednesday evening, according to the Polk County Office of Emergency Management. Polk County subdivisions hit hardest by tornado (Polk County Emergency Management, Texas)National Weather Service storm spotter Ian Shelton told KPRC 2 he started chasing the storm in the early afternoon. Multiple agencies including the Texas Department of Public Safety, the San Jacinto County Sheriffโs Office and the Polk County Sheriffโs Office are enforcing blockades, assessing damage and helping residents in the area, Shelton said. VIDEO: Residents describe terrifying moments they saw a tornado touch down in Polk County WednesdayShelters:Polk County Emergency Management said anyone who might need shelter is asked to go to Dunbar Gym in Livingston as the schools in Onalaska have lost power. Posted by Polk County Emergency Management, Texas on Wednesday, April 22, 2020Gov.
This is why it is so difficult to get free coronavirus testing in Montgomery County
HOUSTON โ The Montgomery County Public Health District sent out some information regarding coronavirus testing in the county and why it is not free. We first went through the Montgomery County Health District, we did order a thousand to date we received 14. Reasons for the costIn order to get test kits, Montgomery County said it has to source them internationally, and those can cost between $30 to $60 per kit. โWe know this is frustrating for residents of Montgomery County, and we share your frustration,โ county officials said. For more information about the Montgomery County Public Health District visit www.mcphd-tx.org.
Turner tours second Houston coronavirus testing site Thursday as more deaths reported in city
HOUSTON โ Mayor Sylvester Turner was joined by the Houston Health Department and the Office of Emergency Management to discuss the city of Houstonโs continued response to the coronavirus Thursday. Turner announced that there were 48 new cases of coronavirus in the city and two more deaths, just 24 hours apart. โSix deaths in the city of Houston. One is too many but the number six deaths in the city of Houston. Turner got a tour of Houstonโs second COVID-19 testing site Thursday afternoon and a look at how it works.
Is Houston prepared for a cyber attack on the power and transportation grids?
HOUSTON โ Are we ready for a cyber attack on our power grid? A cyber attack against the power grid could shut down life as we know it. Houstonโs ThreatsLiving in Houston, you expect sporadic power outages from time to time, especially during severe weather. A successful cyber attack on Houstonโs power grid could be much worse. One of those bills creates a โGrid Security Councilโ and another establishes a โCyber Security Monitor.โWhatโs next?
450 structures damaged in northwest Houston explosion last week, HFD says
HOUSTON โ A new assessment revealed about 450 structures were damaged following a massive, fatal explosion at a business in northwest Houston Friday, according to the Office of Emergency Management and the Houston Fire Department. Debris from the explosion littered the surrounding areas and some nearby residents told KPRC 2 the foundation of their homes was damaged from the shockwave. In the hours following the Friday explosion, HFD Chief Sam Peรฑa said there were about 214 homes that were damaged. (KPRC via Tharindu N)The number of damaged structures was increased to 450 Monday after an assessment by the Office of Emergency Management. Of the 450 damaged structures, officials say:35 structures had major damage358 structures had minor damage57 structures were affectedIt is unclear how many damaged structures were homes and how many were businesses.
This is how much damage Houston saw, how high wind gusts hit, during last nightโs storm
HOUSTON โ Severe thunderstorms passed through the Houston-area, causing damage and power outages. Where damage was reported:There were some reports of damage overnight in the Houston area. Officials say there was damage to the inside of the home after water flowed in from the damaged roof. Hereโs a look at the unofficial wind speeds recorded overnight in and around Houston. At least three homes were destroyed by the Arkansas tornado, said Logan County Emergency Management Coordinator Tobi Miller, but no injuries were reported.
Cargo delivery plane crashes in Victoria
VICTORIA, Texas โ The Victoria County Sheriffโs Office, the Victoria Office of Emergency Management and other responders are on the scene of a cargo aircraft that has has crashed near Benbow Road on Monday night. Air traffic controllers lost radar and radio contact with a single-engine Cessna 208 in the vicinity of Victoria around 8:16 p.m. Monday. The FAA says the plane was traveling from Victoria to Houstonโs Bush International Airport. FAA investigators are on their way to the accident site and the National Transportation Safety Board has been notified. The Texas Department of Public Safety and the National Transportation Safety Board have been summoned to investigate the crash.