Rest Easy, Texas: Hurricane Season Is Over

From Harris County

HOUSTON – The Atlantic hurricane season officially ends on Nov. 30 sparing Texas, but causing chaos along the Gulf Coast and Eastern Seaboard. Experts had originally predicted 2018 would be a lower-than-average year for hurricanes, but this changed as the season progressed.

A total of 15 named storms, including two major hurricanes - Hurricane Florence, which hit North Carolina in September, and Hurricane Michael, which made landfall last October on the Florida Panhandle – devastated hard hit areas claiming lives and causing extensive damage.

“Our sympathy goes out to all the folks who have suffered losses,” said Harris County Judge Ed Emmett. “Not too long ago we faced similar situations with Hurricane Harvey.”

Last August, Hurricane Harvey became the most extreme rain event in the nation’s history dropping more than 50 inches of rain in southeast Texas during a four-day period. Harvey claimed 36 lives in Harris County alone and caused more than $125 billion in damages.

“A year after Harvey, the path to recovery continues and so does our work with public and private partners,” said Emmett. “Our priorities remain helping communities recover and completing projects to make our county more resilient.”

The Harris County Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management (HCOHSEM) is currently updating the county’s multi-hazard mitigation plan through a collaborative process with multiple jurisdictions and public participation.

The overall goal is to identify risks and develop strategies to minimize the impacts of future disasters.

“Our region is one of the best-prepared areas in the country for responding to disasters,” added Emmett. “We will continue to work closely with our emergency management partners to ensure that all of our communities are prepared.”

HCOHSEM encourages residents to stay informed and prepared for emergencies throughout the year. Go to www.readyharris.org to sign up for emergency alerts, download the mobileReadyHarris app or follow ReadyHarris on social media for information and preparedness tips.

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