HOUSTON — Hurricane season officially begins on June 1, 2026, and emergency management officials in the Houston area are urging residents to prepare by signing up for alerts, assembling supply kits, and reviewing evacuation plans. Officials from the City of Houston Office of Emergency Management and Harris County Office of Emergency Management emphasized that readiness does not require completing everything at once.
Residents are encouraged to turn on emergency alerts on their phones and sign up for AlertHouston, ReadyHarris Alerts, and the State of Texas Emergency Assistance Registry (STEAR). Brian Murray with Harris County Office of Emergency Management said, "This is the time when everyone needs to look at what is your plan to get through not only hurricane season, but basically all of the risks and threats that we have on almost daily basis." He added, "We want you to be in STEAR but during an emergency if we call you if we text you and ask if you’re okay please acknowledge that you’re ok because if not I’m gonna send a firefighter or a police officer to go knock on your door and make sure you’re OK."
Officials recommend building a hurricane kit gradually. Brian Mason with the City of Houston Office of Emergency Management said, "Every time you go to the grocery store, buy an extra item or two. Buy an extra jar of peanut butter. Buy an extra pack of batteries. Buy an extra case of water." Recommended supplies include canned food, water, medications, flashlights, batteries, a waterproof bag for documents, a hand-crank or battery-powered radio, and pet supplies. Officials advise having enough food, water, and medications for at least seven days.
Residents are also encouraged to check evacuation zone maps before hurricane season intensifies. Evacuation information and preparedness resources are available at ReadyHarris.org and HoustonOEM.org. For assistance, residents can dial 2-1-1 for community resources and 3-1-1 for city and county services.