Make a safety plan.  If a hurricane threatens your area, you may have to make a decision whether to stay in your home or evacuate. Whenever local authorities recommend evacuation, you should leave. The advice of authorities is based on knowledge of the strength of the storm and its potential for destruction. 

1. Map out safe routes inland or to safer areas. If you live in a low-lying area, know where low-water crossings might make travel to safety more difficult and plan routes that avoid these areas. 
2. Find out the location of any nearby community shelters in case you must seek immediate shelter. 
3. When a hurricane watch is issued for your area - an alert that a storm has not yet hit, but conditions are likely in the days or hours ahead - regularly check TV and radio for official weather bulletins. 
4. If you decide that it’s safe for you to stay, understand that you may be without electricity, fresh water, and phone service for some time and prepare accordingly. Stock up on canned goods and bottled water, check supplies of medicines and first-aid equipment, and check batteries in radios and flashlights. 
5. Work out a way for family members to communicate in case you must leave your home or if there is a disruption in local phone service. For instance, agree on a friend or relative who lives outside your immediate area who can serve as a point of contact in an emergency.

Protect your property.  When a hurricane watch is issued for your area, taking a few measures in advance may help prevent or minimize damage to your home or property.

1. Protect windows, sliding glass doors, and skylights with shutters or plywood.
2. Put your car in a garage or other shelter. Secure boats and trailers. Secure outdoor furniture and any other loose material outside. 
3. If possible, trim back any dead wood from trees. This will reduce the amount of wind stress on trees and eliminate potential damage from falling limbs. 
4. Move valuables away from windows and, if possible, to an upper floor. 
5. Bring pets indoors or make other arrangements for their safety. If you must seek shelter in a community shelter, understand that you may not be able to keep your pets with you. Contact your local humane society for information about animal shelters.
6. If you are leaving your home, lock and secure the premises. Take small valuables and important documents with you.

Update your Connect-CTY Information. Connect-CTY is a service that will be utilized by the city to notify citizens of important emergency information. You can add or update your information by visiting the city's website at http://www.cityofiowacolony.com.

Call 2-1-1. When hurricanes are on the way, don’t stay. This is the message of the Governor’s Division of Emergency Management who wants everyone that needs transportation out of a hurricane zone to know that options are available when it comes to evacuating. Individuals who need a ride may call 2-1-1 to register for evacuation transportation. Trained specialists will take personal contact information and ask additional questions about any special medical needs that may affect the type of transportation a person needs. The Special Transportation Registry is open year-round for registration, although it is heavily advertised during hurricane season from June 1 – November 30.

2-1-1 Texas/United Way Helpline is available 24 hours/day 7 days/week and individuals who need assistance may discuss available options with a specialist and learn about services in their local area. During disaster events, 2-1-1 is activated by local and state emergency management officials to disseminate official information about shelter availability, evacuation routes, road closures, and other important information about the situation. Specialists have access to language interpreters in more than 150 languages.

Make sure you have windstorm insurance.  If your property is located in one of Texas’ 14 coastal counties, or parts of southeastern Harris County, your homeowners policy may not provide windstorm coverage.  You may be able to obtain insurance coverage for windstorm or hail damage from a special insurance pool called the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA). It’s important to note that you cannot buy or change TWIA coverage once a hurricane is in or near the Gulf of Mexico. If you currently have TWIA coverage, review your policy carefully and know your policy limits. Compare your TWIA and homeowners policies and determine whether you are insured to an appropriate replacement value. For more information about windstorm coverage and inspection requirements, call your insurance agent or TWIA at (512) 899-4900, or visit its website at www.twia.org.

Consider flood insurance.  Homeowners and commercial property policies specifically exclude coverage for damage from flooding.  To protect yourself from losses caused by rising water, you’ll need a separate flood insurance policy, typically from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). NFIP is administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Flood insurance policies usually have a 30-day waiting period after the purchase date before coverage takes effect on currently owned property, so don’t wait until a flooding threat is imminent. For more information, contact your insurance agent or NFIP at 1-888-FLOOD 29 (356-6329) or visit www.floodsmart.gov.

 For more information visit the Brazoria County Office of Emergency Management at www.brazoria-county.com/em/