Be Prepared: Hurricane Season in Houston (Updated for 2025)

While the Greater Houston Area can be a wonderful place to live, it is also susceptible to hurricanes. Shea Homes® wants everyone to stay safe during hurricane season. Before a storm heads in Houston’s direction, take time to get your ducks in a row.

Insurance

Review your homeowner’s insurance policy and reach out to your insurance provider to answer any questions you may have. It is important to understand what is covered and what the claims process entails.

Consider getting flood insurance – even if you don’t live in a floodplain. Many homeowner’s insurance plans do not cover losses due to flooding and may leave you little recourse in the event of a flood. Talk to your preferred insurance provider about purchasing the right policy for you. If you do have flood insurance, take a moment to review your policy documents.

Make a list of significant items within your home, including but not limited to furniture, appliances, and electronics, as well as valuable smaller items like weapons and jewelry. Take pictures of these items. Store the pictures and list digitally on a cloud-based platform such as Google Drive, iCloud, or Microsoft OneDrive. This record may help you with any future insurance claims. 

Stock up on Essentials.

Add these items to your grocery list now so that you can beat potential supply shortages when a storm is approaching.

• Drinking water – Recommended one gallon per person per day.
• Non-perishable foods – Nuts, crackers, powdered drink mixes, cereal, jerky, and other dried or canned goods can last for months without refrigeration.
• Medications – Ask your pharmacist about providing a larger supply of your prescriptions. Keep a good amount of over-the-counter medications, such as supplements and painkillers. Purchase or refill a First-Aid Kit that includes antiseptics and bandages.
• Pet supplies – Keep extra amounts of food, medication, and other essentials on-hand for your non-human housemate. Make sure you have a carrier or crate for each pet as well.
• Electronics – These include flashlights, lanterns, batteries, battery-powered radio, and portable phone chargers.
• Paper goods – As we saw at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, toilet paper and paper towels are quick to disappear from store shelves in the face of emergency. Also remember you may not be able to wash dishes as usual in the event of power or water shutoff, so consider stocking up on disposable dishware like plates, bowls, cups, cutlery, wet wipes, and trash bags.
• Emergency items – All buildings should have at least one fire extinguisher, and waterproof and fireproof safes are highly recommended for documents and other important objects. If your house has more than one story, store collapsable ladders at different locations near windows. You may want to keep an ax in your attic in case you need to escape severe flooding.
• Fortifications – Ensure adequate supply of nails, plywood, tarps, and sandbags.
• Other items – Acquire watertight bags and containers for precious items. Make sure you have plenty of soap. Purchase and safely fill gasoline canisters for your automobile or generator. If you have a natural-burning fireplace or firepit, purchase firewood and matches and store them in a dry place. This also applies to charcoal and gas grills.

Remember to closely supervise open flames and not to burn fires or run engines in enclosed spaces.

Make a Plan.

Talk to all members of your household about what to do in the event of an emergency. This includes escape routes, how to switch off utilities, and locations of supplies. Share a list of contacts including household members, family and friends, workplaces, schools, and emergency services. Keep your pets’ needs and comfort in mind as well.

In times of emergency, having a rapport with your neighbors can be invaluable. With neighbors you trust, you can share resources, relay news, and watch over household members in need. 

Familiarize yourself with the road system locally in case you need to make detours. Keep your vehicles in working condition, including registration and insurance, and try to keep your gas tank or EV battery as full as possible. 

Clarify what has priority when evacuating. Pack a go-bag with medications, cash, portable chargers, changes of clothes, copies of keys, your ID, bottled water, and other essentials. 

Fortify Your Home.

Before strong winds arrive, reinforce your windows and doors. Stack sandbags outside exterior doors to stop water intake. Ensure your gutters, French drains, and other water mitigation systems are working correctly. Patch any holes or weak points in your roof or walls.

Bring inside anything you can carry, such as patio furniture, swings, toys, tools, flags, grills, and potted plants. Make sure you secure anything that cannot be brought inside. If you have rocks or pebbles in your landscaping, cover them with a tarp and stakes. Remove diseased or dead trees and branches in your yard, as these may cause damage to your home.

Consider storing your vehicles in your garage or covering them in case of hail. Inside, fill a bathtub, bucket, or other watertight container with water, which you can use to flush your toilets.

Stay Safe and Informed.

The best time to evacuate is before the storm arrives. In the days leading up to landfall, carefully consider the risks of evacuating versus sheltering in place. Determine routes to one or more destinations outside of the hurricane’s projected area of effect.

Remember not to drive through water – turn around, don’t drown.

It is important for your information to be both timely and correct. You can find further resources and sign up for alerts through your county’s office of emergency management.

• Brazoria County (Del Bello Lakes, Meridiana)
• Fort Bend County (Cane Island, Sienna, Sunterra)
• Galveston County
• Harris County (Balmoral, Laurel Glen, The Groves, Wood Leaf Reserve)
• Montgomery County (Canopy Green, Harmony, Harper’s Preserve, Wildtree, Woodhavyn)

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) also offers updated information and preparedness guides.

Information in this blog post was obtained from resources available through FEMA and the Harris County Office of Emergency Management.