The National Weather Service in Houston has published a 2025 Hurricane Guide tailored for the southeast Texas area. The guide includes information about how to prepare for all hazards associated with hurricanes, including strong winds, storm surge, flooding, and tornadoes.
The 38-page guide is filled with helpful tips, explanatory visuals, checklists, evacuation routes, easy-to-read text and helpful links. Whether you grew up in the area or recently arrived, this guide contains updated information for you.
Destruction on Bolivar Peninsula After Hurricane Ike
Contents
The guide begins with lists of hurricane names for this and the next four years and a readiness checklist. Next, it discusses changes to familiar National Hurricane Center graphics, including a new 2025 look for forecast cone graphics.
For boaters and beachgoers, the brochure contains a discussion of hurricane surf and rip currents, and why even distant hurricanes can be deadly.
One of the most eye-opening sections discussed how storm surge from Category 1, 3 and 5 hurricanes would affect communities from the Bolivar Peninsula to Matagorda Bay. I was shocked to see that surge from a Cat 5 storm could reach inside Loop 610 through the bayous and up to the Lake Houston Dam.
Next came a series of preparation tips for people who live and work in different types of structures. They include but are not limited to recommendations for:
Protecting vital records
Pet safety
Insurance (before and after the storm)
Emergency contacts
Supply kits
Time-sensitive checklists:
Actions to take when a storm is in the Gulf
Final actions to take if leaving
Final actions to take if staying
Where to find forecast/emergency information
Tourist safety
The guide concludes with sections on:
How people with special needs or disabilities can register for assistance
Evacuation routes
Evacuation zones by zip code
Returning home
Cleanup
Emergency management contacts for counties and cities throughout the region
5/1/2025 – My last dredging update was in April. So it’s time for another.
Judging by aerial photos, Callan Marine seems to be making steady progress in its San Jacinto West Fork dredging program for the City of Houston. The dredge has moved farther downstream. And the placement area in Huffman next to the Luce Bayou Inter-Basin Transfer Canal is filling up.
The Story in Pictures
In April, the dredge was located west of #4. Yesterday it ws working between #4 and #5.Looking S toward Lake Houston from above West Fork. Note dredge in distance near tip of Kings Point (left).Closer shot shows dredge pipe that pumps spoils to placement area far upstream.Men worked on the giant dredge bit as I photographed the scene.From there, spoils travel 3.8 miles to the placement area up Luce Bayou near the Inter-Basin Transfer Canal.West Fork Dredging Spoils Placement Area near Luce IBT Canal (left). Pipe near tree line on left brings water/sediment from lake. Reverse angle shows compartments in maze that slows down incoming water. As water slows, sediment drops out of suspension. Eventually, this will form a base strong and high enough to build homes on.Already, parts of the placement area are solid enough to support heavy equipment.The area shown above on the left has reached the height of the dike walls.
Note how the workers are building out and into the placement area in two directions. They adjust the length and position of the pipes to concentrate the flow where they want to build up the earth. From there, the bulldozers and excavators help compact the material into a solid foundation for beneficial use.
This image shows the height of the sediment relative to the walls of the pond. Several vertical feet remain in most of the placement area.After most of the sediment has dropped out of suspension, water returns to the lake via the temporary canal (center).
Moving sediment deposited in Lake Houston by erosion is a massive, but necessary project. The lake supplies water for more than 2 million people and has already lost a large percentage of its storage capacity.
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20250430-DJI_20250430101159_0364_D.jpg?fit=1100%2C619&ssl=16191100adminadmin2025-05-01 17:34:472025-05-01 18:35:32May 2025 San Jacinto West Fork Dredging Update
4/30/25 – District E Houston City Council Member Fred Flickinger has organized another Median Madness event for this coming Saturday, May 3, 2025 from 8:30 AM to noon. This time, however, volunteers will tackle Northpark Drive medians instead of Kingwood Drive’s.
Volunteers from previous Median Madness events have enjoyed the sense of community and seeing immediate results from their efforts.
Event Details
All ages are welcome, but adults should accompany anyone under 16. Please remember to bring water and gloves and to wear closed-toed shoes.
Park at the Kroger and Northpark and West Lake Houston Parkway. That’s 3410 Northpark Drive, Kingwood, TX 77345.
Sponsors include Trees for Kingwood, Houston Parks and Recreation, Kroger, the Houston Tool Bank, and Chick-fil-A.
If you have tools, bring them. But if you don’t, the Tool Bank will supply them.
“We’ll be trimming underbrush along the south side of Northpark Dr., from W. Lake Houston Parkway to Village Manor Dr. This will help enhance the beauty of the neighborhood and the safety of our medians. It’s a great opportunity to give back, enjoy the outdoors, and connect with the community,” said Flickinger.
How to Register
As before, please register online. It will help the event planners. Once you sign up, you will be sent a waiver via email like the one below.
Bring the family, friends and neighbors! And make a difference for the community this weekend.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 4/30/25
2801 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Unknown-e1746053152400.png?fit=1000%2C1294&ssl=112941000adminadmin2025-04-30 17:29:202025-04-30 17:46:08Join the Median Madness on Northpark Drive Saturday.
NWS Publishes 2025 Hurricane Guide Tailored for SE Texas
The National Weather Service in Houston has published a 2025 Hurricane Guide tailored for the southeast Texas area. The guide includes information about how to prepare for all hazards associated with hurricanes, including strong winds, storm surge, flooding, and tornadoes.
The 38-page guide is filled with helpful tips, explanatory visuals, checklists, evacuation routes, easy-to-read text and helpful links. Whether you grew up in the area or recently arrived, this guide contains updated information for you.
Contents
The guide begins with lists of hurricane names for this and the next four years and a readiness checklist. Next, it discusses changes to familiar National Hurricane Center graphics, including a new 2025 look for forecast cone graphics.
For boaters and beachgoers, the brochure contains a discussion of hurricane surf and rip currents, and why even distant hurricanes can be deadly.
One of the most eye-opening sections discussed how storm surge from Category 1, 3 and 5 hurricanes would affect communities from the Bolivar Peninsula to Matagorda Bay. I was shocked to see that surge from a Cat 5 storm could reach inside Loop 610 through the bayous and up to the Lake Houston Dam.
Next came a series of preparation tips for people who live and work in different types of structures. They include but are not limited to recommendations for:
The guide concludes with sections on:
Start Now
This is a great all-in-one guide. You can download the English version here. Or the Spanish version here.
Remember, hurricane season starts in less than a month and storms may strike even before then.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 5/2/25 with thanks to NWS/Houston.
2803 Days since Hurricane Harvey
May 2025 San Jacinto West Fork Dredging Update
5/1/2025 – My last dredging update was in April. So it’s time for another.
Judging by aerial photos, Callan Marine seems to be making steady progress in its San Jacinto West Fork dredging program for the City of Houston. The dredge has moved farther downstream. And the placement area in Huffman next to the Luce Bayou Inter-Basin Transfer Canal is filling up.
The Story in Pictures
Note how the workers are building out and into the placement area in two directions. They adjust the length and position of the pipes to concentrate the flow where they want to build up the earth. From there, the bulldozers and excavators help compact the material into a solid foundation for beneficial use.
Status of Cunningham’s Dredging Bill in Austin
Since Hurricane Harvey, we’ve spent hundreds of millions of dollars on dredging to play catch up from decades of neglect.
Moving sediment deposited in Lake Houston by erosion is a massive, but necessary project. The lake supplies water for more than 2 million people and has already lost a large percentage of its storage capacity.
That’s why House Bill 1532 by Rep. Charles Cunningham is so important. The bill would create a permanent dredging and maintenance district for the lake.
Dredging also reduces flood risk by restoring conveyance and eliminating sediment blockages.
On April 29, 2025, the House approved HB1532 overwhelmingly. 114 representatives voted for it. 19 voted against. Two voted Present. And one abstained.
Yesterday, the bill moved to the Senate on its slalom through the legislature. You may want to urge Sen. Brandon Creighton to support it.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 5/1/25
2802 Days since Hurricane Harvey
Join the Median Madness on Northpark Drive Saturday.
4/30/25 – District E Houston City Council Member Fred Flickinger has organized another Median Madness event for this coming Saturday, May 3, 2025 from 8:30 AM to noon. This time, however, volunteers will tackle Northpark Drive medians instead of Kingwood Drive’s.
Volunteers from previous Median Madness events have enjoyed the sense of community and seeing immediate results from their efforts.
Event Details
All ages are welcome, but adults should accompany anyone under 16. Please remember to bring water and gloves and to wear closed-toed shoes.
Park at the Kroger and Northpark and West Lake Houston Parkway. That’s 3410 Northpark Drive, Kingwood, TX 77345.
Sponsors include Trees for Kingwood, Houston Parks and Recreation, Kroger, the Houston Tool Bank, and Chick-fil-A.
If you have tools, bring them. But if you don’t, the Tool Bank will supply them.
“We’ll be trimming underbrush along the south side of Northpark Dr., from W. Lake Houston Parkway to Village Manor Dr. This will help enhance the beauty of the neighborhood and the safety of our medians. It’s a great opportunity to give back, enjoy the outdoors, and connect with the community,” said Flickinger.
How to Register
As before, please register online. It will help the event planners. Once you sign up, you will be sent a waiver via email like the one below.
Bring the family, friends and neighbors! And make a difference for the community this weekend.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 4/30/25
2801 Days since Hurricane Harvey