Montgomery County

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 25, 2020 Hurricane Laura Update MONTGOMERY COUNTY – Hurricane Laura is now forecast to become a major hurricane over the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico Wednesday. Montgomery County is under a Tropical Storm Warning which could bring tropical storm force winds to our area in the 39 to 73 mph range. The wind threat from Laura extends well inland due to it being a fast moving storm. It is important that our residents still prepare for the potential of Tropical Storm force winds in our area. Loose objects can become deadly projectiles during hurricane-force winds. Take note of what would need to be moved from the lawn into the house or garage or secured in the yard. Montgomery County Judge Mark Keough has issued an Emergency Declaration for Hurricane Laura. County offices are closing tomorrow at noon for all non-essential personnel and will remain closed Thursday for all non-essential personnel. Additionally, the Special Session of Commissioner’s Court that was scheduled for Thursday morning will be rescheduled for a later date. Montgomery County agencies and resources are on alert and ready to activate as needed for our area. The Montgomery County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management would like to remind our residents that Montgomery County is a pass through county, which allows coastal residents to safely evacuate through our county. Our office will not call for mandatory evacuations due to our distance from the coast. We continue to monitor these storms, and will send updates today as we receive them. ###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                                       August 25, 2020   Hurricane Laura Update Status Update from the Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management     MONTGOMERY COUNTY – Based off of aircraft data, Tropical Storm Laura has now become Hurricane Laura with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph. A Hurricane Watch has been issued along the upper Texas Coastline down to San Luis Pass. This includes the areas around Galveston Bay. A Tropical Storm Watch has been issued for much of Southeast Texas down to Freeport. A Storm Surge Watch has been issued for the coast areas down to San Luis Pass. Hurricane Laura is now forecast to become a major hurricane over the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico Wednesday. This very dangerous hurricane is forecast to make landfall on the upper Texas Coast or far Southwest Louisiana. County Judge Mark Keough urges residents to “Play close attention to Hurricane Laura, because the storm’s track still remains uncertain. Today is the final day to make your last preparations; before Laura makes landfall Wednesday night into Thursday morning.”   Montgomery County agencies and resources are on alert and ready to activate as needed for our area. The Montgomery County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management would like to remind our residents that Montgomery County is a pass through county, which allows coastal residents to safely evacuate through our county. Our office will not call for mandatory evacuations due to our distance from the coast. We continue to monitor these storms, and will send updates today as we receive them.   ###

  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                                       August 24, 2020   Tropical Storm Laura Update Status Update from the Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management   MONTGOMERY COUNTY – There has been a Tropical Storm Warning issued for Montgomery County. Tropical Storm Laura is expected to make landfall with winds at 105 MPH which would make Laura a Category 2 Hurricane. Confidence is beginning to increase in a track over Southwest Louisiana or far East Texas. We still cannot rule out a shift to the West; this would bring more severe storm surge and winds to Montgomery County. It is important that our residents still prepare for the potential of Tropical Storm force winds in our area. Loose objects can become deadly projectiles during hurricane-force winds. Take note of what would need to be moved from the lawn into the house or garage or secured in the yard. Montgomery County agencies and resources are on alert and ready to activate as needed for our area. Our office will continue to monitor these storms, and send updates as we receive them.     ###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 22, 2020 – 5PM Tropical Storm Laura and Tropical Storm Marco Update Status Update from the Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management MONTGOMERY COUNTY – There has been a significant change in the forecast tracks for Tropical Storm Laura and Tropical Storm Marco. Laura and Marco are still forecast to become hurricanes before making landfall. However, both storms are expected to track farther East and make landfall along the Louisiana coastline. It is still important that we monitor both of these systems closely, and continue to prepare if either storm starts to track more to the West. Montgomery County agencies and resources are on alert and ready to activate as needed for our area. Our office will continue to monitor these storms, and send updates as we receive them.     ###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 21, 2020 – 10PM Tropical Storm Laura and Tropical Storm Marco Update Status Update from the Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management MONTGOMERY COUNTY – Tropical Depression 14 has strengthened into Tropical Storm Marco with maximum wind speeds of 40mph. Marco is forecast to move into the warm Gulf waters on Sunday. This storm is expected to make landfall, most likely as a tropical storm, along the Texas or Louisiana coast around Tuesday. Impacts will depend on track and intensity which remain uncertain. However, damaging winds and flooding from heavy rains are possible especially if Marco makes a center or left side of the cone track. Track uncertainty has increased today as models struggle with the relatively weak system and complicated steering currents; along with a possible interaction with Tropical Storm Laura next week. Tropical Storm Laura’s track has shifted farther South and West and is expected to become a category one hurricane before landfall. Tropical Storm Laura is forecast to cross the Caribbean Islands then turn Northwest into the Northeast Gulf of Mexico as a hurricane. Some of the tracking models are now tracking Laura to go farther west toward the Upper Texas Coast, so we will need to monitor Tropical Storm Laura for possible impacts late next week. Montgomery County agencies and resources are on alert and ready to activate as needed next week for our area. Our next update will be tomorrow.   ###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                                       August 21, 2020 – 5PM   Tropical Depression 14 and Tropical Storm Laura Update Status Update from the Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management   MONTGOMERY COUNTY – Tropical Depression 14 is forecast to strengthen into a hurricane as it tracks Northwest over the warm Gulf waters later this weekend. This storm is expected to make landfall, most likely as a tropical storm, along the Texas or Louisiana coast around Tuesday and would be named Marco. Impacts will depend on track and intensity which remain uncertain. However, damaging winds and flooding from heavy rains are possible especially if TD 14 becomes a hurricane and makes a center or left side of the cone track.  Track uncertainty has increased today as models struggle with the relatively weak system and complicated steering currents; along with a possible interaction with Tropical Storm Laura next week.   Tropical Storm Laura’s track has shifted farther South and West and is expected to become a category one hurricane before landfall. Tropical Storm Laura is forecast to cross the Caribbean Islands then turn Northwest into the Northeast Gulf of Mexico as a hurricane. Some of the tracking models are now tracking Laura to go farther west toward the Upper Texas Coast, so we will need to monitor Tropical Storm Laura for possible impacts late next week. Montgomery County agencies and resources are on alert and ready to activate as needed next week for our area. Our next update is expected to be today at 10PM.     ###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                                       August 21, 2020 – 11AM   Tropical Depression 14 Update Status Update from the Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management   MONTGOMERY COUNTY – Tropical Depression 14 is located near the coast of Honduras with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph. TD14 is moving Northwest at 14 mph with a turn towards the Northwest expected later today. This storm is now expected to become a strong tropical storm or category one hurricane before making landfall most likely along the Texas or Louisiana coast around Tuesday. This storm is expected to be named Marco in the next 24 hours. Impacts will depend on track and intensity which remain uncertain. However, damaging winds and flooding from heavy rains are possible especially if TD 14 becomes a hurricane and makes a center or left side of the cone track.   Tropical Depression 13 was named Tropical Storm Laura this morning and is expected to become a category one hurricane before landfall. Tropical Storm Laura is more of a threat to Florida and the Northeast Gulf states. Montgomery County agencies and resources are on alert and ready to activate as needed next week for our area. Our next update is expected to be today at 5PM.     ###

  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                                       August 20, 2020 – 5PM   Tropical Depression 14 Update Status Update from the Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management   MONTGOMERY COUNTY – Tropical Depression 14 continues to move across the Caribbean Sea with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph. TD14 is forecast to slowly organize, and will likely become a strong tropical storm before making landfall most likely along the Texas or Louisiana coast around Tuesday. Impacts will depend on track and intensity which remain uncertain. Gusty winds to tropical storm force winds are possible near the track of the storm. Montgomery County agencies and resources are on alert and ready to activate as needed should this become a factor next week for our area. Tropical Depressions 13 and 14 are expected to be in the Gulf of Mexico early next week, but TD 13 is more of a threat to Florida and the Northeast Gulf states. Our next update is expected to be tomorrow at 5PM.         ###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                                       August 20, 2020 – 11AM   Tropical Depression 14 Formed Status Update from the Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management   MONTGOMERY COUNTY – The National Hurricane Center has found sufficient circulation in the Caribbean to support formation of a tropical depression 14 (TD14). This system is expected to gradually organize/strengthen over the next several days as it moves across the Yucatan and into the western Gulf of Mexico Sunday. While there is still a lot of inherent uncertainty this far out, this increases the chances of impacts early next week along the upper TX Coast. Our next update will be at 5pm today.     ###

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                                       July 24, 2020 – 5PM   Tropical Storm Hanna Update Status Update from the Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management   MONTGOMERY COUNTY –Tropical Storm Hanna has continued to strengthen with wind speeds of up to 50 MPH, and has shifted more to the south. A tropical storm warning has been issued for much of the southern Texas coast from San Luis Pass southward, and the tropical storm watch which had been issued from San Luis Pass to High Island has been dropped. Hanna is expected to strengthen before it makes landfall midday on Saturday. This Storm is expected to make landfall between Matagorda Bay and Brownsville.   Tropical Storm Hanna is expected to produce heavy rains across portions of Louisiana and Southeast Texas, which could result in flash flooding. This storm is expected to produce between 1 to 2 inches of rain with isolated maximum totals of 4 inches. Locally higher amounts are possible in any heavier rain bands on the northeast flank of the storm. Our heaviest rains for the area are expected to be Saturday, and we are at a marginal risk for flash flooding starting Saturday into Monday morning. The confidence on the track of the storm is increasing, but there is still uncertainty on the amount of rainfall from any banding that could set up on the right side of this storms track. This will be our last update on Tropical Storm Hanna unless conditions change.