The Harris County Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management (HCOHSEM) reminds residents to take precautions as high temperatures affect our area.
National Weather Service forecasts predict extreme heat into next week. Extreme heat is defined by Ready.gov as a period of high heat and humidity with temperatures above 90 degrees for at least two to three days. Exposure to extreme heat can cause heat stroke, exhaustion, and even death. Older adults, children and people with certain illnesses and chronic conditions are at greater risk. Heat-related illnesses are preventable.

1. Stay in air conditioning as much as possible. Shopping malls, libraries, and other public indoor spaces are great places to go to beat the heat when needed.
2. Wear light-colored, lightweight, and loose-fitting clothing.
3. If you must be outdoors, stay hydrated and avoid heavy labor and other physical activities. Take frequent breaks.
4. Never leave children or pets unattended in vehicles. Temperatures rise quickly and can reach deadly levels in minutes.

Common symptoms of heat-related sickness include headaches, dizziness, nausea, and loss of consciousness. Seek medical care or call 911immediately if you suspect someone is suffering from a heat-related illness.

Additional information on heat-related illness and other summer safety tips available are available at www.ReadyHarris.org. Stay informed by signing up for Ready Harris Alertsor Ready Harris Accessible Alerts.

Se Espera Calor Extremo Esta Semana

 La Oficina de Seguridad Nacional y Manejo de Emergencias del Condado Harris (HCOHSEM, por sus siglas en ingés) recuerda a los residentes que tomen precauciones ya que las altas temperaturas afectan nuestra área.

Los pronósticos del Servicio Meteorológico Nacional predicen calor extremo hasta la próxima semana. Ready.gov define el calor extremo como un período de alta temperatura y humedad con temperaturas superiores a los 90 grados durante al menos dos o tres días. La exposición al calor extremo puede causar insolación, agotamiento e incluso la muerte. Los adultos mayores, los niños y las personas con ciertas enfermedades y condiciones crónicas están en mayor riesgo. Las enfermedades relacionadas con el calor son prevenibles.

1. Permanezca en un lugar con aire acondicionado tanto como sea posible. Los centros comerciales, bibliotecas y otros espacios públicos interiores son excelentes lugares para refrescarse cuando sea necesario.
2. Use ropa de colores claros, ligera y holgada.
3. Si debe estar al aire libre, manténgase hidratado y evite trabajos pesados y otras actividades físicas. Tome descansos frecuentes.
4. Nunca deje a niños o mascotas desatendidos en vehículos. Las temperaturas aumentan rápidamente y pueden alcanzar niveles mortales en minutos.

Los síntomas comunes de las enfermedades relacionadas con el calor incluyen dolores de cabeza, mareos, náuseas y pérdida del conocimiento. Busque atención médica o llame al 911 de inmediato si sospecha que alguien está sufriendo una enfermedad relacionada con el calor.

Información adicional sobre enfermedades relacionadas con el calor y otros consejos de seguridad para el verano están disponibles en www.ReadyHarris.org. Manténgase informado inscribiéndose en las Alertas de Ready Harris o en las Alertas Accesibles de Ready Harris.

August 5 7 a.m.

Debby makes landfall along the Big Bend of Florida early Monday morning. From there, it will turn northeast and may emerge in the Atlantic just off the Georgia and South Carolina coast late Tuesday into Wednesday. It is also possible Debby could stall out along the Carolina coast, which could lead to a risk for major flooding. From Thursday and beyond, there is quite a bit of model disagreement with Debby’s track.

We are also monitoring a tropical wave approaching the Windward Islands that has a 30% chance of forming once it makes it’s way into the southern Caribbean later this week.

August 4 10 p.m.

Debby continues to rapidly strengthen tonight, now a hurricane with sustained winds of 75 mph and gusts up to 90 mph. Debby is closing in Florida and will make landfall along Florida’s Big Bend region Monday morning as a category one hurricane. A life-threatening storm surge is expected there along the coast as well as hurricane force winds. The surge could reach up to 10 feet in spots. Then the storm will slowly track across northern Florida, southern Georgia and into South Carolina, bringing tropical storm force winds and flooding rains. The amount of rain that could fall over the course of several days in this region could lead to “significant and catastrophic flash flooding.”

Elsewhere, a tropical wave currently east of the Windward Islands has 30% chance of forming once it makes it’s way into the southern Caribbean this week. This is a typical track storms can make in the month of August and it will have some favorable conditions for development, so we’ll be keeping a close eye on this wave throughout the week.

And in the Pacific, it’s much more active with Tropical Storms Carlotta, Daniel, Potential Storm Five and another wave that will likely become a storm this week.

August 4 8 a.m.

Tropical Storm Debby remains on track to make landfall in Florida’s Big Bend region on Monday, likely strengthening to a hurricane ahead of landfall. Debby is then expected to cross over Florida and slow it’s foreword movement off the coast of Georgia and South Carolina. Flooding rains of over a foot are possible for parts of Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina.

While Debby will no impact us here in Texas, we have our eyes on another tropical wave that is attempting to strengthen as it approaches the Caribbean. For now the National Hurricane Center puts the development odds of this system at just 20%, but that number could increase in the coming days. A track like what we’re seeing from this system could eventually bring a system into the Gulf of Mexico, but it’s far too early to know if the storm will form, or where it could end up.

MIAMI (AP) — Tropical Storm Debby was strengthening rapidly Sunday and was predicted to become a hurricane as it moves through the Gulf of Mexico on a collision course with the Florida coast.

The National Hurricane Center said in an update posted at 8 a.m. Sunday that Debby was located about 155 miles (250 kilometers) southwest of Tampa, Florida, and about 205 miles (330 kilometers) south-southwest of Cedar Key, Florida. The storm was moving north-northwest at 13 mph (20 kph) with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (85 kph), up from 50 mph (80) just a few hours ago.

The storm was strengthening over the southeastern Gulf and expected to be a hurricane before making landfall in the Big Bend region of Florida, the hurricane center said.

“I’d urge all Floridians to be cognizant of the fact that we are going to have a hurricane hit the state, probably a Category 1, but it could be a little bit more powerful than that,” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said in a Sunday morning briefing.

“But we are absolutely going to see a lot of rainfall. We are going to see a lot of saturation. We are going to see flooding events. That is going to happen. There is also going to be power outages,” the governor said.

Wind and thunderstorms have spread over a broad area including southern Florida, the Florida Keys and the Bahamas. 

Hurricane and tropical storm warnings were in effect for portions of the northern Florida coast.

Debby is likely to bring drenching rain and coastal flooding to much of Florida’s Gulf Coast by Sunday night and predictions show the system could come ashore as a hurricane Monday and cross over northern Florida into the Atlantic Ocean.

Forecasters warn it also could drop heavy rains over north Florida and the Atlantic coasts of Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina early next week.

Debby is the fourth named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season after Tropical Storm Alberto, Hurricane Beryl and Tropical Storm Chris, all of which formed in June.

The National Hurricane Center in Miami predicted the system will strengthen as it curves off the southwest Florida coast, where the water has been extremely warm. Intensification was expected to proceed more quickly later on Sunday.

A hurricane warning was issued for parts of the Big Bend and the Florida Panhandle, while tropical storm warnings were posted for Florida’s West Coast, the southern Florida Keys and Dry Tortugas. A tropical storm watch extended farther west into the Panhandle. A warning means storm conditions are expected within 36 hours, while a watch means they are possible within 48 hours.

Tropical storms and hurricanes can trigger river flooding and overwhelm drainage systems and canals. Forecasters warned of 6 to 12 inches (150mm to 300 mm) of rain and up to 18 inches (450 mm) in isolated areas, which could create “locally considerable” flash and urban flooding. Forecasters also warned of moderate flooding for some rivers along Florida’s West Coast.

Heaviest rain could be in Georgia, South Carolina

Some of the heaviest rains could actually come next week along the Atlantic Coast from Jacksonville, Florida, through coastal regions of Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina. The storm is expected to slow down after making landfall.

“We could see a stall or a meandering motion around coastal portions of the southeastern United States,” National Hurricane Center Director Michael Brennan said in a Saturday briefing. “So that’s going to exacerbate not just the rainfall risk, but also the potential for storm surge and some strong winds.” 

Flat Florida is prone to flooding even on sunny days, and the storm was predicted to bring a surge of 2 to 4 feet (0.6 to 1.2 meters) along most of the Gulf Coast, including Tampa Bay, with a storm tide of up to 7 feet (2.1 meters) north of there in the sparsely populated Big Bend region. 

Forecasters warned of “a danger of life-threatening storm surge inundation” in a region that includes Hernando Beach, Crystal River, Steinhatchee and Cedar Key. Officials in Citrus and Levy counties ordered a mandatory evacuation of coastal areas, while those in Hernando, Manatee, Pasco and Taylor counties called for voluntary evacuations. Shelters opened in those and some other counties.

Citrus County Sheriff Mike Prendergast estimated 21,000 people live in his county’s evacuation zone. Officials rescued 73 people from storm surge flooding during last year’s Hurricane Idalia. Prendergast said by phone that he hopes not to have a repeat with Debbie.

“After the storm surge does come in, we simply don’t have enough first responders in our agency and among the other first responders in the county to go in and rescue everybody that might need to be rescued,” he said.

Flood preparations underway

DeSantis declared a state of emergency for 61 of Florida’s 67 counties, with the National Guard activating 3,000 guard members. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp made his own emergency proclamation on Saturday.

The White House said federal and Florida officials were in touch and FEMA “pre-positioned” resources including water and food. 

In Tampa alone, officials gave out more than 30,000 sandbags to barricade against flooding.

“We’ve got our stormwater drains cleared out. We’ve got our generators all checked and full. We’re doing everything that we need to be prepared to face a tropical storm,” Tampa Mayor Jane Castor said. 

On Friday, crews pulled floating cranes away from a bridge construction project across Tampa Bay, lashing together 74 barges and 24 floating cranes and anchoring them, project engineer Marianne Brinson told the Tampa Bay Times. Crews also laid down cranes on land on their sides. 

For some, the name Debby summons bad memories of a 2012 tropical storm of the same name that caused $250 million in losses and eight deaths, including seven in the Sunshine State. That storm dumped torrential rains, including an astronomical 29 inches (730 mm) south of Tallahassee.