November 30, 2021, marked the official end of the 2021 Atlantic Hurricane Season.
There were 21 named storms this season with seven hurricanes, four of which were classified as major hurricanes. It is the second consecutive year in which the full list of storms was exhausted. Tropical Storm Ana formed on May 20 and the final storm, Hurricane Wanda formed on October 31.
Only Hurricane Nicholas directly impacted Harris County, passing along the Texas Gulf Coast in mid-September. No injuries or deaths are attributed to Nicholas and damage in Harris County was minimal. Flooding and structure damage was reported in several counties to the south.
The Harris County Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management (HCOHSEM) encourages residents to be prepared for disasters through the year.
“While we were fortunate to avoid severe tropical weather this year, planning for disasters should be a year-round effort,” said Harris County Emergency Management Coordinator Mark Sloan. “Winter Storm Uri is the perfect example of an event that can have greater impacts than a hurricane or flood event.”
This year is also noteworthy as the National Hurricane Center began issuing Tropical Weather Outlook beginning on May 15, two weeks prior to the actual start of the season on June 1. NHC cited increased tropical activity in the Atlantic basin in late May as the reason for this change.
HCOHSEM encourages residents to stay prepared and informed before, during, and after hurricanes or other disasters. Sign up to receive emergency alerts at www.readyharris.org and closely monitor the news media. Your local officials and this office will provide information about current conditions, evacuations and recovery. Follow at ReadyHarris on social media for information and preparedness tips.
