Heavy Rains Could Pound Houston This Weekend As Harvey Regroups In The Gulf

HOUSTON, TX — A soggy forecast for Houston this weekend could potentially get worse than planned as tropical wave Harvey leaves the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico and heads back into the Gulf of Mexico. The National Weather Service said Tuesday the storm has a "100 percent chance of forming" into a tropical storm and perhaps even a hurricane.

The current models have Harvey making landfall somewhere between northeastern Mexico and the South Texas coast, and weather experts are calling for a landfall of Friday. One of the many models pinpoints a landfall in the Galveston area, but most have it anywhere between Tampico, Mexico and Corpus Christi, Texas.

Currently the remnants of Harvey are producing heavy rains over the Yucatan Peninsula, including the resort spots of Cancún and Cozumel.

Andy Hazleton with NOAA said some parts of Texas could receive up to 20 inches of rain, with 3-5 inches in most area.

If the storm stalls in the Gulf as some meteorologists say can happen, then heavy winds, rain and high tides could hit up and down the Texas coast.

Houston and the Texas coast are no strangers to hurricanes, tropical storms or even flash floods that handicap a city. FEMA began preparing for catastrophic storms with coastal counties on June 1, which was the official start date of the Atlantic hurricane season.

Houstonians should always have a hurricane preparedness kit ready, and if they don’t then it’s a good idea to learn what you need, and build your own. And if local authorities order an evacuation, it's wise to follow the orders and know the evacuation routes.

According to ready.gov, every emergency preparedness kit should have the following items:

• Water, one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation
• Food, at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food (canned food, baby food, Granola bars, energy bars)
• Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both
• Flashlight and extra batteries
• First aid kit
• Whistle to signal for help
• Dust mask to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place
• Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
• Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
• Manual can opener for food
• Local maps
• Cell phone with chargers, inverter or solar charger

Other suggested items to have in your kit include:

• An emergency (reflector) vest
• Red Bandana (in case you need to signal for help)
• Pet supplies (leashes, pet food, medicines, kennel or crate)
• Medications for family members
• Eye drops
• Dry socks
• Cash
• Sleeping bags/blankets
• Writing supplies
• Books/Games
• Emergency Contact information/documents
• Fire extinguisher
• Waterproof matches/fire starter
• Insect repellant/sun screen

You can find a list of more items,and tips on being prepared at ready.gov or the National Hurricane Center.

Photo via Associated Press

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