Rough Hurricane Season Predicted For Houston This Year
The NOAA’s predictions for this year’s hurricane season do not look particularly promising for Texas. Hurricane season officially began June 1st and runs through November 30th. The Texas Gulf Coast is at its most vulnerable from mid-July through mid-September, with a peak between August 15 and September 15. According to Texas Monthly, “The NOAA said there’s a 45 percent chance of an ‘above-normal season,’ compared to a 35 percent chance of a ‘near-normal’ season, and a 20 percent chance of a ‘below-normal’ season.” Adding that “there’s a 70 percent likelihood that there will be between eleven and seventeen storms that are strong enough to name (i.e., the ones with winds of 39 mph or higher), and between five and nine of those bad boys could become hurricanes, including two to four major hurricanes (categories three, four or five with winds of 111 mph or higher).” For Houston, this assessment is particularly alarming as the city has found itself in a two-year streak of “100 year floods” ( on Memorial Day in 2015 and on Tax Day in 2016) — with major storms resulting in sixteen deaths and over $1 billion in damages.
There’s also concern as the Gulf Coast hasn’t had a significant landfall hurricane since Hurricane Ike in 2008 — the last significant storm to strike Texas’ Gulf Coast. The storm knocked out power to as many as an estimated 2.6 million people, caused $19.3 billion in damages and killed 84 people. Since the storm, Houston has added nearly 1 million residents and millions of square feet of all property types.
“The flooding in Houston, because of the water table, is something that’s a significant challenge for everyone to deal with,” Stream Managing Director of Property Management Bob Nowak told BisNow, “When there’s storm surge, water level can rise quickly anywhere in the city. Flash flooding happens within minutes.”
BisNow shared that “Texas lawmakers and business leaders sent a letter to President Donald Trump in April asking him to include $15B in his infrastructure budget to finance a coastal barrier wall aimed at protecting the Houston area. Even if the project is approved, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says construction could not start until 2024 at the earliest.” So, what’s to be done now? Cities can implement immediate technological infrastructure that keeps visitors and residents safe and aware of immediate weather and road conditions. The installation of flood cameras and other technology can bring real-time news and situational awareness to the public and keep them in-the-know regarding immediate or coming dangers and off of the roadways as needed.
As for individual preparation, it is advised to stay informed, always have a disaster supply kit and establish a plan for your family, business and emergency communication contingencies. Make sure your emergency bag has a first aid kit, any necessary medications, and secure familiarity with evacuation routes. The Houston Chronicle offered additional tips for hurricane safety here.
