INSIDER
SCHOOL CLOSURES: All the Houston-area schools, districts and colleges that will be closed because of Laura
Read full article: SCHOOL CLOSURES: All the Houston-area schools, districts and colleges that will be closed because of LauraClear Creek ISD -- The Clear Creek Independent School District is issuing an early release for all staff and students at noon Tuesday. Conroe ISD - Classes closed Friday due to power outages. Harmony Public Schools -- Closed Wednesday and Thursday. La Porte ISD -- La Porte Independent School District will be closed Tuesday so that staff members may prepare for Hurricane Laura. Montgomery ISD -- Montgomery ISD Schools closed Friday.
LIVE BLOG: HCTRA to resume tolls Friday morning
Read full article: LIVE BLOG: HCTRA to resume tolls Friday morning6:46 a.m. -- Heavy damage seen in Vinton, Louisiana after Hurricane Laura made landfallThere is heavy damage seen on restaurants, buildings and gas stations in Vinton, Louisiana after Hurricane Laura made landfall. 8:30 p.m. -- Hurricane Laura call center openThe Hurricane Laura call center is open for Montgomery County residents. Monday, Aug. 246:30 p.m. — Houston under Tropical Storm WatchThe city of Houston is under a Tropical Storm Watch with coastal portions of the city under a Storm Surge Watch. “The City of Houston is working to coordinate its response to Tropical Storm Laura,” officials wrote in a release. While the path of Tropical Storm Laura and Tropical Storm Marco remain uncertain Monday evening, residents and local leaders are taking preemptive measures to stay safe.
Tracking the tropics: Laura weakens to a tropical storm as it moves inland
Read full article: Tracking the tropics: Laura weakens to a tropical storm as it moves inlandHOUSTON – Hurricane Laura made landfall at 1 a.m. Thursday in Cameron, Louisiana. At midnight Thursday morning, Laura’s northern eyewall began moving onshore with 150 mph sustained winds and gusts up to 185 mph, making it a strong Category 4 storm. As of noon, Laura had weakened to a tropical storm with 75 mph sustained winds. It will continue to weaken quickly as it moves inland. Now that Laura is over land, it will speed up and curve eastward into the Mid-Atlantic states, bringing with it heavy rainfall.
ASK 2: I will be flying to Chicago on Thursday morning from Houston Bush Airport at 10 a.m. Will it be safe to drive to the airport on that day ?
Read full article: ASK 2: I will be flying to Chicago on Thursday morning from Houston Bush Airport at 10 a.m. Will it be safe to drive to the airport on that day ?As part of our Ask 2 series, the newsroom will answer your questions about all things Houston. Question: I will be flying to Chicago on Thursday morning from Houston Bush Airport at 10 am. Answer: Answer: Tropical Storm Laura is now a Category 1 Hurricane and is expected to intensify today in the Gulf Coast before making landfall late Wednesday. 3 hurricane at landfall which will be late Wednesday night into early Tuesday morning. Please pay close attention to our storm team coverage, Frank Billingsley, Britta Merwin, Khambrel Marshall, Justin Stapleton and Eric Braate will be tracking Laura’s every move and will provide the latest updates as they become available.
Powerful photos: Hurricane Laura leaves behind disaster, devastation after landfall in Louisiana
Read full article: Powerful photos: Hurricane Laura leaves behind disaster, devastation after landfall in Louisiana(Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) (2020 Getty Images)SABINE PASS, TX - AUGUST 27: Flooding caused by Hurricane Laura on August 27, 2020 in Sabine Pass, Texas. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) (2020 Getty Images)SABINE PASS, TX - AUGUST 27: Flooding caused by Hurricane Laura on August 27, 2020 in Sabine Pass, Texas. 4 stormKPRC 2 reporter Robert Arnold leans into the wind in Lake Charles, Louisiana, during Hurricane Laura on Aug. 27, 2020. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) (2020 Getty Images)LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA - AUGUST 26: Members of the Louisiana National Guard prepare for the arrival of Hurricane Laura on August 26, 2020 in Lake Charles, Louisiana. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) (2020 Getty Images)
Here are some important documents you may need in case of storm damage
Read full article: Here are some important documents you may need in case of storm damageHOUSTON – You’ve got your car gassed up and you’re stocked with bread, water and milk but if your home was damaged in a storm could you find important documents you need in a hurry? There are four types of documents you need to secure:Personal cards and paperwork: You need copies of every family member’s birth certificate, passports, social security cards, driver’s licenses and the front and back of all of your credit cards. Make a file of the phone numbers of your friends and family members in case your cell phone battery dies and you can’t recharge or if it gets wet. Medical information: Copy the front and back of your insurance and Medicare cards. Financial records: Important financial paperwork like stock and bond certificates, 401k account numbers and bank and tax records should go in the last file.
WATCH: KPRC 2 meteorologist Justin Stapleton speaks with hurricane hunter set to fly into Tropical Storm Laura
Read full article: WATCH: KPRC 2 meteorologist Justin Stapleton speaks with hurricane hunter set to fly into Tropical Storm LauraHOUSTON KPRC 2 meteorologist Justin Stapleton got a chance to speak with one of the Air Forces hurricane hunters who is set to fly into Tropical Storm Laura. Stapleton said Maj. Douglas Gautrau will be flying into the storm Monday night to see how the center of the storm looks and what is going to happen once Laura starts moving out over open water. You can see what he had to say in the video above.
Port Arthur mayor issues evacuation order before Laura hits
Read full article: Port Arthur mayor issues evacuation order before Laura hitsPORT ARTHUR, Texas Port Arthur's mayor on Monday issued a mandatory evacuation order for the Southeast Texas city before Tropical Storm Laura which forecasters say could strengthen to a Category 3 hurricane makes landfall. Laura was expected to make landfall near the Texas-Louisiana border Wednesday night or early Thursday morning. Port Arthur is about 30 miles (about 50 kilometers) from the Louisiana border. Forecasters have said Laura could change course and make landfall near Houston. We are ready to deal with this situation as well," Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said Monday.
Fierce storm surge feared as Laura bears down on Gulf Coast
Read full article: Fierce storm surge feared as Laura bears down on Gulf CoastA girl wades towards her flooded home the day after the passing of Tropical Storm Laura in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Monday, Aug. 24, 2020. Laura battered the Dominican Republic and Haiti on it's way to the U.S. Gulf Coast, where forecaster fear it could become a major hurricane. Now forecasters are turning their attention the Gulf Coast, where up to 11 feet (3.4 meters) of sea water storm surge could inundate the coastline from High Island in Texas to Morgan City, Louisiana, the hurricane center said. Hurricane Rita then struck southwest Louisiana that Sept. 24 as a Category 3 storm. We might have dodged a bullet with Marco, and obviously some people along the Gulf Coast are not going to be as blessed as us.___Martin reported from Marietta, Georgia.
Several Texas cities issue mandatory evacuation orders as Hurricane Laura strengthens in the gulf
Read full article: Several Texas cities issue mandatory evacuation orders as Hurricane Laura strengthens in the gulfThe city is currently under mandatory evacuation in anticipation of Hurricane Laura. Credit: REUTERS/Adrees LatifThe mayor of Galveston called for a mandatory evacuation of the city Tuesday morning after Tropical Storm Laura strengthened into a hurricane and its path shifted westward, increasing the chances that it could strike the Houston area. Voluntary evacuation orders are in place for Chambers County, Galveston County and the City of Seabrook. Laura is bearing down as the coronavirus pandemic remains a major concern in Texas, especially in cities like Houston. Laura could become the second significant storm to impact Texas during the 2020 hurricane season.
Storm chasers we’re watching as severe weather nears Texas
Read full article: Storm chasers we’re watching as severe weather nears TexasHOUSTON – Tropical Storm Laura is approaching the Texas-Louisiana Border, prompting several Houston-area and national-based storm chasers to head out in search of powerful storm images. Here are notable accounts who have posted or planned to post storm chasing photos as Laura comes onshore, from rainstorms to breathtaking clouds. Lastly here’s a somewhat educational video (the sound isn’t the best) of a dropsonde launch into the center of #Laura and what we’re looking for as far as data coming in. #FlyNOAA pic.twitter.com/9rwwJNx5iI — Tropical Nick Underwood (@TheAstroNick) August 24, 2020Impressive rain shaft, and might i add that this outflow boundary feel so good right now. #txwx pic.twitter.com/ekMU5vhYNZ — Southern Plains Weather Authority (@SPWxAuthority) August 22, 2020Know any other accounts worth following for amazing photos?
SAVE THIS: Emergency information you need if you have a chronic condition, need medication
Read full article: SAVE THIS: Emergency information you need if you have a chronic condition, need medicationThey will be giving you important information specific to your condition and let you know where to go for treatment if your facility closes. DIALYSIS PATIENTS NEED TO SAVE THIS INFORMATIONPatients may have questions like: What to do if a dialysis facility closes? For help, the Kidney Community Emergency Response (KCER) is available by phone 24/7 to answer your questions regarding kidney conditions and emergency events. Under emergency conditions, you still may need to use the insulin that has been stored above 86°F. For more information see Information Regarding Insulin Storage and Switching Between Products in an Emergency (en Español).
Ask 2: Has Harris County lowered water levels in the reservoirs to help prevent the downstream flooding that we experienced in Harvey?
Read full article: Ask 2: Has Harris County lowered water levels in the reservoirs to help prevent the downstream flooding that we experienced in Harvey?As part of our Ask 2 series, the newsroom will answer your questions about all things Houston. Question: Has Harris County lowered water levels in the reservoirs to help prevent the downstream flooding that we experienced in Harvey? Answer: The Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) has been monitoring bayou levels, which officials say appear to be good as of Sunday. HCFCD encourages Houston residents to create a Flood Warning Systems account and sign up for rainfall and water level alerts. Send it our way, and we will try to hunt down an answer.
Galveston County judge issues disaster declaration ahead of Tropical Storm Laura; mandatory evacuation ordered Tuesday
Read full article: Galveston County judge issues disaster declaration ahead of Tropical Storm Laura; mandatory evacuation ordered TuesdayGALVESTON, Texas – Galveston County Judge Mark Henry issued a disaster declaration for the area just hours after the city of Galveston issued a voluntary evacuation order ahead of Tropical Storm Laura. The voluntary evacuation has since upgraded to a mandatory evacuation as of Tuesday. According to Henry, the disaster declaration affects multiple areas including, Tiki Island, San Leon, Baycliff, Hitchcock, the Bolivar Peninsula and Galveston. “Forecasts are showing the possibility of heavy rains, tropical force winds, and storm surge impacting our area,” Henry said in a press conference Monday afternoon. Laura is expected to make landfall as a Category 2 hurricane with winds upwards of 100 miles per hour.
Severe weather social media: This is who we’re following for the best, up-to-the-minute info on TS Beta
Read full article: Severe weather social media: This is who we’re following for the best, up-to-the-minute info on TS BetaHOUSTON – As the Houston-area and the Gulf Coast is bracing for severe storms, it is very important to keep connected with accurate local, state, and national social media accounts. The following list below contains social media accounts from local and national connections and sometimes websites with all the latest information if applicable. KPRC 2 meteorologists and our traffic expertKPRC 2 meteorologists are staying on top of Tropical Storm Beta with all the latest information as it comes in. Frank BillingsleyBritta MerwinJustin StapletonKhambrel MarshallEric BraateAnavid Reyes - KPRC 2 Traffic ExpertFederal social mediaBoth the NWS and the National Hurricane Center are issuing advisories on both Laura and Marco. NWS Houston/GalvestonNational Hurricane CenterHouston-area meteorologistsThe following local meteorologists are also providing the latest info on Laura and Marco in the local sector.
Texans hit stores to buy emergency supplies despite the uncertainty of tropical storms
Read full article: Texans hit stores to buy emergency supplies despite the uncertainty of tropical stormsHOUSTON – The threat of southeast Texas being in the cone of uncertainty for two tropical systems has left Houstonians with lots of questions about the forecast. Despite the uncertainty, local officials urged residents to plan for what could be a rainy week. So the time to be ready, was yesterday,” said Francisco Sanchez, the deputy emergency management coordinator of the Harris County Homeland Security and Emergency Management. Martha Melbar and his brother, Nathan, heeded that advice as they shopped at the Academy Sports and Outdoors in southwest Houston. Something we can keep for a week-long,” said Gabriel Tow, who shopped for groceries at an H-E-B in southwest Houston.
Storm Marco closes in on Louisiana as Laura buffets Cuba
Read full article: Storm Marco closes in on Louisiana as Laura buffets CubaA girl wades towards her flooded home the day after the passing of Tropical Storm Laura in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Monday, Aug. 24, 2020. Laura battered the Dominican Republic and Haiti on it's way to the U.S. Gulf Coast, where forecaster fear it could become a major hurricane. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)
Storm Marco closes in on Louisiana as Laura buffets Cuba
Read full article: Storm Marco closes in on Louisiana as Laura buffets CubaWorkers for the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority - West, close floodgates in Harvey, La., just outside New Orleans, Monday, Aug. 24, 2020, in advance of Tropical Storm Marco, expected to come near the Southern Louisiana coast. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)PORT-AU-PRINCE Tropical Storm Marco was falling apart Monday but setting a messy stage for the arrival of Laura as a potentially supercharged Category 3 hurricane along the U.S. Gulf Coast. August Creppel, Chief of the United Houma Nation, was concerned about the groups 17,000 members, spread out over six parishes along the Louisiana Gulf Coast. McNoldy said he expects the storm to reach major hurricane status of at least 111 mph. For the residents of the Louisiana coast, theyre certainly lucky that Marco is not worse than it is, McNoldy said.
Astros to play double-header Tuesday ahead of potential impact of TS Laura later this week
Read full article: Astros to play double-header Tuesday ahead of potential impact of TS Laura later this weekHOUSTON With the potential impact that Tropical Storm Laura may have in the Houston area, the Houston Astros have made some changes to their schedule this week. Thursdays game between the Astros and the Los Angeles Angels at Minute Maid Park will be played on Tuesday as part of a double-header beginning at 3:05 p.m. In addition, Wednesdays game, which was originally scheduled for 8:10 p.m., will be moved up to a 12:10 p.m. start. The Astros will have Thursday off. They are scheduled to host the Oakland As this weekend.
KPRC 2 reporters are covering severe weather from Brazoria County to Louisiana. Heres what they saw Monday
Read full article: KPRC 2 reporters are covering severe weather from Brazoria County to Louisiana. Heres what they saw MondayHOUSTON With all eyes on the Gulf of Mexico and the two hurricanes brewing just a day apart, residents along the coast, from Louisiana to Brazoria County, are preparing for the worst. While the path of Tropical Storm Laura and Tropical Storm Marco remain uncertain Monday evening, residents and local leaders are taking preemptive measures to stay safe. See those videos below:EvacuationsGalveston County Judge Mark Henry issued a disaster declaration for the area just hours after the city of Galveston issued a voluntary evacuation order ahead of Tropical Storm Laura. First responders get readyIn anticipation of severe weather and flooding, the Houston Police Department and Houston Fire Department began preparing their severe weather equipment, boats and more to properly assist residents who might need aid in the coming days. See the video below:Coastal residents prepare for the worstLouisiana:Brazoria County:Jefferson County:Chambers County:
Laura Continues West-Northwestward Over The Far Northwestern Caribbean Sea.
Read full article: Laura Continues West-Northwestward Over The Far Northwestern Caribbean Sea.Location 65 miles ESE of Cayo Largo Wind 60 mph Heading WNW at 20 mph Pressure 29.59 Coordinates 80.6W, 21.2NDiscussionAt 1100 AM EDT (1500 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Laura was located near latitude 21.2 North, longitude 80.6 West. Laura is then forecast to move over the central and northwestern Gulf of Mexico Tuesday night and Wednesday, and approach the northwestern coast of the Gulf of Mexico Wednesday night. WIND: Tropical storm conditions are expected to spread westward within the warning area in Cuba through today. Tropical storm conditions are expected in Little Cayman and Cayman Brac today. Tropical storm conditions are also expected within the warning area in the middle and lower Florida Keys and the Dry Tortugas this afternoon and tonight.