AUSTIN, Texas — June 1 marks the official start of the Atlantic hurricane season.
Preparation is the top priority this year after 2020's record-setting hurricane season and devastating Category 4 storms that caused damage along the Gulf Coast.
According to the City of Austin, hurricanes are usually not a direct threat for Austinites, but these storms can produce significant flooding, hail, strong winds and tornadoes that result in severe damage as they move inland.
"We need individuals to plan and prepare now, ahead of potential severe weather, and not after the fact," said Director of the Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management Juan Ortiz. "Emergency preparedness not only saves lives but makes our community that much more resilient."
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The City of Austin Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management says residents should follow these steps for emergency preparedness ahead of severe weather:
Make a plan
According to the City, emergency kits and warnings won't help without a plan for when and how to take action. Residents should:
- Know if they are in a flood-prone area as flash flooding is the biggest threat for Austin during hurricane season
- Learn evacuation routes
- Keep essential documents gathered and prepared if immediate evacuation is needed.
Build a kit
When creating an emergency kit, Austinites should prepare for up to seven days and include items such as:
- Water (one gallon per person per day)
- Non-perishable food and manual can opener
- Basic first-aid kit and 7-day supply of medications/medical items
- Pet supplies
- Important documents in a watertight bag, and family/emergency contacts
- Cell phone, chargers, flashlight, and extra batteries
- Battery-powered or hand-crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert
- Sanitation/personal hygiene items and blankets
- Wrench or pliers
Stay Informed
Staying weather aware is a critical step in emergency preparedness.
The city urges residents to make sure they can receive emergency alerts through Warn Central Texas, a 10-county regional notification system that provides warnings and other critical information through text, phone, and email to residents for their neighborhood.
"If our community remains resilient during natural disasters by being emergency prepared, we are in a much better position to be able to help other communities as we saw during Hurricane Laura by being able to shelter over 3,000 evacuees," said Ortiz.
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