AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced Tuesday that the week of May 26 through June 1 will be Hurricane Preparedness Week for the state. 

What You Need To Know

  • Hurricane season begins on June 1

  • The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is predicting an above normal hurricane season this year because of warmer-than-average ocean temperatures

  • Texas, especially the Houston area, has already seen a large amount of flooding this year and hurricane-force winds, which knocked out power for hundreds of thousands of people a couple of weeks ago

This proclamation comes ahead of the start of hurricane season on June 1 and as the state reels from a bout of severe weather that has left several people dead and thousands without power. 

One of the heaviest-hit places has been the Houston area, where flooding and hurricane-force winds left hundreds of thousands without power and eight people dead a couple of weeks ago. Another round of severe weather caused localized flooding and damage in Houston on Tuesday. 

The Houston metropolitan area is also one of the most likely places in Texas to be in the path of a hurricane because of its location on the Gulf of Mexico. 

The most recent major hurricane to make landfall in Houston was Harvey in 2017, which lingered over the Texas coast for days, causing over 50 inches of rain in some areas and extensive flooding. 

Forecasters with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) are predicting this hurricane season will be above normal because of warmer-than-average ocean temperatures. The administration released its predictions last week and said it expects eight to 13 hurricanes, with four to seven of those being major hurricanes, this season. 

“With hurricane season approaching, it is crucial for all Texans to be prepared for the potential of devastating and powerful storms that may reach our shores,” said Gov. Abbott in a news release. “This Hurricane Preparedness Week, Texans are encouraged to learn more about safety measures and make an emergency plan to protect themselves and their loved ones from the destructive power of hurricanes. By implementing proactive measures, we can stave off the worst eventualities, protect the lives and well-being of all Texans, and keep our great state safe.”

Ahead of hurricane season, the Texas Division of Emergency Management planned its annual full-scale hurricane exercise with state and local partners to make sure it is meeting community needs if a hurricane were to hit the state. 

Texas also has an online resource called the Texas Hurricane Center, which has a list of things to do to prepare, as well as what to do during a hurricane and places to stay after the storm.