TROPICAL STORM LAURA

Clear Creek ISD -- The Clear Creek Independent School District is issuing an early release for all staff and students at noon Tuesday. Conroe ISD - Classes closed Friday due to power outages. Harmony Public Schools -- Closed Wednesday and Thursday. La Porte ISD -- La Porte Independent School District will be closed Tuesday so that staff members may prepare for Hurricane Laura. Montgomery ISD -- Montgomery ISD Schools closed Friday.

6:46 a.m. -- Heavy damage seen in Vinton, Louisiana after Hurricane Laura made landfallThere is heavy damage seen on restaurants, buildings and gas stations in Vinton, Louisiana after Hurricane Laura made landfall. 8:30 p.m. -- Hurricane Laura call center openThe Hurricane Laura call center is open for Montgomery County residents. Monday, Aug. 246:30 p.m. — Houston under Tropical Storm WatchThe city of Houston is under a Tropical Storm Watch with coastal portions of the city under a Storm Surge Watch. “The City of Houston is working to coordinate its response to Tropical Storm Laura,” officials wrote in a release. While the path of Tropical Storm Laura and Tropical Storm Marco remain uncertain Monday evening, residents and local leaders are taking preemptive measures to stay safe.

HOUSTON – Hurricane Laura made landfall at 1 a.m. Thursday in Cameron, Louisiana. At midnight Thursday morning, Laura’s northern eyewall began moving onshore with 150 mph sustained winds and gusts up to 185 mph, making it a strong Category 4 storm. As of noon, Laura had weakened to a tropical storm with 75 mph sustained winds. It will continue to weaken quickly as it moves inland. Now that Laura is over land, it will speed up and curve eastward into the Mid-Atlantic states, bringing with it heavy rainfall.

As part of our Ask 2 series, the newsroom will answer your questions about all things Houston. Question: I will be flying to Chicago on Thursday morning from Houston Bush Airport at 10 am. Answer: Answer: Tropical Storm Laura is now a Category 1 Hurricane and is expected to intensify today in the Gulf Coast before making landfall late Wednesday. 3 hurricane at landfall which will be late Wednesday night into early Tuesday morning. Please pay close attention to our storm team coverage, Frank Billingsley, Britta Merwin, Khambrel Marshall, Justin Stapleton and Eric Braate will be tracking Laura’s every move and will provide the latest updates as they become available.

(Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) (2020 Getty Images)SABINE PASS, TX - AUGUST 27: Flooding caused by Hurricane Laura on August 27, 2020 in Sabine Pass, Texas. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) (2020 Getty Images)SABINE PASS, TX - AUGUST 27: Flooding caused by Hurricane Laura on August 27, 2020 in Sabine Pass, Texas. 4 stormKPRC 2 reporter Robert Arnold leans into the wind in Lake Charles, Louisiana, during Hurricane Laura on Aug. 27, 2020. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) (2020 Getty Images)LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA - AUGUST 26: Members of the Louisiana National Guard prepare for the arrival of Hurricane Laura on August 26, 2020 in Lake Charles, Louisiana. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) (2020 Getty Images)

HOUSTON – You’ve got your car gassed up and you’re stocked with bread, water and milk but if your home was damaged in a storm could you find important documents you need in a hurry? There are four types of documents you need to secure:Personal cards and paperwork: You need copies of every family member’s birth certificate, passports, social security cards, driver’s licenses and the front and back of all of your credit cards. Make a file of the phone numbers of your friends and family members in case your cell phone battery dies and you can’t recharge or if it gets wet. Medical information: Copy the front and back of your insurance and Medicare cards. Financial records: Important financial paperwork like stock and bond certificates, 401k account numbers and bank and tax records should go in the last file.

HOUSTON KPRC 2 meteorologist Justin Stapleton got a chance to speak with one of the Air Forces hurricane hunters who is set to fly into Tropical Storm Laura. Stapleton said Maj. Douglas Gautrau will be flying into the storm Monday night to see how the center of the storm looks and what is going to happen once Laura starts moving out over open water. You can see what he had to say in the video above.

PORT ARTHUR, Texas Port Arthur's mayor on Monday issued a mandatory evacuation order for the Southeast Texas city before Tropical Storm Laura which forecasters say could strengthen to a Category 3 hurricane makes landfall. Laura was expected to make landfall near the Texas-Louisiana border Wednesday night or early Thursday morning. Port Arthur is about 30 miles (about 50 kilometers) from the Louisiana border. Forecasters have said Laura could change course and make landfall near Houston. We are ready to deal with this situation as well," Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said Monday.

A girl wades towards her flooded home the day after the passing of Tropical Storm Laura in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Monday, Aug. 24, 2020. Laura battered the Dominican Republic and Haiti on it's way to the U.S. Gulf Coast, where forecaster fear it could become a major hurricane. Now forecasters are turning their attention the Gulf Coast, where up to 11 feet (3.4 meters) of sea water storm surge could inundate the coastline from High Island in Texas to Morgan City, Louisiana, the hurricane center said. Hurricane Rita then struck southwest Louisiana that Sept. 24 as a Category 3 storm. We might have dodged a bullet with Marco, and obviously some people along the Gulf Coast are not going to be as blessed as us.___Martin reported from Marietta, Georgia.

The city is currently under mandatory evacuation in anticipation of Hurricane Laura. Credit: REUTERS/Adrees LatifThe mayor of Galveston called for a mandatory evacuation of the city Tuesday morning after Tropical Storm Laura strengthened into a hurricane and its path shifted westward, increasing the chances that it could strike the Houston area. Voluntary evacuation orders are in place for Chambers County, Galveston County and the City of Seabrook. Laura is bearing down as the coronavirus pandemic remains a major concern in Texas, especially in cities like Houston. Laura could become the second significant storm to impact Texas during the 2020 hurricane season.

HOUSTON – Tropical Storm Laura is approaching the Texas-Louisiana Border, prompting several Houston-area and national-based storm chasers to head out in search of powerful storm images. Here are notable accounts who have posted or planned to post storm chasing photos as Laura comes onshore, from rainstorms to breathtaking clouds. Lastly here’s a somewhat educational video (the sound isn’t the best) of a dropsonde launch into the center of #Laura and what we’re looking for as far as data coming in. #FlyNOAA pic.twitter.com/9rwwJNx5iI — Tropical Nick Underwood (@TheAstroNick) August 24, 2020Impressive rain shaft, and might i add that this outflow boundary feel so good right now. #txwx pic.twitter.com/ekMU5vhYNZ — Southern Plains Weather Authority (@SPWxAuthority) August 22, 2020Know any other accounts worth following for amazing photos?

They will be giving you important information specific to your condition and let you know where to go for treatment if your facility closes. DIALYSIS PATIENTS NEED TO SAVE THIS INFORMATIONPatients may have questions like: What to do if a dialysis facility closes? For help, the Kidney Community Emergency Response (KCER) is available by phone 24/7 to answer your questions regarding kidney conditions and emergency events. Under emergency conditions, you still may need to use the insulin that has been stored above 86°F. For more information see Information Regarding Insulin Storage and Switching Between Products in an Emergency (en Español).

As part of our Ask 2 series, the newsroom will answer your questions about all things Houston. Question: Has Harris County lowered water levels in the reservoirs to help prevent the downstream flooding that we experienced in Harvey? Answer: The Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) has been monitoring bayou levels, which officials say appear to be good as of Sunday. HCFCD encourages Houston residents to create a Flood Warning Systems account and sign up for rainfall and water level alerts. Send it our way, and we will try to hunt down an answer.

GALVESTON, Texas – Galveston County Judge Mark Henry issued a disaster declaration for the area just hours after the city of Galveston issued a voluntary evacuation order ahead of Tropical Storm Laura. The voluntary evacuation has since upgraded to a mandatory evacuation as of Tuesday. According to Henry, the disaster declaration affects multiple areas including, Tiki Island, San Leon, Baycliff, Hitchcock, the Bolivar Peninsula and Galveston. “Forecasts are showing the possibility of heavy rains, tropical force winds, and storm surge impacting our area,” Henry said in a press conference Monday afternoon. Laura is expected to make landfall as a Category 2 hurricane with winds upwards of 100 miles per hour.

HOUSTON – 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.

Gulf storms: The latest on Marco and Lauras impact on HoustonThe latest track forecast for Tropical Storm Laura as of Monday, Aug. 24, 2020. The latest track forecast for Tropical Storm Laura as of Monday, Aug. 24, 2020. Photo: National Hurricane Center Photo: National Hurricane Center Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Gulf storms: The latest on Marco and Lauras impact on Houston 1 / 1 Back to GalleryGood morning, Houston. Heres the latest on Marco and Laura:The forecast for tropical storms Marco and Laura the two systems spinning in the Gulf of Mexico changed dramatically since Friday. Tropical Storm Laura is now expected to be the main threat to Houston, whereas Tropical Storm Marco should be a downgraded depression by the time it reaches the city.

Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Laura is grazing the southern coastline of Cuba on its way into the Gulf for a date with somewhere along the Texas or Louisiana coast. We cannot promise a major hurricane won't be knocking at our door this week, but we can help you to manage your panic and direct it correctly. Storm SurgeWhen we talk about storm sure, we refer to the large swell of ocean water pushed onshore during a hurricane. Terrifying WindsSpeaking of those scary winds, this is one significant threat from a hurricane, were it to strike near us. Even if a major hurricane hit Houston, those winds would only cover a rather small area to the north and west of the eye wall.

HOUSTON – The threat of southeast Texas being in the cone of uncertainty for two tropical systems has left Houstonians with lots of questions about the forecast. Despite the uncertainty, local officials urged residents to plan for what could be a rainy week. So the time to be ready, was yesterday,” said Francisco Sanchez, the deputy emergency management coordinator of the Harris County Homeland Security and Emergency Management. Martha Melbar and his brother, Nathan, heeded that advice as they shopped at the Academy Sports and Outdoors in southwest Houston. Something we can keep for a week-long,” said Gabriel Tow, who shopped for groceries at an H-E-B in southwest Houston.

A girl wades towards her flooded home the day after the passing of Tropical Storm Laura in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Monday, Aug. 24, 2020. Laura battered the Dominican Republic and Haiti on it's way to the U.S. Gulf Coast, where forecaster fear it could become a major hurricane. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)

The center cautioned that Marco could still cause life-threatening storm surges and dangerous winds along the Gulf Coast. Members of the Civil Defense help a woman in a flooded street after the passage of Storm Laura, in Azua, Dominican Republic on August 23, 2020. "Storm surge will be a concern with the water level really not having time to go down after Marco." Despite Marco's weakening, a storm surge warning remained in place from Morgan City, Louisiana, to Ocean Springs, Mississippi. A storm surge of up to 4 feet was forecast for parts of coastal Louisiana and Mississippi.

Visible GOES-16 satellite image of Tropical Storm Marco (left) and Tropical Storm Laura (right) at 12:50 p.m. EDT Sunday, August 23. In the Dominican Republic, relatives told reporters a collapsed wall killed a mother and her young son. Hundreds of thousands were without power in the Dominican Republic amid heavy flooding in both countries. A tropical storm warning included Lake Pontchartrain in Louisiana, and metropolitan New Orleans. A storm surge of up to 4 feet (1.2 meters) was forecast for parts of coastal Louisiana and Mississippi.

Forecasts continue to evolve for Hurricane Marco, Tropical Storm LauraA satellite image shows both tropical storms, Marco and Laura, on the morning of Sunday, Aug. 23. Photo: National Hurricane Center Photo: National Hurricane Center Image 1 of / 5 Caption Close Forecasts continue to evolve for Hurricane Marco, Tropical Storm Laura 1 / 5 Back to GalleryThe latest forecast cone for Tropical Storm Laura has taken a turn to the west, again raising concerns that the storm could make landfall in Southeast Texas this week. A tropical storm warning was in effect for Haiti on Sunday night. Hurricane Marco could stay offshore along the Gulf Coast rather than making landfall on Monday as previously predicted, forecasters said Sunday evening. "Based on this shift in track, tropical storm conditions are expected farther west along the Louisiana coast, and a Tropical Storm Warning has been issued from Morgan City to Cameron, Louisiana."

Workers for the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority - West, close floodgates in Harvey, La., just outside New Orleans, Monday, Aug. 24, 2020, in advance of Tropical Storm Marco, expected to come near the Southern Louisiana coast. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)PORT-AU-PRINCE Tropical Storm Marco was falling apart Monday but setting a messy stage for the arrival of Laura as a potentially supercharged Category 3 hurricane along the U.S. Gulf Coast. August Creppel, Chief of the United Houma Nation, was concerned about the groups 17,000 members, spread out over six parishes along the Louisiana Gulf Coast. McNoldy said he expects the storm to reach major hurricane status of at least 111 mph. For the residents of the Louisiana coast, theyre certainly lucky that Marco is not worse than it is, McNoldy said.

HOUSTON With the potential impact that Tropical Storm Laura may have in the Houston area, the Houston Astros have made some changes to their schedule this week. Thursdays game between the Astros and the Los Angeles Angels at Minute Maid Park will be played on Tuesday as part of a double-header beginning at 3:05 p.m. In addition, Wednesdays game, which was originally scheduled for 8:10 p.m., will be moved up to a 12:10 p.m. start. The Astros will have Thursday off. They are scheduled to host the Oakland As this weekend.

HOUSTON With all eyes on the Gulf of Mexico and the two hurricanes brewing just a day apart, residents along the coast, from Louisiana to Brazoria County, are preparing for the worst. While the path of Tropical Storm Laura and Tropical Storm Marco remain uncertain Monday evening, residents and local leaders are taking preemptive measures to stay safe. See those videos below:EvacuationsGalveston County Judge Mark Henry issued a disaster declaration for the area just hours after the city of Galveston issued a voluntary evacuation order ahead of Tropical Storm Laura. First responders get readyIn anticipation of severe weather and flooding, the Houston Police Department and Houston Fire Department began preparing their severe weather equipment, boats and more to properly assist residents who might need aid in the coming days. See the video below:Coastal residents prepare for the worstLouisiana:Brazoria County:Jefferson County:Chambers County:

Greg Abbot has issued a State Disaster Declaration for 23 Texas counties, including Harris County, ahead of Hurricane Marco and Tropical Storm Laura. Hurricane Marco will likely impact central Louisiana but could also affect Texas. As Hurricane Marco and Tropical Storm Laura approach Texas, the state is taking necessary precautions to protect our communities and keep Texans safe, said Governor Abbott. The Governor also announced that he has asked President Trump to issue an emergency declaration for all 23 Texas counties to assist with evacuation and shelter needs. To read the full disaster declaration, click here.

Spring, Texas The National Hurricane Center (NHC) is closely monitoring two tropical systems; Hurricane Marco and Tropical Storm Laura. Hurricane Marco rapidly intensified overnight which resulted in a major shift in the storms projected path to the east, away from Houston. Marco was upgraded from a tropical storm to a hurricane at 11:30 AM. As of the 11:00 AM update from the NHC, Tropical Storm Laura was located approximately 90 miles to the southeast of Cuba and moving West-North West at 21 MPH. Track has shifted slightly west with #Laura toward the TX/LA border.

Marco became a hurricane over the Gulf of Mexico Sunday on a path toward the Louisiana coast as Tropical Storm Laura killed at least seven people in the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Laura was headed over Cuba before its path likely took it to the same part of the U.S. coast, also as a potential hurricane. The center warned of life-threatening storm surges and hurricane-force winds along the Gulf Coast. Hundreds of thousands were without power in the Dominican Republic, as both countries on the island of Hispaniola suffered heavy flooding. The hurricane center said the storms were not expected to interact as the region faces an unusually active hurricane season.

Tracks for Tropical Storm Marco, Tropical Storm Laura shift away from TexasTropical Storm Laura is expected to pose a stronger threat to Texas but the intensity of that possible storm is dependent on its track. ""This could result in a prolonged period of hazardous weather for areas that are likely to be affected by Tropical Storm Marco earlier in the week." Photo: National Hurricane Center Marco's forecast cone at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 22Photo: National Hurricane Center Laura's forecast cone at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 22. 3 p.m.As Tropical Storm Laura strengthened near Puerto Rico on Saturday afternoon, meteorologists in Houston report that if Tropical Storm Marco were to strengthen, it could shift the storm's track away from Houston and Texas. Tropical Storm Marco began to move through the Yucatan Channel at about 1 p.m., the National Hurricane Center reported.

Location 65 miles ESE of Cayo Largo Wind 60 mph Heading WNW at 20 mph Pressure 29.59 Coordinates 80.6W, 21.2NDiscussionAt 1100 AM EDT (1500 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Laura was located near latitude 21.2 North, longitude 80.6 West. Laura is then forecast to move over the central and northwestern Gulf of Mexico Tuesday night and Wednesday, and approach the northwestern coast of the Gulf of Mexico Wednesday night. WIND: Tropical storm conditions are expected to spread westward within the warning area in Cuba through today. Tropical storm conditions are expected in Little Cayman and Cayman Brac today. Tropical storm conditions are also expected within the warning area in the middle and lower Florida Keys and the Dry Tortugas this afternoon and tonight.