Hurricane Harvey Resources

As Hurricane Harvey intensifies along the coastline, many will be turning to Austin as a possible evacuation destination. Whether you’re coming to the city temporarily, or are bracing for the storm here, it’s important to keep up with local weather alerts as Harvey makes landfall. Below are services to keep you safe during the storm.

Central Texas Memorial Day floods, 2015 (Photo by Jana Birchum)

General Tips

Should storm conditions become severe, here are tips, passed along from Governor Abbott, on what you should do to ensure your safety even in the worst case scenario:

• Board up windows and doors with plywood in the event that you do not have storm shutters installed;

• If flooding within your home is likely, move valuables and furniture to higher levels of your house;

• Bring in outdoor objects that could become deadly in high-winds situations. This includes patio furniture, plants, trash cans, gardening tools, etc.;

• Assemble a family emergency supplies kit, which should include first aid materials, batteries, and plenty of water;

• If officials recommend or order an evacuation, do not attempt to ride out the storm. Leave and seek shelter with family, friends, or designated evacuee locations.

For more tips on what to do before, during, and after a flood check out the Department of Homeland Security's www.ready.gov floods page.

Primary Sources to Follow

@ATXfloods – As flooding is the most likely storm symptom Austinites will experience, you can follow @ATXfloods to get current information on water levels and the dangers they pose. When in doubt, remember the Twitter account’s moto: Turn around, don’t drown!

@NWS – Perhaps the gospel in storm situations, the National Weather Service can keep you updated on exactly what Harvey is doing, including his winds, path, and general mood.

@AustinTexasGov – The Austin government account will give you first news of shelter openings and storm safety tips.

@Austin_Police – Making use of hashtags #HurricaneHarvey and #ATXShelter, the Austin police are a great compiler of information important to storm conditions and evacuation plans.

@NOAAsatellites – The National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Services provides direct storm imagery and analysis, so you can see Harvey in infrared and bird's-eye view and hopefully avoid him with your own eyewitness account.

@TravisCountyES – Travis County’s Emergency Services can keep you abreast of shelter information, storm path, and other minute-by-minute news you need to know.

@AustinHSEM – The City of Austin Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, like the Austin gov twitter, gives information about shelter and emergency services.

National Hurricane Center – Truly the eye at the center of this storm, the National Hurricane Center can give you everything you would ever want to know about Harvey, including podcasts, updated maps, and storm surge warnings.

Public Alerts – If you’re currently in transit or want to check on the safety of certain cities, get information and safety tips specific to your location. With integrated emergency alerting information from the National Hurricane Center, you can get the storm’s approximate arrival time to your chosen destination and its projected impact.

Shelters

For Humans

In the event that your trip to the city comes without a home base, the Capital Area Shelter Hub Plan (CASHP) welcomes you. As of Friday 2:25pm, two shelters are available to evacuees: Delco Center and LBJ/LASA High School. For updates, follow @AustinTexasGov or through the hashtag #ATXshelter. While the shelters are not currently accepting donations, any time locals can donate would be appreciated. To get more information about volunteering, you can contact the Red Cross.

For Animals

Flooding in Austin is often worst for animal shelters, which have to move many animals out of their facilities for their own safety. If you want to support Austin Pets Alive! in their storm preparations, you can foster, donate money, or donate goods from their list of needed supplies. Items particularly high in demand are large crates, litter boxes, canned wet food (dog and cat), cat beds, large trash bags, and Clorox wipes. See their Hurricane Harvey page for more details.

Transportation

CapMetro is currently using their paratransit services to help evacuate residents from Corpus Christi to San Antonio. While transportation within the city has yet to be affected, monitor @CapMetroATX for up-to-date information. If possible, forgo traveling in the event of flooding.