HOUSTON – I’ll never forget my first day on the job in Houston: July 15, 2003. It was supposed to be filled with HR meetings and paperwork. Instead, I was in the studio as Category 1 Hurricane Claudette made landfall in Galveston and moved into Houston.
One memory from that storm still sticks with me: Two lives were lost, but not during the storm itself; they happened afterward, during cleanup. One person was killed by a falling tree branch, the other by a downed power line. It was a sobering lesson that the dangers of a hurricane don’t end when the winds die down.
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This hurricane season marks the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Rita, a Category 3 storm. Here in Houston, it’s remembered less for the damage it caused and more for the mass evacuation. Rita made landfall near the Texas–Louisiana state line, but long before that, the roads around Houston were jammed with people trying to get out, most of them outside the storm surge zone. In the aftermath, I was part of several conversations asking: Why did so many evacuate unnecessarily? And more importantly: How can we do this better next time?
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Just three years later, in 2008, Hurricane Ike hit as a Category 2 storm, bringing a massive storm surge, widespread wind damage, and power outages across the region. For many, it was the first time the importance of owning a generator became clear; keeping the lights on and the house cool was no longer a luxury, but a necessity.
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And unless you’re new to the area, you remember Hurricane Beryl from just last year. A Category 1 storm hit an area where many trees hadn’t been pruned since Ike. Those falling trees knocked out power to millions and caused over $3 billion in damage across Texas. Tragically, 43 people in the Houston area died, most from heat-related illness, in another storm where the aftermath was deadlier than the storm itself.
This is what I hope you take away from this guide:
- Have a family plan.
- Make a kit.
- Stay informed.
History has taught us a lot, but only if we’re willing to learn. A recent study from Rice University’s Kinder Institute found that just 8% of Harris County residents are adequately prepared for hurricane season. Despite everything we’ve experienced, that number is far too low.
If you take those three steps above, and I’d add a fourth, practice your plan before a storm threatens, you’ll be among that prepared 8%.
MORE: KPRC 2’s 2025 Hurricane & Flood Survival Guide
We’ll continue doing our part to keep you informed. You can always find the latest forecasts on KPRC 2, at Click2Houston.com, and streaming on KPRC 2+. We’re here to help keep you and your family safe.
It starts with a plan and a kit. Click below to view our electronic 2025 Hurricane & Flood Survival Guide. You can download and print.
I hope you tune in Wednesday night, June 4, at 7 p.m. for our Hurricane & Flood Survival Guide. Our team taped the special on Monday, and it’s packed with essential information to help you prepare for the upcoming season.
