The 2018 Atlantic hurricane season started Friday and Mayor Sylvester Turner encouraged Houstonians to be prepared by getting supplies and informed by monitoring news sources, and make plans in case an emergency happens.

Turner held a press conference at City Hall and noted that Houstonians are now “wiser and stronger,” but emphasized that the public must remember that all tropical storms and hurricanes are different. “One can be a wind event and another can be a rain event, and a rain event may drop water in places different from last time.”

“So, just in case,” the Mayor added “people that didn’t flood from (Hurricane) Harvey last time, doesn’t mean that you are immune from flooding, OK?, cause mother nature has its own way of moving, we can’t control that.”

Turner recommended to buy supplies ahead of time and make a disaster kit. There are suggestions on how to do that at the website for the City’s Office of Emergency Management (OEM).

Touching on how Houston has improved its preparation looking forward to the new hurricane season, Houston Fire Department (HFD) Samuel Peña noted that his department now has almost double the number of evacuation boats compared to last year and also has more trained personnel, as well as more high-water vehicles, which can also be crucial to carry out search and rescue operations in flooded areas.

Peña commented that people who own generators must make sure they are in good condition and underscored that they should be placed at a distance of at least 20 feet from the home because of the emission of carbon monoxide, which is poisonous.

Additionally, the City of Houston is participating in the STEAR program –which can help people if they need to be evacuated during emergencies or natural disasters, such as hurricanes— and local officials are encouraging residents to sign up, which can be done by calling 211 or by visiting the program's website.

Disaster Preparedness Guide:

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