Houston Hurricane Prep

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Hurricane season is part of life along the Texas Gulf Coast.

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30, but preparing should not wait until a storm enters the Gulf. Hurricanes, tropical storms and severe weather can disrupt power, damage roads, interrupt water service and affect local water quality.

Houston residents have seen how quickly conditions can change. A little preparation before a storm can make the days during and after it safer and more manageable.

Make Your Plan Before a Storm Forms

Preparing begins with knowing what your household will do if conditions become dangerous.

Review whether your home is in an evacuation area, identify more than one route out of your neighborhood and decide where your household would go if local officials issue an evacuation order. Include children, older family members, pets and anyone who may need additional assistance.

Your household plan should include:

Emergency contacts and a designated meeting place
Local evacuation routes
Transportation arrangements
Plans for pets and service animals
A way to receive weather alerts if power or internet service is interrupted
Copies of identification, insurance information and important medical documents
A list of medications and essential medical equipment

Keep phones and portable power banks charged when severe weather is approaching. Follow the National Weather Service, local emergency management offices and trusted local news sources for current instructions.

Forecasts can change quickly. The safest plan is one made before the pressure is on.

Build a Practical Emergency Kit

The National Weather Service recommends keeping at least a seven-day supply of food and water for hurricane emergencies. For water, plan for at least one gallon per person per day for drinking and sanitation.

A practical household emergency kit may include:

Bottled drinking water
Shelf-stable food and a manual can opener
Prescription medications
Flashlights and extra batteries
Battery-powered or hand-crank radio
Portable phone chargers
First-aid supplies
Personal hygiene products
Pet food and supplies
Cash in small denominations
Copies of important documents
Basic tools and work gloves

Store supplies somewhere they can be reached easily. Check expiration dates periodically and replace anything that has been used.

Accessible drinking water becomes especially important during extended power outages and hot conditions, when the risk of dehydration may increase.

Avoid waiting until a hurricane warning is issued to begin shopping. Water, batteries and other essentials have a remarkable talent for disappearing from shelves the moment everyone needs them.

Protect Your Drinking Water

Water service can be affected when hurricanes, tornadoes and other severe weather damage infrastructure, interrupt power or reduce pressure within a municipal system. These disruptions can allow contaminants to enter the water supply and may lead local authorities to issue a boil-water notice.

Before severe weather arrives, use clean, food-safe containers to store water while the municipal supply is operating normally and no advisory is in effect. Keep commercially bottled water as part of your emergency reserve, even if your household normally uses a water purifier.

Boiling and Purification Are Not the Same

Boiling is an important emergency step, but it addresses a specific water-quality concern.

Bringing water to a rolling boil can kill many disease-causing bacteria, viruses and parasites. However, boiling does not remove dissolved contaminants such as PFAS, heavy metals, total dissolved solids and many other substances that may already be present in the water.

In some circumstances, boiling can make certain nonvolatile contaminants more concentrated. As clean water evaporates, those substances can remain behind in a smaller volume of water.

That distinction is why comprehensive water purification still matters.

The NECOA Smart Water Purifier uses a 3-filter, 5-stage reverse osmosis system designed to reduce more than 80 contaminants. Purification occurs at the point of use, after water has traveled through municipal infrastructure and household plumbing.

While boiling provides emergency disinfection, NECOA is designed to address a broader range of everyday water-quality concerns. It can also help households prepare before a storm by providing purified water for clean storage containers while normal water and electrical service remain available.

If a boil-water notice is issued, continue following all instructions from your local water utility or public health department, even if your water has passed through a NECOA purifier. The purifier’s hot-water setting should not be treated as a substitute for the rolling boil required by emergency instructions.

Use water according to official guidance for:

Drinking
Brushing teeth
Preparing food and beverages
Washing dishes
Preparing infant formula
Making ice
Giving water to pets

If authorities issue a do-not-drink or do-not-use advisory because fuel, chemicals or other toxic substances may be present, do not attempt to make the water safe by boiling it. Use bottled water or another source specifically approved by local officials.

Once an advisory has been lifted, follow utility and manufacturer instructions for flushing fixtures, clearing water lines and preparing connected appliances or purification systems for normal use.

A hurricane can change water conditions quickly. Preparing with both an emergency water reserve and a comprehensive point-of-use purification system gives your household more options before, during and after severe weather.

Stay Careful After the Storm

The danger does not end when the wind stops.

Downed power lines, flooded roads, damaged trees, contaminated water and unstable structures can remain hazardous. Continue monitoring official updates and avoid returning to an evacuated area until local authorities say it is safe.

After the storm:

Avoid walking or driving through floodwater
Stay away from downed power lines
Photograph property damage when it is safe to do so
Use protective clothing during cleanup
Discard food or ice that may no longer be safe
Continue following water-use restrictions and boil-water notices
Check on neighbors who may need additional assistance

Power outages can also leave homes without reliable cooling. Review our guide on how to prepare for a Texas heatwave for additional steps that can help during prolonged hot conditions.

Preparedness cannot prevent a hurricane, but it can reduce confusion and help your household respond more safely when normal routines are interrupted.

Start early, keep your plan current and make safe drinking water part of your emergency preparations.

Prepare Before the Forecast Changes

Learn how the NECOA Smart Water Purifier can support your household’s everyday drinking-water routine and help you prepare purified water before severe weather arrives.