Texas named one of the worst states for disaster preparedness | Let’s fix that
You’d think a state like Texas, which has been hard-hit by natural disasters would be more than prepared to take on what comes its way, but a recent survey suggests otherwise. So let's fix that with helpful reminders from KPRC 2.
Flood-ravaged community in Conroe braces for hurricane season in wake of recent storms
Living under the constant threat of rising waters has taken it’s toll both emotionally and financially for families in Conroe’s River Plantation community. With Hurricane season just beginning, many in this neighborhood are deciding whether it’s worth staying here after suffering so much loss.
Private or FEMA Flood Insurance: How to know which is best for your property
If you don't already have flood insurance, you should consider it. We have seen the devastation flooding can cause. In this article, investigative reporter Amy Davis is answering your questions about private flood insurance versus FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program.
One early hurricane forecast
Very few seasonal hurricane forecasts come out before April simply because the skill level is not there. About all you can go on now is water temperature and, sometimes, the forecast for La Nina/El Nino. Saying that, a group out of England called Tropical Storm Risk issued their first 2023 Hurricane forecast last December (!) and below you’ll see they are calling for a fairly average season citing stronger trade winds last summer and noting that historically a year that follows three La Nina seasons usually comes in about average.
Astroworld: Countdown to Tragedy – Preventing another festival disaster
“So going into this everybody knew it was going to be a problem, the department ramped up like it was a Super Bowl or a Hurricane,” said Mark Lentini, a now-retired Houston police officer who says the festival ended his career.“Long before the disaster struck any crowd expert or person involved in crowds responsible for crowds knew there were storm clouds over that festival,” said Paul Wertheimer, a crowd safety expert with decades of experience studying crowd surge and other safety issues.On Wednesday, Nov. 2, KPRC 2 Investigates examines the safety and prevention measures that could prevent mass casualty disasters, including crowd design, emergency medicine planning, and the need for a unified command.
What dictates a hurricane’s strength?
There are many ways to categorize a hurricane. The storm’s central pressure is one way. The height of its storm surge is another. How much rain it drops is another. And, of course, the strength of its wind is another. But what causes a hurricane to strengthen or weaken? The answer is simple enough, but multifaceted.
Storm Surge: What is it? And what types of hurricanes create the most devastating and deadly surge?
When a hurricane threatens the United States, a lot of attention is focused on the path and the wind speed. Storm surge can be just as important to monitor, because it can quickly cause extreme destruction and death.
Introducing the “Modelcane”
Last Wednesday, all the Media-rology lit up with a potential Category 4 hurricane in the Gulf (headed toward Texas, no less) just in time for Memorial Day weekend. The cover shot today shows what was going around. This was a forecast from the American model a good two weeks out. We call these hurricanes from the model a “modelcane” and I’ll explain what’s going on in a moment. Suffice it to say that, first of all, there has never been a major hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico in May, so that would be highly unusual, and second, never trust a model more than a week out, especially for tropical systems that develop in the Caribbean’s west end. Trust me, things will change.
15 years later, you still won’t believe these photos and stats from Hurricane Ike
With estimated maximum sustained winds of nearly 110 mph, Ike made landfall over Galveston Island as a Category 2 Hurricane at 2:10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2008. The storm killed dozens of people and caused $29.5 billion in damages, becoming one of the most devastating hurricanes in U.S. history.
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Can We Stop Hurricanes?
Every Hurricane season I get emails or questions during my speeches about stopping a hurricane, especially when they are still small disturbances. Before they grow into these large, deadly, destructive monsters, isn’t there something we can do to stop them dead in their tracks?
![On 4th anniversary of Hurricane Harvey, Harris County Flood Control District says all flood-prone improvement projects have started](https://www.click2houston.com/resizer/h9J0wWWfDOyAik7cMQpezpwS7zQ=/800x450/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/d1vhqlrjc8h82r.cloudfront.net/08-26-2021/t_70e178d6db1b48ec929a0fe99a86e156_name_image.jpg)
On 4th anniversary of Hurricane Harvey, Harris County Flood Control District says all flood-prone improvement projects have started
On the fourth anniversary of Hurricane Harvey, the Harris County Flood Control District announced that all projects that are part of a multi-billion-dollar post Harvey bond program have begun.
What’s a hurricane tip you wish you had learned sooner?
Whether you’ve experienced a bad storm yourself, or maybe it was your friends or relatives who had to survive the ordeal, it’s better to ask these questions before we’re in the midst of a disaster: Have you ever received advice about how to prepare for a hurricane that really stuck with you?
Tropical Depression Claudette continues to quickly move into the Deep South
Tropical Depression Claudette continues its move across the Gulf coast states this morning, dropping heavy rain and tornadoes along the way. Latest coordinates continue to show an ENE movement at an increased speed of 17mph with the center in Georgia, heading toward the east coast. It is expected to strengthen once again into a tropical storm as it nears the Carolina coast. Later tonight and into Monday.
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WMO retires several hurricane names; says goodbye to Greek alphabet names
HOUSTON – The World Meteorological Organization’s (WMO) Hurricane Committee held its annual meeting from March 15 to 17. They cited several reasons for their decision:Often, there is more focus on the use of the Greek alphabet for names rather than the storm itself, which leads to less-than-optimal communication of important information. Greek alphabet names can be confusing when translating to different languages. The WMO will replace the Greek alphabet names with a supplemental list of names that start with A, B, C, D, and so on, all the way down the alphabet with the exception of Q, U, X, Y, and Z. AdThe supplemental list of names agreed upon for Atlantic hurricanes is:AdriaBraylenCaridadDeshawnEmeryFosterGemmaHeathIslaJacobusKenzieLucioMakaylaNolanOrlandaPaxRoninSophieTayshaunVivianaWillPacific storms will also have a supplemental list, which you can view here.
What is left of Iota continues to soak Central America
HOUSTON – Iota was the 30th named storm and the 13th hurricane in this record-setting 2020 Atlantic hurricane season. 4 Hurricane Eta decimated the same area. What is left of Iota is still producing rain over Central America but the focus now switches to the long road to recovery for Honduras and Nicaragua, both hard hit by Eta and Iota. The calendar might say mid November and hurricane season does end November 30th but the tropics are still busy. Neither spot would threat the U.S. but they could be a concern for hard hit Central America.
Eta remains a strong tropical storm heading to Florida
HOUSTON – The storm is expected to weaken just slightly down to a strong tropical storm before making landfall somewhere between Cedar Key and Clearwater, Florida by this evening. It will bring heavy rain, wind and up to a 2-3 foot storm surge during high tide across central and NW Florida coastline. Eta is approaching the central Florida coastline this eveningEta will move across Florida tonight and tomorrowWe might be nearing the end of hurricane season but the tropics are still very busy! Tropical Storm Theta is churning in the north Atlantic heading towards Spain and Portugal and we will likely be looking at “Iota” over the next few days tracking in the Caribbean towards Central America. Busy TropicsTHETA marks the 29th named storm of the 2020 season breaking the record for the most named tropical systems in a hurricane season.
![Winds and rain whip Yucatan resorts as Hurricane Zeta nears](https://www.click2houston.com/resizer/lDFvJdhu_YLnQ6ykuY8F-jTIm74=/1600x1009/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/FPUOTUS5MVHQNA3XWLUEUH4V5I.jpg)
Winds and rain whip Yucatan resorts as Hurricane Zeta nears
Clouds gather over Playa Gaviota Azul as Tropical Storm Zeta approaches Cancun, Mexico, early Monday morning, Oct. 26, 2020. (AP Photo/Victor Ruiz Garcia)MIAMI – Hurricane Zeta lashed Mexico's Caribbean coast resorts around Tulum with high winds and rain Monday night as it headed toward the Yucatan Peninsula and then a possible landfall on the central U.S. Gulf Coast at midweek. It was the second time this month that boat captain Francisco Sosa Rosado had to perform the same maneuver, after Hurricane Delta hit the resort in early October. Trees felled by Hurricane Delta barely three weeks earlier still littered parts of Cancun, stacked along roadsides and in parks. There was also a Tropical Storm Zeta in 2005, but that year had 28 storms because meteorologists later went back and found they missed one, which then became an “unnamed named storm."
Hurricane Epsilon now a major hurricane, continues to close in towards Bermuda as it meanders in the Atlantic
Epsilon is the 27th tropical system of the 2020 Hurricane Season. Thankfully Epsilon is in the central Atlantic and projected to stay in the central Atlantic not threatening the East Coast of the United States. Late Thursday night Epsilon will approach Bermuda as a Category 2 hurricane, but a direct hit to the island is not anticipated. After passing east of Bermuda, it will turn eastward into the north-central Atlantic. EpsilonBeyond Epsilon, there is one spot we are watching in the Northwest Caribbean that has a 20% chance for development.
Here’s what KPRC 2 reporters saw as Hurricane Delta made landfall in Louisiana and near southeast Texas
Hurricane Delta made landfall Friday evening as a Category 2 storm with winds of 100 mph near Creole, Louisiana. Here is what KPRC 2 reporters saw in parts of Louisiana and Texas as the storm pushed through:Lake Charles, LouisianaJenning, LouisianaPort Arthur, TexasGalveston
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Can we retire a Greek hurricane name? Delta made us wonder.
Louisiana residents who are still recovering from the devastation of a powerful hurricane less than two months ago braced for another hit as Hurricane Delta steamed north through the Gulf on Thursday after swiping Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, the Associated Press reported. “They do not retire Greek alphabet storm names -- at least so far,” Gross said. The last time we went through all the letters of the alphabet and moved on to the Greek alphabet was 2005. In 2005, a record-breaking year of devastating hurricanes, we made it through six Greek letters. The Committee also agreed that it was not practical to retire into hurricane history a letter in the Greek alphabet.
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Galveston, Jamaica Beach residents prepare for Hurricane Delta
JAMAICA BEACH, Texas – It hasn’t 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.
What to know about Delta’s direction
Two storms in the Gulf (again) looks to be the headline this week with Gamma having trouble with the kickstart due to wind shear and eventually being absorbed by stronger Delta. Right now, Delta is forecast to become a Category 2 hurricane with 105-mph winds headed toward Louisiana. The Florida high is still there (this is an extension of the Bermuda High), but it’s been beaten down a bit by our cold fronts. And as you can see on the forecast map below, a low-pressure system in the upper atmosphere is expected to be over Texas by mid-week. Right now, the only immediate concerns are at the coast with 1-2′ higher tides, rip currents and off-shore seas of 6-9′.
![4 weeks later, Hurricane Laura evacuees in Houston hope to go home soon](https://www.click2houston.com/resizer/NDf3uxt6GUx61sv3ryK6PaaNf0E=/1600x900/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/d1vhqlrjc8h82r.cloudfront.net/09-24-2020/t_70fc50d84dfe4015b9a46bcfb6aa589c_name_image.jpg)
4 weeks later, Hurricane Laura evacuees in Houston hope to go home soon
HOUSTON – The process of rebuilding and cleaning up from Hurricane Laura is something that will take a lot more time. Helping Hurricane Laura VictimsFrom cleanup to rebuilding and serving food, there are several organizations on the ground working daily in Louisiana to help hurricane victims rebuild. Houston Food BankThe Houston Food Bank is part of a larger network of food banks with several close to the disaster zone in Louisiana. Mercy ChefsMercy Chefs was founded after Hurricane Katrina to provide meals to those affected by the storm. You can help provide someone with a night stay by donating online.
Bye, Bye Beta
HOUSTON – Rain is the only thing left of Beta and it is moving through the Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee. This batch of rain will continue to push into the mid-Atlantic states Friday before moving off shore this weekend. Here is a look at what Beta left behind in Southeast Texas:Heavy Rain with Storm Totals over 12′'! Beta has dropped over a foot of rain in some locations in southern Metro Houston. The heaviest rain fell from Ellington Field and Pearland to west Houston.
![How Houston-area first responders train and prepare for storms like Beta](https://www.click2houston.com/resizer/KJeIIOVHxfVHhUa80ebQ1arGbW4=/1600x900/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/d1vhqlrjc8h82r.cloudfront.net/09-21-2020/t_d3cc0347697a4ef2a62294923bc81080_name_image.jpg)
How Houston-area first responders train and prepare for storms like Beta
HOUSTON – With Tropical Storm Beta bashing the Gulf coast, first responders may get a chance to put some unique training to the test. Inside a warehouse near Austin, Rick Cummins trains the next generation of water rescuers at his Fathom Academy. Since it opened two and a half years ago, Cummins has trained about 300 first responders, with more than 90% of them from the Houston area. The goal is to put them in real-life flooding scenarios that we’ve seen in recent years, including Hurricane Harvey and Tropical Storm Imelda. Cummins also had tips for people who might find themselves stuck in high water and in need of rescue.
![Here are the Houston-area evacuations issued for Tropical Storm Beta](https://www.click2houston.com/resizer/vPYtKMuGJdxzUkeU-uQjd1TYWaI=/1500x1463/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/CWPU7ZYZQJFFPOTY37ANE747FA.jpg)
Here are the Houston-area evacuations issued for Tropical Storm Beta
HOUSTON – Houston-area officials are issuing voluntary evacuations and disaster declarations as Tropical Storm Beta continues to brew in the Gulf of Mexico. Bolivar PeninsulaGalveston County Judge Mark Henry issued a voluntary evacuation order, effective 9 a.m. Saturday. Chambers CountyChambers County Judge Jimmy Sylvia issued a disaster declaration on Saturday in advance of Tropical Storm Beta. Those residents whose homes have been affected in past high rain or high storm surge events should consider moving to higher ground. Lake HoustonHouston Public Works is temporarily lowering Lake Houston from 42 feet to 41.5 feet in anticipation of Tropical Storm Beta.
![Voluntary evacuation issued for low-lying coastal areas in Brazoria County](https://www.click2houston.com/resizer/2JX2wMbb_gCVoXJIgacmAEg7L8Q=/926x684/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/YPCFA6H5M5H57HYDOS3THKFIUA.png)
Voluntary evacuation issued for low-lying coastal areas in Brazoria County
HOUSTON – Brazoria County Judge Matt Sebesta issued a voluntary evacuation Saturday for low-lying coastal areas outside the protection levee, beginning Saturday at 4 p.m.Officials also closed county beaches to vehicular traffic due to current high tides and impending storm surge, starting Saturday at 6 p.m.Officials said all coastal residents and visitors need to continue to stay up-to-date on Tropical Storm Beta, which is expected to strengthen into a hurricane and conditions along the coast could change quickly. Those along the coast need to be prepared and have a plan if conditions worsen, the county said.
Will Beta be another Harvey? Not likely. Here’s why.
This dry air is being drawn into Beta’s circulation, causing the storm to be very off-balance, or lopsided. The orange coloring to the left (west) shows dry air. Dry air is stable. Dry air intrusion will keep Beta from strengthening. Wind shear will continue to be somewhat of a problem for Beta as it works its way toward the Texas coast.
![What to know about slow moving Tropical Storms](https://www.click2houston.com/resizer/VtimCJXnfcUdGM1nlIjMfzDmDO4=/640x360/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/J6ICZ4MZSBGBPLMWEKQYRJOSYY.jpg)
What to know about slow moving Tropical Storms
HOUSTON – Well, that was fast....Wilfred has formed in the far eastern Atlantic and Alpha formed off the coast of Portugal late this morning! Our Tropical Depression 22 will get the name BETA. If there’s one thing that is not Greek to me, it’s that this will be a slow mover and slow movers drop a lot of rain. And we’ve had our share of storms that get ‘stuck’ between competing high-pressure systems. Effectively, the storm gets stuck, meanders, and eventually gets pushed one way or the other.
![8M pounds of pollutants released before and after Hurricane Laura but air quality monitors were taken offline](https://www.click2houston.com/resizer/kNiV_TuXre9ebF4OVVXCywS1Js4=/1600x900/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/d1vhqlrjc8h82r.cloudfront.net/09-17-2020/t_876a2fc027ed4f2d812acf24cf23b11e_name_image.jpg)
8M pounds of pollutants released before and after Hurricane Laura but air quality monitors were taken offline
HOUSTON – As Hurricane Laura barreled toward the Gulf Coast a few weeks ago, in and around Houston, plants and refineries scrambled to shut down. During the shutdown and restart process surrounding Hurricane Laura, energy companies reported to TCEQ (Texas Commission on Environmental Quality) that 8 million pounds of emissions were released in Harris, Brazoria, Jefferson and Orange counties. There’s some opinion there but here’s a fact:During that exact same period that refineries shut down for Hurricane Laura, the state of Texas unplugged its air quality monitors in the storm’s path. Our state’s version of the Environmental Protection Agency is the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). See what TCEQ did in response to Hurricane Laura.
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LIVE STREAM: Hurricane Sally makes landfall on northern Gulf Coast
Aaron Barker has been a senior digital editor at KPRC 2 since 2016. As a meteorologist, he specializes in stories about the weather. He has covered Hurricane Harvey, the Astros first World Series win, the Santa Fe High School shooting, the ITC fire and Tropical Storm Imelda.