HOUSTON — Hurricane season begins June 1, and Houston-area residents have been advised to assemble emergency supply kits ahead of potential storms. Recommended kits include a supply of water with at least one gallon per person per day for several days for drinking and sanitation, along with non-perishable food sufficient for at least several days.

Additional recommended items include a battery-powered or hand-crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert, a flashlight, a first-aid kit, extra batteries, and a whistle to signal for help. Kits should also contain a dust mask to help filter contaminated air, plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter in place, and moist towelettes, garbage bags, and plastic ties for personal sanitation. A manual can opener, local maps, and a cell phone with chargers and a backup battery round out the recommended supplies.

Household budgets in the region have tightened heading into the new season. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, grocery prices in Houston rose 1.7% over the 12 months ending February 2026. The number of households reporting difficulty getting by doubled between 2025 and 2026, a figure that included some households earning more than $150,000.

Rice University's Kinder Institute for Urban Research reported that only 34% of Harris County residents could cover three months or more of living expenses using savings if they lost their paycheck. The findings point to limited financial cushions available to many area households as they prepare for storm-related expenses.

The recovery from Hurricane Beryl illustrated disparities across income levels. After the storm hit Houston, lower-income residents recovered more slowly than higher-income households. Among families earning less than $25,000 a year, nearly one in three were still struggling just weeks after Beryl made landfall.

A year after Beryl, three in ten families earning less than $25,000 had not fully recovered compared with higher-income households. The lingering effects on lower-income households coincide with the start of a new hurricane season and the preparation guidance directed at residents across the Houston region.