Locals hear from experts on hurricane preparedness

L – R: JP Judge Joe Stephens, Congressman Gene Green, Harris County’s Emergency Operations Center Manager Misty Gunn, Harris County Flood Control Precinct 2 Coordinator Jeremy Ratcliff and Houston City Councilman District I Robert Gallegos.
L – R: JP Judge Joe Stephens, Congressman Gene Green, Harris County’s Emergency Operations Center Manager Misty Gunn, Harris County Flood Control Precinct 2 Coordinator Jeremy Ratcliff and Houston City Councilman District I Robert Gallegos.

By Allan Jamail

Houston, TX. – Monday, June 11, 2018 — Congressman Gene Green brought governmental agency representatives together to give the preparedness advice to citizens since we’re now in the hurricane season from June 1 through November 30th.

Misty Gunn, Harris County’s Emergency Operations Center Manager said, this is the time citizens should make an Emergency Essentials Kit. The contents needed for the kit can be located at, WWW.READYHARRIS.ORG.

“In addition to your kits contents, if you’re evacuating from high water, put inside a water proof container or plastic bag your prescription drugs, a printed list of all relatives, doctors and insurance agents phone numbers, cell phone and cell phone charger, credit cards and checkbook, important family documents (birth certificates, insurance/ bank account information, etc.),” Guinn said.

Harris County Flood Control Precinct 2 Coordinator Jeremy Ratcliff, and Communications Officers Robert Lazaro, said Commissioners Court plans to call a bond election for August 25, 2018, for the Harris County Flood Control District. Voters will be asked to vote on what could be $2.5 billion in bonds for flood risk reduction projects throughout the county. To learn more about the flood bonds visit, WWW.HCFCD.ORG/ BOND-PROGRAM.

Judge Joe Stephens, Justice of the Peace, said, “East Houston has been impacted tremendously by Hurricane Harvey. Not only have we lost property and life, we have lost our only Hospital (East Houston Regional). In the past we have put our lives back together one piece of sheetrock at a time with little to no governmental help. Unlike Kingwood, Bellaire, River Oaks and the more affluent areas of town where they could probably do a neighborhood fundraiser and fix their flooding problems, we are a working class side of town. We need and deserve a comprehensive plan going forward for how the flooding and Bayous that run through this area (Greens, Carpenter, and Huntington) will be remediated and mitigated to prevent future catastrophes like Allison and Harvey. My ultimate concern is that the east side gets help from the $2.5 billion flood control bond program and we need a hospital immediately.”

Houston City Councilman Robert Gallegos said, “Harris County Flood Control officials are hosting community meetings to seek input on projects that will be funded with the $2.5 billion in bonds that voters will be asked to approve in August. Projects could include channel improvements, floodplain buyouts, and creation of more green-space and detention basins throughout the entire county.

This is the opportunity for residents, especially those who live near flood prone areas along Hunting and Greens bayous, to make their voices heard on which projects to prioritize and complete. A list of the community meetings can be found at WWW.HCFCD.ORG/ BOND-PROGRAM.”