September 14, 2018
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Governor Greg Abbott has officially issued Emergency Declarations for many counties along the coast, in advance of the approaching tropical disturbance. While the National Weather Service has said, "development into a tropical depression is not expected since the system is almost onshore, heavy rainfall and gusty winds are likely across portions of northeastern Mexico and Texas through Saturday" as of 2 PM today. But residents are encouraged to monitor local weather offices.
Local governments and entities have already been taking precautionary measures to protect our communities. I encourage all of you to heed the warnings and watches as we go through the weekend and beyond.
Should you have questions regarding anything in this newsletter, please feel free to contact us directly using the information provided at the bottom of this email.
Sincerely,
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Download my September 2018 calendar by clicking the link below. This month is full of events in and around Texas that could fun or useful to you and your family! This new format allows you to save the document for printing or sending to your family members.
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Governor Greg Abbott Issues Disaster Declaration In Response To Approaching Tropical Disturbance
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Governor Greg Abbott today issued a
State Disaster Declaration
for Texas counties impacted by severe weather and flooding as a tropical system approaches the state. Prior to today’s disaster declaration, the Governor has
ordered the Texas State Operations Center
(SOC) to increase its readiness level to level II (escalated response conditions) in response to the storm. The text of the proclamation is shown below:
"To All To Whom These Presents Shall Come: I, Greg Abbott, Governor Of The State Of Texas, Do Hereby Certify That The Tropical Disturbance In The Gulf Of Mexico That Began On September 7, 2018, And That Continues Toward The Texas Coast, Poses A Threat Of Imminent Disaster, Including Severe Flooding, Widespread And Severe Property Damage, And Loss Of Life In Aransas, Atascosa, Austin, Bandera, Bastrop, Bee, Bexar, Blanco, Brazoria, Brazos, Brooks, Burleson, Burnet, Caldwell, Calhoun, Cameron, Chambers, Colorado, Comal, Dewitt, Dimmitt, Duval, Edwards, Fayette, Fort Bend, Frio, Galveston, Gillespie, Goliad, Gonzales, Grimes, Guadalupe, Harris, Hays, Hidalgo, Jackson, Jim Hogg, Jim Wells, Karnes, Kendall, Kenedy, Kerr, Kinney, Kleberg, La Salle, Lavaca, Lee, Liberty, Live Oak, Llano, Madison, Matagorda, Maverick, Mcmullen, Medina, Montgomery, Nueces, Polk, Real, Refugio, San Jacinto, San Patricio, Starr, Travis, Trinity, Uvalde, Val Verde, Victoria, Walker, Waller, Washington, Webb, Wharton, Willacy, Williamson, Wilson, Zapata, And Zavala Counties.
Therefore, In Accordance With The Authority Vested In Me By Section 418.014 Of The Texas Government Code, I Do Hereby Declare A State Of Disaster In The Previously Listed Counties Based On The Existence Of Such Threat.
Pursuant To Section 418.017 Of The Code, I Authorize The Use Of All Available Resources Of State Government And Of Political Subdivisions That Are Reasonably Necessary To Cope With This Disaster.
Pursuant To Section 418.016 Of The Code, Any Regulatory Statute Prescribing The Procedures For Conduct Of State Business Or Any Order Or Rule Of A State Agency That Would In Any Way Prevent, Hinder Or Delay Necessary Action In Coping With This Disaster Shall Be Suspended Upon Written Approval Of The Office Of The Governor. However, To The Extent That The Enforcement Of Any State Statute Or Administrative Rule Regarding Contracting Or Procurement Would Impede Any State Agency’s Emergency Response That Is Necessary To Protect Life Or Property Threatened By This Declared Disaster, I Hereby Authorize The Suspension Of Such Statutes And Rules For The Duration Of This Declared Disaster.
In Accordance With The Statutory Requirements, Copies Of This Proclamation Shall Be Filed With The Applicable Authorities. - Greg Abbott, Governor"
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San Jacinto River Authority Begins Preparations for Potential Rainfall in the Lake Conroe Watershed
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SJRA Prepares for Rainfall in the Lake Conroe Watershed
With forecasts predicting anywhere from 2 to 4 inches of rainfall in and around Lake Conroe, SJRA employees are implementing standard procedures for a rainfall event, also working with both Montgomery and Harris County and Coastal Water Authority.
Read more
www.sjra.net
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HCFCD: Harris County Residents
Urged to Monitor Weather
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HCFCD - Harris County Residents Urged to Monitor Weather
Harris County residents are urged to monitor the weather forecast and use extreme caution if venturing out into conditions. Portions of Harris County could receive up to 4 inches of additional rain as a weather system moves onto the Texas coast.
Read more
www.hcfcd.org
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Mandatory Nationwide Test of Emergency Alert System on September 20, 2018
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The WEA portion of the test commences at 2:18 PM EDT, and the EAS portion follows at 2:20 p.m. EDT.
The test will
assess the operational readiness of the infrastructure for distribution of a national message and determine whether technological improvements are needed. This is the fourth EAS nationwide test and the first national WEA test. The WEA test message will be sent to cell phones. Previous EAS national tests were conducted in September 2011, 2016 and 2017 in collaboration with the FCC, broadcasters, and emergency management officials in recognition of FEMA’s National Preparedness Month.
The EAS test is made available to EAS participants (i.e., radio and television broadcasters, cable systems, satellite radio and television providers, and wireline video providers) and is scheduled to last approximately one minute. The test message will be similar to regular monthly EAS test messages with which the public is familiar. The EAS message will include a reference to the WEA test: “THIS IS A TEST of the National Emergency Alert System. This system was developed by broadcast and cable operators in voluntary cooperation with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Federal Communications Commission, and local authorities to keep you informed in the event of an emergency. If this had been an actual emergency an official message would have followed the tone alert you heard at the start of this message. A similar wireless emergency alert test message has been sent to all cell phones nationwide. Some cell phones will receive the message; others will not. No action is required.
The WEA test message will read “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.” Cell phones will display the test message under the header “Presidential Alert.”
More information on the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System and Wireless Emergency Alerts is available at
www.ready.gov/alerts
.
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National Preparedness Month:
Week 2 - "Learn Life Saving Skills"
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National Preparedness Month emphasizes many steps you can take to prepare for a storm such as this. Now in its second week, the campaign is focusing on the importance of lifesaving skills like first aid, CPR, fire prevention and utility management.
This week also includes the 2018 National Day of Action on Saturday, Sept. 15. Weather permitting, this will be a great day to join people across the country in learning a lifesaving skill, training others for disaster preparedness or volunteering to help people affected by a catastrophic event.
When a potential disaster approaches your home, you can help keep your loved ones safe by shutting off your gas, water and electricity. Failure to do so can result in fires and explosions, pollution of your water supply and drainage from your home of life-sustaining water. Different gas meters have different shut-off procedures, so it is important to contact your local gas company for guidance. Never attempt to turn the gas back on yourself; that is a job for a professional. When shutting down your electricity, always shut off all the individual circuits before shutting off the main circuit. For more information on taking care of your utilities, visit
www.ready.gov/safety-skills
.
Making sure your home has functioning smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors on every level, and at least one fire extinguisher, is one of the simplest ways to protect your family. Test your alarms monthly and contact your local fire department for extinguisher training.
To prevent fires from starting, stay in the kitchen when cooking, position barbecue grills at least 10 feet from flammable materials and keep children away from cooking areas. Also immediately replace any worn or damaged appliance cords, and do not run cords under rugs or furniture. For more fire safety tips, go to
https://go.usa.gov/xPr24
.
No matter how well you prepare for disaster, you can’t guarantee your loved ones won’t get hurt. If someone does get injured, you can increase their chance of survival or full recovery by applying the skills learned in a basic first aid and CPR course. Your local chapter of the American Red Cross can provide information on available courses.
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GLO: Public Comment Period For Harris County And City Of Houston Local Plans Now Open
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Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush announced posting of the local plans for Harris County and the City of Houston as Amendment 1 to the State Action Plan for the federally mandated 30-day comment period. The State Action Plan was originally approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) on June 25, 2018. The amendment including the two local plans details the distribution and eligible uses of $2.3 billion in Community Development Block Grants for Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) in accordance with HUD requirements as outlined in the
Federal Register
posted on February 9, 2018.
"Torrential rains and historic flood levels left many homes in Harris County and Houston damaged or destroyed in the wake of Hurricane Harvey," said Commissioner George P. Bush. "As a native Houstonian it is my honor to work with my fellow Texans to help residents of the Bayou City and Harris County throughout the recovery process. The Texas General Land Office remains steadfast in our commitment to working together to help all Texans recover and rebuild."
The local plans allocate most of the direct allocations for Harris County ($1.115 billion total) and City of Houston ($1.155 billion total) to home repair and affordable rental programs. The amendment also includes administrative funding, in addition to the program funding, in the amount of more than $16.7 million for Harris County and more than $20.8 million for the City of Houston for implementation of the programs.
Background on $5.024 billion CDBG-DR funding allocation:
Three days after Hurricane Harvey made landfall, Commissioner Bush submitted a letter to President Donald J. Trump and key members of his Cabinet describing $180 billion in damage to the state of Texas and estimating at least $40 billion in unmet need to the state. At the time, Hurricane Harvey was still over most of the greater Southeast Texas region and the extent of the storm's damage. On September 8th, President Trump signed the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018, and Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Requirements Act, 2017, which included $7.4 billion appropriated to HUD for long-term recovery. HUD then allocated $5.024 billion of the appropriations to Hurricane. To date, the GLO estimates more than $105 billion in unmet need in Texas as a direct result of Hurricane Harvey. HUD recently released guidance for an additional $652 million for remaining unmet housing needs. Guidance for an additional $4.3 billion for mitigation projects is anticipated to be released soon. The GLO will continue to work with local, state and federal partners to ensure funding is available to continue recovery efforts.
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THC: Applications for 2019 Official Texas Historical Markers now Being Accepted
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The Texas Historical Commission (THC) accepts historical marker applications each fall for the following calendar year. The next application period will be from
September 1 to November 15, 2018,
for 2019 markers.
Please review the information provided in the table below. Once all pieces of the application packet are ready, submit the packet of information to the County Historical Commission (CHC) in which the marker topic is located. Remember that the CHC is required to review and approve the application, so make sure that they receive it weeks (or even months) prior to the application deadline. This is especially true for larger counties, which may have a marker application review committee who meet on designated dates prior to the application deadline.
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CureFest Fishing Tournament - Saturday, Sept. 15
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Our office is always ready to assist you. Call or email us and we will do our best to help. Many State Agencies also have hotlines or citizen assistance offices to assist you. That contact information is available at this link, in alphabetical order:
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All of the relevant information our office has gathered during the week will be posted to our Facebook page. By "liking" us, you will stay up-to-date about important matters across the state that affect you and your family. Click below to find our page.
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State Representative
Dan Huberty
Casey Christman
Chief of Staff
Amy Peterson
House Public Education Committee Director
Abby Caldwell
District Intern
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Capitol Physical Address:
1100 Congress Avenue E2.408 Austin, TX 78701
Capitol Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 2910
Austin, TX 78768
Capitol Phone:
(512) 463-0520
Capitol Fax:
(512) 463-1606
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District Address:
4501 Magnolia Cove
Suite 201
Kingwood, TX 77345
District Phone:
(281) 360-9410
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This newsletter was not sent by State expense.
Paid political advertising by Friends of Dan Huberty.
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