Weather is always unpredictable, but when you live in Texas it can be downright insane!

A hurricane, flash flood, or other tropical event can shift from a “watch” to a “warning” to a full evacuation order, sometimes within a matter of hours.

When disaster strikes, you need to be able to react quickly. That means having a plan in place before a storm heads your way. While you cannot control when or where a hurricane will hit, the best way to minimize potential damage is to be prepared. Following are some hurricane preparedness tips to help you and your family stay safe.

Protect Your Home and Vehicles

• Stay informed by listening to your local news channels for important updates. You can also download the FEMA app to receive real-time alerts from the National Weather Service.
• Bring items such as patio furniture, barbecue grills, and potted plants indoors
• Cover windows with plywood
• Use your cell phone to take photos of all your important documents. This ensures you have backups if the originals get lost and/or destroyed.
• Fill your gas tank and move your vehicles to higher ground. Avoid parking under trees and power lines
•  Keep enough cash on hand to get by for at least seven days. Power and communications will be down, so don’t count on credit cards, ATMs, or mobile payment apps like Apple Pay and Venmo
• Have a plan ready in case you need to evacuate. Be sure to follow community disaster preparedness plans

Pack “Disaster Bags”

You’ll need a bag for each member of your family. That way, if there is an evacuation order, you won’t be leaving empty-handed.

Each bag should include:

• Enough food and water to last at least 72 hours
• Clothing for the next 72 hours
• A battery-operated flashlight and radio — along with plenty of extra batteries
• Medical supplies, including two weeks’ worth of any prescription medication along with over-the-counter remedies you might need
• A first aid kit that includes personal hygiene items, hand sanitizer, and disinfectant

Don’t Forget Your Pets

Your fur babies are family, too. Prepare a pet evacuation kit that contains food, bottled water, food dishes, medications, cat litter and pans, and anything else you might need to keep your pet comfortable for a few days.

At Community Health Choice, the safety and security of our Members is our top priority. For more information on hurricane preparedness, please visit ReadyHarris.org. Hurricane preparedness guides are available in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese, and Arabic.