Intro

Hazard mitigation planning for Harris County identifies ways to reduce risk from foreseeable natural hazards that may impact the county. Harris County has completed the 2020 Harris County Multi-Hazard Mitigation Action Plan—the first update to the initial 2015 plan-with cities and special purpose jurisdictions in the county participating as partners in the plan. This hazard mitigation plan reduces risk for those who live in, work in, and visit Harris County.

The National Weather Service defines Extreme Heat as occasions when temperatures hover ten degrees or more above the average high temperature in a region for an extended period. They issue Heat Advisories when temperatures exceed 108° F for two consecutive days. Because of our subtropical climate, Harris County residents are extremely vulnerable to extreme heat every year.
Get under cover when the sun’s rays are the strongest between 10 am and 4 pm.
Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants and a wide-brimmed hat as well as UV-blocking sunglasses during extreme heat events.
Stay indoors as much as possible and limit exposure to the sun.
Drink plenty of fluids and replace salts and minerals in your body.
Install light colored cool roofing materials to lower the building’s internal temperature.
Install temporary window reflectors, such as aluminum foil-covered cardboard, to reflect heat back outside.
Increase shade around your property by planting trees and other vegetation.
A drought is a shortage of water or rain over an extended period of time. Harris County is at moderate risk of experiencing drought and has experienced two prolonged drought events in the past 20 years. The severity of a drought depends on the degree of moisture, the duration, and the size of the affected area. Droughts are slow-onset hazards, but, over time, they can severely affect crops, water supplies, recreational resources, and wildlife.
Ensure water lines and pipes in your home are maintained to eliminate breaks and leaks. Check for leaks in plumbing or dripping faucets.
Incorporate drought tolerant or “xeriscape” practices into landscape to reduce usage of sprinkler systems.
Construct permeable driveways and surfaces to reduce runoff and promote groundwater recharge.
Install low-flow water saving showerheads and toilets.
Implement water saving techniques at home to conserve water usage, such as turning water flow off while brushing teeth, adjusting sprinklers to water the lawn and not the street or sidewalk, and running the dishwasher and washing machine only when they are full.
A wildfire is an unplanned, unwanted fire burning in a natural area, such as a forest, grassland, or prairie. Harris County contains everything from rural farmland to dense urban landscapes, and is vulnerable to wildfires when temperatures soar and humidity falls. From 2005 to 2015, there were 315 wildfire events in the county, impacting approximately 4,122 acres. Only one of these events were included in a federal disaster declaration.
Determine if your property is in a high risk area by visiting the Texas Wildfire Risk Assessment Portal at https://www.texaswildfirerisk.com/ and reviewing the Harris County Community Wildfire Protection Plan at www.hcfmo.net.
Create defensible space with firewise landscaping:
  • The first 30 feet from your home in all directions is called your defensible space.
  • Move vegetation and plants at least 3 feet from the foundation of the house, deck, porch or siding.
  • Locate larger trees away from the home.
Work with neighbors to create spaces up to 200 feet around your homes where vegetation is thinned to remove underbrush and that tall trees do not touch each other for continuous canopies.
Harden your home with fire resistant material to improve fire safety:
  • Choose brick, stone masonry, precast concrete panels or structural insulated panels (SIPs) rather than wood framing.
  • Swap standard windows for steel-clad units equipped with fire-resistant glass.
  • If you don’t want to invest in fire-safe glass, double-paned windows can resist heat better than single-paned units.
Fiberglass asphalt shingles, when used in conjunction with fire-safe underlayment products, offer a high level of fire resistance.
For greater fire safety, switch to a noncombustible roofing option such as metal tile, clay tile, or slate.
A hurricane is a tropical cyclone that forms over tropical or subtropical waters with a wind speed greater than 74 MPH. The greatest threat to life during a tropical cyclone is storm surge, especially for coastal homeowners. Inland residents can expect high winds, heavy rainfall, flooding, and tornadoes.
Bring lightweight objects such as patio furniture, garbage cans, and bicycles inside. Anchor objects that would be unsafe to bring inside such as gas grills and propane tanks.
Install and test generators before storm strikes.
Work with an architect or contractor to incorporate wind mitigation techniques and high wind-rated products when constructing your home.
Reduce damage to your home from hurricane winds by reinforcing roofs by bracing and strapping the roof, bracing gable ends, and securing roof-to-wall connections.
Install wind and impacted rated garage doors with steel struts and braces for additional protection.
Install shutters to protect windows from flying debris and high-winds.
Identify and remove trees and branches that could fall on the building walls or roof, or on power lines.
Know whether your property or business is located in a Hurricane Evacuation Zone by visiting the Ready Harris Interactive Evacuation Map for evacuation zones and routes.
Know whether your property is located in an area eligible for windstorm and hail insurance by visiting the Texas Department of Insurance.
Thunderstorms are caused when air masses of varying temperatures meet. Rapidly rising warm moist air services as the engine for thunderstorms. All thunderstorms produce lightning and may include tornadoes, strong winds, hail, and heavy rain with the potential for flash flooding. Harris County’s subtropical climate and location along the Gulf of Mexico make it vulnerable to frequent thunderstorms.
Remove dead or rotting trees and branches that could fall and cause injury or damage during a severe thunderstorm.
Shutter windows and secure outside doors. If shutters are not available, close window blinds, shades or curtains.
Unplug any electronic equipment well before the storm arrives.
Similar to hurricane and tornado preparedness, bring loose, lightweight objects such as patio furniture, garbage cans, and bicycles inside. Anchor objects that would be unsafe to bring inside such as gas grills and propane tanks.
Install lightning protection devices and surge protection on critical facilities and electronic equipment.
Inspect and retrofit roofs to adequate standards to provide wind resistance.
Regularly maintain tree pruning around power lines.
Avoid contact with corded electronics, electrical equipment, and plumbing during a thunderstorm.
Avoid non-essential water use such as showering, washing dishes, and doing laundry during a thunderstorm.
Improve the building envelope to reduce wind damage.
A tornado is a violently rotating column of air extending from the base of a thunderstorm down to the ground. Tornadoes are capable of destroying structures, uprooting trees, and hurling objects through the air like deadly missiles. In Texas, Harris County is the number one county for tornado touchdowns, with a total of 237 events reported since 1950.
Identify the safest room in your home if a warning is issued for your area. This should be an interior room, closet, or bathroom with no windows, on the lowest level of the structure.
Identify other potential protective locations in sturdy buildings near your home, work, and other locations you frequent.
For schools, malls, and other buildings with long-span roofs or open space plans, ask the building manager to identify the best available refuge, or shelter in restrooms or other interior locations with no windows.
Bring lightweight objects such as patio furniture, garbage cans, and bicycles inside. Anchor objects that would be unsafe to bring inside such as gas grills and propane tanks.
Remove dead or rotting trees and branches that could fall and cause injury or damage during a tornado
When possible, turn off the power, water and gas.

Flooding is a common threat associated with almost all of the hazards in Harris County. It is also the most common threat to life and property for residents.

What is flooding and what causes it?

Riverine Flooding: occurs when water levels rise over the top of river banks or the edges of their main channel due to excessive rain or severe weather. River flooding is classified as Minor, Moderate, or Major based on water height and impacts along the river.

Flash Flooding: occurs due to a rapid and extreme rise of water along a stream or low-lying urban area from intense rainfall over a small area in a short period of time.

Coastal Flooding: occurs with inundation of land areas along the Gulf Coast and is caused by higher than average high tide, heavy rainfall, onshore winds, and storm surge from tropical systems.

Know where you live! Are you near rivers, bayous, streams or reservoirs? If you are building or remodeling your home, use flood damage-resistant materials including rubber trim, non-paper-faced gypsum wallboard, corrosion-resistant screws, non-absorbent stone, sealed concrete, and ceramic materials.
Keep storm protection materials on hand, such as sandbags, plywood, plastic sheeting, and lumber.
Raise mechanical equipment, plumbing system components, outlets and/or appliances above the regulatory flood level.
Wet floodproofing means to modify your uninhabited portions of your home with flood damage-resistant materials and vents that allow water to enter the space during flooding and recede after flooding.
Dry floodproofing means making your home watertight to prevent floodwaters from entering; such as installing water proof membranes, backflow valves, and watertight shields over windows and doors.