Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Resources for Greater Houston
The Houston Relief Resource Hub is a community information resource for residents of Harris County and the surrounding Gulf Coast. We publish plain-language guides on hurricane readiness, flooding, severe weather, and the local agencies and organizations that support neighborhoods before, during, and after a disaster.
Why Houston Needs Disaster Preparedness
Few American cities face the breadth of weather hazards that Greater Houston does. The region sits on the upper Texas coast, within reach of tropical storms and hurricanes from June through November, and its flat coastal-plain geography drains slowly through a network of bayous that can rise quickly during heavy rain. Hurricane Carla in 1961, Alicia in 1983, Tropical Storm Allison in 2001, Hurricane Ike in 2008, Hurricane Harvey in 2017, Tropical Storm Imelda in 2019, and Hurricane Beryl in 2024 each reshaped neighborhoods and tested local emergency systems in different ways.
Flooding is not limited to named storms. Slow-moving thunderstorms routinely overwhelm low-lying intersections inside the Loop and along Buffalo, Brays, White Oak, and Sims bayous. Summer brings sustained heat that can become dangerous for outdoor workers, seniors, and households without reliable air conditioning. The February 2021 winter storm demonstrated that even rare cold events can have catastrophic consequences when grid and water infrastructure are not built for them.
Preparing in advance — keeping basic supplies on hand, knowing your evacuation zone, and understanding the difference between a watch and a warning — is the single most effective way Houston households can reduce the impact of these events.
Quick Information During an Emergency
For any life-threatening emergency, call 911. The following agencies maintain the most reliable Houston-area emergency information and should be consulted before, during, and after a severe weather event.
The Harris County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management coordinates regional response and operates ReadyHarris.org, the county's preparedness portal, and the AlertHarrisCounty notification system. The non-emergency line is 713-881-3100. The City of Houston Office of Emergency Management handles municipal coordination and can be reached at 713-884-4500. The National Weather Service Houston-Galveston forecast office issues watches, warnings, and storm surge guidance for the upper Texas coast at weather.gov/hgx. ReadyHarris.org remains the single best starting point for evacuation zones, shelter information, and bilingual preparedness materials.
Browse Our Resource Hub
Hurricane Preparedness
Season timing, evacuation zones, supply checklists, and post-storm safety guidance for the upper Texas coast.
Flooding and Heavy Rain
Houston's bayou system, high-water locations, vehicle flood safety, and how to prepare your home for sustained rainfall.
Severe Weather Road Conditions
Driving safely during flash flooding, fog, high winds, and named storms on Houston-area roadways and interstates.