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The National Weather Service forecasts periods of showers and thunderstorms from late this afternoon (Friday, May 3) until tomorrow (Saturday, May 4) morning in the Southeast Texas region including Missouri City. Rainfall totals will average between one to two inches with heavier amounts locally of up to four inches in some areas.

Residents are encouraged to take precautions if necessary, to monitor local weather reports before travelling around the area and to sign up for emergency alerts on www.MissouriCityReady.com and Twitter—@MissouriCityEM.

Additionally, City officials ask residents to keep the streets clear of vehicles/debris to allow safe passage for Public Safety and Public Works vehicles, to keep the drainage system clean and to protect your vehicles. Avoid traveling through flooded areas, and remember: Turn Around, Don’t Drown.

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If disaster strikes, Missouri City’s Emergency Operations Center is ready to respond. Recent severe weather incidents are reminders for residents, stakeholders and staff to ensure proper preparation for the 2019 Hurricane Season that blows in June 1. To emphasize the importance of preparing before a storm hits, Sunday, May 5 to Saturday, May 11, has been designated as National Hurricane Preparedness Week by NWS officials.

In a disaster, communication between the City and residents is key; we saw this first-hand with Hurricane Harvey. Residents are also encouraged to visit our emergency management website, www.MissouriCityReady.com, to sign up to receive emergency alerts and to learn how to prepare supply kits and stock up on necessary items such as non-perishable food, water, flashlights, batteries, radios, first-aid kits, cell phones, chargers, maps and important documents. Residents may also sign up for Emergency Management alerts via Twitter.com/MissouriCityEM.

While Fort Bend is designated by the State as a pass-through county for evacuees who live along the Gulf Coast, residents are still encouraged to prepare themselves and stay aware of the potential for severe weather that can accompany tropical systems.

As the “Show Me City” and the region witnessed during Harvey, hurricanes can produce heavy winds, storm surges, torrential rains, inland flooding and tornadoes. It is important that all citizens and businesses be aware of the hazards severe weather presents.

EOC officials also stress the importance of keeping a list of informational resources for reference. Recommendations for City residents include:

• Police and Fire Departments: 911 or 281.403.8700 
• CenterPoint Energy: 713.207.2222 
• American Red Cross – Fort Bend County Branch: 281.342.9480, Greater Houston Branch: 713.526.8300 
• Ready Harris (www.readyharris.org); 713.881.3100; the Harris County Office of Emergency Management’s official website. 
• Enable Fort Bend (www.enablefortbend.com); 281.238.3514; the agency assists individuals with functional and medical needs during an emergency or disaster. 
• MCTV: Comcast Ch. 16; AT&T U-verse Ch. 99 
• WQMN – 1690 AM: Emergency advisory radio station 
• MCTX Mobile App: Download it in the Apple App store or on Google Play

Officials also encourage residents to:

• Assess your risks and know your home’s vulnerability to storm surge, flooding and wind. 
• Understand National Weather Service forecasts, and especially the meaning of hurricane and tornado watches and warnings. 
  • Hurricanes: For a storm watch in this category, forecasters would report a possibility of winds of 74 mph and higher within 36 hours. For a warning, forecasters would report a possibility of winds at the same speed within 24 hours. 
  • Tornadoes: A watch is an alert to monitor the skies and a warning signals that a tornado has struck the ground and shelter must be sought immediately. 

And, for the following types of severe weather, experts offer some safety tips:

• Lightning: Avoid high objects, stay away from isolated trees, telephone poles or communications antennas. Avoid contact with metal surfaces and do not bathe, swim or boat. Only use the telephone for emergency purposes.
• Flash Floods: Never drive through flooded roadways, do not cross flooded roads or waterways on foot, avoid ditches and storm drains and stay tuned to local media for road reports and updates.
• Tornadoes: Texas is struck by more tornadoes than any other state. The safest places to seek shelter in homes, schools or workplaces are interior rooms, such as bathrooms, closets, rooms without windows, hallways, auditoriums and gyms. If driving when a tornado strikes, leave the vehicle and lie flat in a ditch or ravine, if possible. Residents should also know the difference between a Tornado Watch and a Tornado Warning.

As part of the 2019 Hurricane Preparedness week, City staff will also be sharing important preparation reminders each day from May 5 – 11, on all City communications tools to ensure MCTX citizens are fully prepared to weather any storms.

For updates, please watch the City website: www.missouricitytx.gov, like us on Facebook—fb/MissouriCityTX, follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat—@MissouriCityTX and Nextdoor, watch Missouri City Television (Ch. 16 on Comcast and Ch. 99 on AT&T U-verse) or download the MCTX Mobile app (available for free in Google Play and the Apple app store).