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Helpful tips for Visitors and Native Houstonians

This resource page is full of helpful information and links for all things Houston/Harris County. 
If you need additional information, please contact us at: [email protected]

Stay informed

The Houston Office of Emergency Management is dedicated to keeping Houstonians and visitors prepared when it comes to emergencies. 

Sign up is easy! Text the keyword AlertHouston to 888777. 

You can also follow us @HoustonOEM on all platforms to stay informed on any potential emergencies!

Houston Weather

Houston has a humid, subtropical climate. 

Summer temperatures often reach the high 90s°F/30s°C. It’s best to dress in light clothing and keep an umbrella handy because afternoon showers are common. June 1 is also the start of our annual hurricane season, so it’s good to be aware of local weather. Check our Extreme Heat page for more safety tips.

Check definitions and warnings by visiting the National Weather Service and the National Hurricane Center websites. Check street flooding at the Roadway Flood Warning System.

Getting Around​

The Greater Houston Area includes Sugar Land and The Woodlands and spans over 10,000 mi²/25,000 km². Getting from Point A to Point B can sometimes be a challenge, so it’s good to “know before you go”.

Houston Transtar is a great informational resource and offers real-time traffic maps and updates.

Houston Metro is our multimodal public transportation provider, offering a variety of transit options, including accommodations for riders with disabilities.

who should i call?​

 From emergencies to inquiries, our region is equipped to take your call. It’s important to know the difference when it comes to dialing for assistance.

  • For Life Threatening Emergencies: Dial 9-1-1
  • For Non-Emergency Police Assistance: Dial (713) 884-3131
  • For City of Houston Information Requests: Dial 3-1-1

You can also go online to learn more about services offered by the Houston Police Department and Houston Fire Department.

advocacy​​

The Houston region offers many resources for people with disabilities. 

The Houston Office for People with Disabilities (OPD) serves as an advocate for the rights and needs of residents with disabilities. 

The Harris Center provides care and resources to persons who have behavioral healthcare needs and area uninsured or underinsured.

Houston Parks and Recreation also provides opportunities and programs for adaptive sports and recreation.

powering houston​

From hurricanes to tornadoes and ice storms, Houstonians know it’s important to stay connected to information from our energy providers. 

Follow CenterPoint Energy social media for resources and updates. If your location experiences a power outage, report it on the CenterPoint Outage Tracker.

Current Emergencies

Regional WebEOC

Emergency Operations Center Activation Level

LEVEL IV:

Normal Operations

This activation level means the Office of Emergency Management (OEM) is conducting normal day-to-day activities and the Emergency Operations Center is not activated.

LEVEL III:

Increased Readiness

OEM has increased monitoring and the Emergency Operations Center may be activated with key staff from responding departments to monitor a credible threat, risk, or hazard.

LEVEL II:

HIGH READINESS

OEM has activated the Emergency Operations Center to provide increased support for coordinated efforts between key agencies engaged in the emergency.

LEVEL I:

MAXIMUM READINESS

Our Emergency Operations Center is fully activated and staffed with primary support departments and organizations, along with State and Federal representatives. The Emergency Operations Center is operating on a 24-hour schedule.

For disaster recovery resources, please visit our Recover Page.

For disaster preparedness information, please visit our Preparedness Page.

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