A useful hurricane plan tells people what to do, who makes decisions and where to find reliable information. Houston homeowners, landlords and businesses can prepare those details before a system appears in the Gulf.
This is the permanent planning overview. Use the separate annual guides for dated outlooks and assigned storm names:
Use the right forecast for the decision
The Atlantic season officially runs from June 1 through November 30, although systems can occur outside those dates. Our season-dates guide explains the calendar.
NOAA’s seasonal outlook describes expected basin-wide activity. It does not predict whether a hurricane will make landfall in Houston. For a developing threat, use NHC advisories, NWS Houston/Galveston information and local emergency instructions. Check issue times before relying on a saved forecast image.
Before a storm threatens
The NWS hurricane preparation checklist recommends knowing your evacuation area, assembling emergency supplies and making a communication plan. Include the people and pets who depend on you, and decide where you would go if told to leave.
Build a separate property list: unresolved roof leaks, blocked drainage, damaged openings and incomplete repairs. Save photographs of current conditions when safe, together with maintenance records. Arrange qualified inspections while there is time to consider the findings and organize work.
When local conditions require action
Follow evacuation directions from local officials. Assign one person to monitor official updates and another to contact household members, tenants or staff. Give each task a clear owner so it is not left to whoever happens to see a group message.
For a business, write down who can pause deliveries, notify customers and authorize protective work. Confirm how a backup contact can reach those records if the primary contact loses power or service.
After the storm
Follow official instructions on returning. Avoid floodwater and damaged electrical equipment, and do not enter an unsafe building to retrieve records. See NWS guidance after a hurricane.
When access is safe, record what you observed and where water entered. Separate immediate stabilization needs from later repair decisions. A clear description of affected rooms, materials and access limits helps a contractor plan an assessment.
HTX Elite Build can discuss storm repairs, water damage restoration and roof inspections. Use the service intake form to share what happened and the best way to reach you.