Hurricane Preparedness

Dangerous weather can happen anytime, anywhere. With these resources below, I'm confident Texans can weather any storm.

- Senator John Cornyn

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Hurricane season runs from Jun 1 to Nov 30 each year, so it’s important to be prepared.

I encourage every Texan to be ready for severe weather, especially during hurricane season. It is recommended that you prepare an emergency kit, make a plan, learn local evacuation routes, and always listen to the warnings of local leaders and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

After recent active hurricane seasons, Texans know the force these powerful storms bring with them and how important preparation is leading up to, during, and after landfall.

Here are six basic hurricane preparedness tips from Ready.gov:

Know where to go. If you are ordered to evacuate, know the local hurricane evacuation route(s) to take and have a plan for where you can stay. Contact your local emergency management agency for more information. 
Put together a go-bag: disaster supply kit, including a flashlight, batteries, cash, first aid supplies, medications, and copies of your critical information if you need to evacuate . Don’t forget the needs of pets!
If you are not in an area that is advised to evacuate and you decide to stay in your home, plan for adequate supplies in case you lose power and water for several days and you are not able to leave due to flooding or blocked roads. 
Make a family emergency communication plan. 
Many communities have text or email alerting systems for emergency notifications. To find out what alerts are available in your area, search the Internet with your town, city, or county name and the word “alerts.”
During and after the storm, do not attempt to walk or drive through flood waters. One foot of moving water can sweep your vehicle away. Turn Around. Don’t Drown!

For more information about planning ahead for natural disasters, please visit Ready.gov.

To track active storms, please visit the NOAA’s National Hurricane Center.

Information on disaster assistance can be found at fema.gov or at 1-800-621-FEMA. Texans can also get the latest updates and register for disaster assistance on their cell phones using FEMA’s mobile application, available here.

By taking commonsense steps to prepare for severe weather, we can help ensure the safety of our families and ourselves during emergency situations.

Federal Disaster Assistance

Find a Red Cross shelter close to you at RedCross.org.

National Flood Insurance Program policyholders may call 1-800-621-3362 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (CDT) for general information, servicing of claims, or technical assistance.
Texans who have sustained property damage from severe storms and flooding should register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) at disasterassistance.gov.

Other Disaster Resources

For general help or to find out where you can volunteer, call 211.
For road closures across Texas, click here.
Download the FEMA app for iPhone with emergency information by county here.
To get help filing a personal insurance claim, call the Texas Department of Insurance’s Consumer Help Line: 800-252-3439 (Note: this is not an emergency number)

Replacing Lost or Damaged Documents

Medicare Cards: Call 800-772-1213 or click here.
Social Security Cards: Call 800-772-1213 or click here.
Birth and Death Certificates: Call 888-963-7111 or visit this website.
Passports: Call 202-955-0430 or 877-487-2778 or click here.
Texas Drivers Licenses: Call 512-424-2600 or click here.
SNAP Cards / Lone Star Cards (food stamps): Call 800-777-7328 or click here.
Green Cards: Call 800-375-5283 or click here.
Bank Checks, ATM/Debit Cards, or Safe Deposit Boxes: Call 877-275-3342 or click here.
Credit Cards: Contact your issuing institution: American Express (800-992-3404), Discover (800-347-2683), MasterCard (800-622-7747), or Visa (800-847-2911).
Credit Reports: Contact Equifax, Experian, or Transunion at 877-322-8228 or visit annualcreditreport.com
Fraud Alerts or a Credit Freeze: Call 877-438-4338 or click here.
U.S. Savings Bonds: Call 800-722-2678 or 800-553-2663 or click here.
Tax Returns: Call 800-829-1040 or click here.
Military Records: Call 866-272-6272 or click here.
Vehicle Titles: Call 888-368-3689 or click here.
Insurance Documents: Check with your insurance agent.
Real Estate and Property Records: Contact your agent or click here.
Medical and Prescription Records: Call your doctor or pharmacy as medical and prescription records are tracked electronically.
Replace a Texas Marriage Record or Certificate: Visit this website for information or visit this site for your issuing Clerk of Court.
Proof of Address/Residency: Click here.
National Archives Records: Click here for information about saving family records.