Several days of severe storms mixed with tornadic weather has left many Texans closely monitoring developing weather conditions.
In the latter stages of storm season, it is important for community members to be watchful of weather conditions and plan accordingly.
Citizens are encouraged to monitor weather forecasts and alerts through weather radio, TV, or online. If severe weather is predicted, have electronics such as a phone charged. This ensures a method to contact emergency services, track storms or receive emergency notifications.
While some may not have social media, it can be an important tool when storms happen. Public Safety organizations will provide updates along with news and weather outlets to keep citizens informed. The News-Press regularly provides and shares updates during severe storms on Facebook.
In the case of a severe storm which could bring large hail and high wind speeds, citizens should remain inside. It is also important to avoid windows, especially if there’s a risk of flying debris. If an individual is outside, they should seek shelter in a sturdy building.
For tornadic weather, it is important to find a sturdy, enclosed area like a basement, storm cellar, or interior room on the lowest floor. Individuals need to avoid windows and exterior walls, and cover their head with their arms or with pillows and blankets. If someone is in a vehicle, leave it immediately and seek shelter in a strong building or a low-lying area. In mobile homes, leave immediately and find a strong structure. Designate a room in the home that is free of windows and can be used as a shelter.
If necessary, plan evacuation routes and where a person will need to go to shelter during a storm.
Tips for storm season preparedness include securing outdoor items such as lawn furniture, trash cans, gas grills, and propane tanks to prevent them from being blown around by strong winds.
It is important to trim or remove trees that are close enough to fall on your home. For windows, individuals can use storm shutters or pre-cut plywood to protect windows from flying debris. Homeowners should ensure gutters and downspouts are clear of debris to prevent flooding.
Flash flooding warnings have been issued due to the large amounts of rainfall during the past few storms. It may be beneficial to stockpile materials like plastic sheeting and sandbags, consider a sump pump with battery backup, and elevate heating and electrical systems if possible.
Following a severe storm, community members are encouraged to listen to local news and stay updated on the current weather as additional storms could be approaching. Contacting loved ones is also important. Once the weather has passed, check for property damages. When walking through storm damage, wear long pants, a long-sleeved shirt and sturdy shoes. Contact local authorities if you see power lines down. Stay out of damaged buildings.
Residents and business owners of Hockley County can register for weather related and emergency notifications to stay informed and alerted in case of emergencies.
Residents are encouraged to go to RUAWARE.US to register for Hockley County Alerts. Business Owners in Hockley County can go to https://r.iinfo. com/hockleycobizcontact for business alerts.
Also, individuals are encouraged to check their wireless device to ensure the “emergency alerts by location” are turned on. That will allow notifications to come through similar to the amber alerts but are initiated locally for emergency situations such as tornado warning or dynamic police incidents.
Individuals should not assume that getting amber alerts to their phone their settings are correct for the notification; people will have to allow location alerts.
What location alert means is it will send the message based on geographical boundaries; the alert can be isolated to a specific area for only those within the preset boundary to receive the notification. This is a voluntary activation as the amber alert system is not voluntary.
All alerts through this system come from local officials; never spam, solicitation calls, text messages or emails. All of the text messages will come from the same number so it can be saved in contacts to be easily recognized.
The phone calls will come through with the office of emergency management number 806-568-5487 so it can be saved and easily recognizable as well.