Monday update: shelters, water rescues, boats needed

With more rain and flooding coming, info on water rescues and shelters

As you probably know, heavy rains are expected to return this afternoon and Harvey is expected to return as a tropical storm on Wednesday. We still have a way to go in terms of rain and potential flooding.

Governor Greg Abbott has activated the National Guard, mobilizing all 12,000 troops. To read more about this: https://gov.texas.gov/news/post/governor-abbott-activates-entire-texas-national-guard-in-response-to-hurric

Water rescues

If you know of anyone needing a water rescue, here are several items:

*The Cajun Navy, a volunteer group from Louisiana, is in our area for the next couple of days providing rescues (until they have to go home as the storm approaches their home state). They can be reached at (281) 464-4851. Expect the line to be busy and keep trying.

*If your home floods, seek higher ground. Do NOT go to your attic. It can be difficult to get out once the water rises. Instead, go to your roof. The Harris County sheriff’s office says if you’re on your roof awaiting rescue, hang a sheet or towel prominently, so the rescuers can find you. Addresses are hard to spot when everything is flooded. Be as patient as you can. The life-threatening rescues will come before those people who are trapped on their roof but who are otherwise ok.

*911 would like to remind you not to report non-life-threatening emergencies to 911. Instead, use 211. But if you are calling 911, expect the line to be busy. Do not hang up; stay on the line and wait for an operator. If you hang up and call again, your call goes to the end of the line.

Rescue Boats Needed

Speaking of water rescues, both the cities of Katy and Houston still need folks who own boats to volunteer to help with the rescue operations.

To volunteer for the city of Katy, please report with your boat to Fire Station #1 on Avenue D.

To volunteer with the city of Houston, please call Office of Emergency Management Chief Flannigan at (713) 305-3789.

Shelters

Katy ISD: Two shelters have opened in our area, at Cinco Ranch High School (23440 Cinco Ranch Blvd, Katy 77494) and Morton Ranch High School (21000 Franz Road, Katy 77449) in Katy ISD. If you need to go there, both locations are still taking people. If you have cots or blankets to spare, both locations would be grateful to have them.

Cy Fair ISD: CyFair is working on opening a shelter in HD 132, if people can get to it under the current circumstances. We will let you know more as we find out. Currently, the only CFISD facility I’m aware is being used as a shelter is the old Matzke Elementary at 13102 Jones Road.

Gallery Furniture: The people at the Gallery Furniture on SH 99 in Fort Bend County were kind enough to open their doors as a shelter. However, they are full and cannot receive any more people, so please do not go there seeking shelter.

Reliable information

For information you can rely on, check with the county’s emergency management web site at:

http://readyharris.org/

ss: 713-526-8300 / 409-832-1644

Phone numbers :

Life Threatening Emergencies: 911

Elderly and Disabled: 211

211 Texas Emergency Assistance Hotline: 1-877-541-7905

Harris Co Flood Control 713-684-4000

Disaster Distress Hotline: 1-800-985-5990

Red Cross: 713-526-8300 / 409-832-1644

Other good sources of information include:

*Centerpoint’s live power outage tracker: http://gis.centerpointenergy.com/outagetracker/

*Harris County flood warning system: https://www.harriscountyfws.org/

*Transtar’s high water tracker for the roadways: www.traffic.houstontranstar.org/roadclosures/#highwater

*TxDOT’s list of closed and flooded roadwasys: www.drivetexas.org

Please take every precaution to make sure that you and your family are safe.

Keep safe while we ride this storm out and be ready to begin our recovery efforts after the storm is over.

God bless Texas!

Mike Schofield

State Representative

House District 132

Katy & Cypress