Houston Emergency Kit — Personalized for Your Risks

Local Hazard History

Houston's flat terrain and sprawling network of bayous make it one of the most flood-prone large cities in the country. Hurricane Harvey (2017) stalled over the region and dropped more than 50 inches of rain in places, flooding hundreds of thousands of homes and ranking among the costliest disasters in U.S. history. Years earlier, Tropical Storm Allison (2001) proved even a non-hurricane can paralyze the city. Flooding here isn't only a coastal problem — inland flash flooding routinely swamps neighborhoods far from the Gulf.

When Risk Peaks

• Jun–Nov: Atlantic hurricane season; peak threat is August to October
• Spring–Summer: Heavy thunderstorms can trigger flash flooding at any time
• Jun–Sep: Dangerous heat and humidity, especially during power outages
• Year-round: Bayou and street flooding after sustained downpours

What to Pack for Houston

Houston's dominant risks are flooding and prolonged outages, so prioritize:

• Waterproof containers for documents, medications, and electronics
• Knowing whether your home sits in a floodplain — and never driving through flooded roads (Turn Around, Don't Drown)
• 7 days of water and food in case roads and stores are cut off
• A battery or hand-crank radio and portable chargers for multi-day outages
• A plan to stay cool and hydrated when heat follows a storm

Local Resources

• ReadyHarris (Harris County Emergency Management) — Local alerts, evacuation, and flood-resilience resources.
• Texas Division of Emergency Management — Statewide preparedness and disaster recovery.
• National Hurricane Center — Official Gulf storm tracking and forecasts.