August 28th, 2017
WASHINGTON - The top priority of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and its federal partners is to support the state and local communities in Texas to protect the life and safety of those in impacted areas.
Tropical Storm Harvey remains a dangerous, long duration storm. This storm is hundreds of miles wide and is creating dangerous storm surge, flooding, sustained winds and tornadoes.
All those in the areas affected by Tropical Storm Harvey should continue to follow the instructions of state, local, and tribal officials, including instructions to shelter in place or evacuate. Do not return to evacuated areas until told it is safe to do so.
When it is safe, check on your neighbors who may require assistance, such as infants, children, older adults, people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs. Individual community members are the first line of response following a storm.
Family and friends of those in the affected areas are urged to check social network sites like Facebook or Twitter for information about your loved ones, or use the American Red Cross’s Safe and Well program, to let family members know they are safe, or looking for loved ones.
To report a missing child, contact the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) at 1-866-908-9570. If your missing child has a disability or access and functional need, please let the Registry know when you can contact them. Anyone who finds an unaccompanied child who may have been separated from their parents or caregivers should contact the local police, or enter basic information and/or a photo into the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children's Unaccompanied Minors Registry or call 1-866-908-9570.
The compassion of the American people is already evident in their response to the destruction the storm has caused. People can help by visiting www.nvoad.org, and donating or volunteering with the voluntary or charitable organization of their choice, many of which are already in south Texas supporting survivors, even as the rain and wind continue.
For more information about Hurricane Harvey, including resources deployed, imagery, and video footage go to: http://www.fema.gov/hurricane-harvey.
Important Safety Information for the Public:
The following are important safety points if you’re in an area that has been or is still being impacted by the storm:
Listen to local officials for updates and instructions. If the storm is still impacting your area and local officials give the order to evacuate, do so immediately. If you evacuated and are planning to return home, return to the area only when local officials indicate it is safe.
The City of Houston is asking individuals in the area to report high water and other non-life- threatening incidents by calling 3-1-1 (713-837-0311). City officials are asking residents to only call 911 if you have a life threatening emergency.
If you encounter floodwaters, remember: Turn around, don’t drown.
Storm surge is often the greatest threat to life and property from a tropical storm. Storm surge can sometimes cut off evacuation routes, so do not delay leaving if an evacuation is ordered for your area.
This storm has already spawned several tornadoes. If you are under a tornado warning, seek shelter immediately in the center of a small interior room (closet, interior hallway) on the lowest level of a sturdy building. Put as many walls as possible between you and the outside.
If you are in a high-rise building and need to shelter in place, go to first- or second -floor hallways or interior rooms. You want to stay on floors above floodwater or storm surge.
Emergency workers may be assisting people in flooded areas. You can help them by staying off the roads and out of the way as much as possible.
If your home has flood water inside or around it, don’t walk or wade in it. The water may be contaminated by oil, gasoline or raw sewage.
If you have a flooded basement in your home, never attempt to turn off power or operate circuit breakers while standing in water.
If your power is out, safely use a generator or battery operated flashlights.
Never use a generator inside a home, basement, shed or garage even if doors and windows are open.
Keep generators outside and far away from windows, doors and vents. Read both the label on your generator and the owner's manual and follow the instructions.
To learn more about what to do before, during and after severe weather, visit http://www.Ready.gov. back...
Tropical Storm Harvey remains a dangerous, long duration storm. This storm is hundreds of miles wide and is creating dangerous storm surge, flooding, sustained winds and tornadoes.
All those in the areas affected by Tropical Storm Harvey should continue to follow the instructions of state, local, and tribal officials, including instructions to shelter in place or evacuate. Do not return to evacuated areas until told it is safe to do so.
When it is safe, check on your neighbors who may require assistance, such as infants, children, older adults, people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs. Individual community members are the first line of response following a storm.
Family and friends of those in the affected areas are urged to check social network sites like Facebook or Twitter for information about your loved ones, or use the American Red Cross’s Safe and Well program, to let family members know they are safe, or looking for loved ones.
To report a missing child, contact the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) at 1-866-908-9570. If your missing child has a disability or access and functional need, please let the Registry know when you can contact them. Anyone who finds an unaccompanied child who may have been separated from their parents or caregivers should contact the local police, or enter basic information and/or a photo into the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children's Unaccompanied Minors Registry or call 1-866-908-9570.
The compassion of the American people is already evident in their response to the destruction the storm has caused. People can help by visiting www.nvoad.org, and donating or volunteering with the voluntary or charitable organization of their choice, many of which are already in south Texas supporting survivors, even as the rain and wind continue.
For more information about Hurricane Harvey, including resources deployed, imagery, and video footage go to: http://www.fema.gov/hurricane-harvey.
Important Safety Information for the Public:
The following are important safety points if you’re in an area that has been or is still being impacted by the storm:
Listen to local officials for updates and instructions. If the storm is still impacting your area and local officials give the order to evacuate, do so immediately. If you evacuated and are planning to return home, return to the area only when local officials indicate it is safe.
The City of Houston is asking individuals in the area to report high water and other non-life- threatening incidents by calling 3-1-1 (713-837-0311). City officials are asking residents to only call 911 if you have a life threatening emergency.
If you encounter floodwaters, remember: Turn around, don’t drown.
Storm surge is often the greatest threat to life and property from a tropical storm. Storm surge can sometimes cut off evacuation routes, so do not delay leaving if an evacuation is ordered for your area.
This storm has already spawned several tornadoes. If you are under a tornado warning, seek shelter immediately in the center of a small interior room (closet, interior hallway) on the lowest level of a sturdy building. Put as many walls as possible between you and the outside.
If you are in a high-rise building and need to shelter in place, go to first- or second -floor hallways or interior rooms. You want to stay on floors above floodwater or storm surge.
Emergency workers may be assisting people in flooded areas. You can help them by staying off the roads and out of the way as much as possible.
If your home has flood water inside or around it, don’t walk or wade in it. The water may be contaminated by oil, gasoline or raw sewage.
If you have a flooded basement in your home, never attempt to turn off power or operate circuit breakers while standing in water.
If your power is out, safely use a generator or battery operated flashlights.
Never use a generator inside a home, basement, shed or garage even if doors and windows are open.
Keep generators outside and far away from windows, doors and vents. Read both the label on your generator and the owner's manual and follow the instructions.
To learn more about what to do before, during and after severe weather, visit http://www.Ready.gov. back...
