Third Step of Preparedness Checklist

Posted on September 17, 2018

During the month of September, the Missions Team would like to share some tips and resources from the City of Houston, the Harris County Homeland Security & Emergency Management, and Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) to assist you in being prepared for the next disaster.  Each week of September we will include information about the steps you should be taking in case of a disaster.

There are 4 steps you can take to better enable your family’s safety in case of an emergency.  The third is:

STAY INFORMED

During emergencies, listen to KUHF 88.7 FM or KTRH 740 AM, our region’s designated Emergency Alert System (EAS) stations, for up-to-the-minute information from local public officials.  And many jurisdictions offer text message or email notifications. But don’t just rely on one source — stay informed by using multiple sources of information.

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WIRELESS EMERGENCY ALERTS
Authorized government agencies can send short text alerts directly to your phone based on your current location. These alerts happen automatically and do not require you to sign up. To manage these alerts, check your phone’s messenger settings. Though most new phones receive these alerts, they are not yet available on all devices. Learn more at ready.gov/alerts.

ALERTHOUSTON
Staying informed through emergency notifications helps make sure you know what to expect in an emergency, and what to do to stay safe. AlertHouston offers emergency alerts through email, text message, a mobile app, and social media. Sign up at houstonemergency.org.

CITIZENSNET
Want to know more about disaster preparedness and receive news and information from city departments that are of interest to you? Sign up for CitizensNet at houstontx.gov/citizensnet.

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TEXT MESSAGING
It’s important that everyone in your family know how to use text messages, because when phone networks are busy after a disaster, text messages may still get through. Text messages are limited in size, so keep them short and to the point. Also, remember that text messages can only be sent between mobile phones (not to a landline) and that additional charges may apply.

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SOCIAL MEDIA
Social media is a great way to get quick updates on emergencies from your local government. Facebook is usually used for medium-length posts and pictures. Twitter is great for short messages, and those messages (called Tweets) can be sent to you via text message if you subscribe to them. Blogs are used for longer messages and updates. For links to official social media channels, visit houstonemergency.org.

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APPS
American Red Cross Shelter App
Contains emergency shelter information. Updated only when shelters are opened.

The Ready App
Emergency preparedness information for the Houston region.

Houston 3-1-1 App
Report non-emergency situations to Houston 3-1-1 from your phone.

Houston 2-1-1 App
A free information and referral service for anyone who needs help connecting to disaster relief service.

Find these apps and more at houstonemergency.org.