September 13, 2021
Tropical Storm Nicholas
District E residents can expect up to 10 inches of rain, IN SOME AREAS, throughout the duration of Tropical Storm Nicholas. At this time, forecasts are calling for the majority of rainfall to occur south of Interstate 10, where the 10 to 12 inches is predicted, while areas north of Interstate 10 are predicted to receive 6 - 8 inches of rain. This storm continues to be erratic and staying updated through credible local news sources is highly recommended.

If you have not already done so please take precautions, gather supplies, secure your home, bring in your trash cans and share your emergency plan with your family and loved ones. Tropical Storm Nicholas is expected to be a wind and rain event; all outdoor furniture and potted plants should be secured through the night. Do not forget to make accommodations for pets, they should not be left outside during this weather event.
General Updates
Electricity:
Tropical Storm Nicholas is nearing our area – get ready by setting your Power Alert Service text, email, or phone call contact preferences before it arrives. CenterPoint can send outage alerts to up to 15 contacts for each electric account you manage. Follow this link to sign up. Should a power outage occur, you may visit the CenterPoint Outage map here.

Lake Conroe: Lake Conroe has been lowered over one foot through seasonal lowering to 199.6 ft. Normal pool is 201 ft. Forecasts do not show likelihood of additional releases from Lake Conroe at this time. Lake Conroe levels can be monitored here.

Lake Houston: Lake Houston has been lowered well over one foot and is currently at a Lake Level of 41.18 ft. Normal pool is 42.4 ft. Gates on Lake Houston will remain open throughout the duration of the storm. Lake Houston levels can be monitored here.

Roads:
The City of Houston is encouraging all residents to remain off roadways after 6:00 p.m. this evening through tomorrow morning as waters may rise quickly. At this time there are no high water spots in District E. Staging of barricades and high water vehicles throughout Clear Lake and Lake Houston has already started in preparation for rain. Houston Public Works, Houston Fire, and Houston Police have prepositioned high water vehicles as well as barricades throughout the City should they be needed.

Schools: The District E Office is aware of the following school closures information for tomorrow. Some statuses may have changed since publishing, please use links to verify.

  • Clear Creek ISD – The Clear Creek Independent School District will be closed Tuesday, September 14, 2021, due to Tropical Storm Nicholas. A decision for Wednesday will be made on Tuesday.

  • Galena Park ISD – Galena Park ISD is canceling all after-school activities, events, meetings, and Night School today, Monday, September 13, 2021, out of an abundance of caution. Additionally, all campuses, transportation services, and the administration building will be closed, and all after-school activities, events, meetings, and Night School are canceled for Tuesday, September 14, 2021.

  • Houston ISD – In-person and virtual classes are canceled on Tuesday, September 14. All HISD offices and schools will be closed on Tuesday, September 14. Students will not need to make up the missed school day.

  • Huffman ISD – Due to Tropical Storm Nicholas, all after school activities will end at 4pm for secondary campuses on Monday, September 13th. Huffman ISD will be closed on Tuesday, September 14th. We will still have late arrival for secondary campuses on Wednesday, September 15th.

  • Humble ISD – No after-school activities today for elementary and middle schools. High schools must conclude by 5:30 p.m. The district is continuing to monitor Tropical Storm Nicholas.

  • Pasadena ISD – Closed Sept. 13. and Tuesday, September 14.

  • YES Prep – all YES Prep schools and facilities will be closed Tuesday, September 14. As a reminder, all after-school activities across the district are canceled for Monday, September 13. 

City Trash: Please secure your trash cans after collection today. City of Houston Trash services are suspended for tomorrow, Tuesday, September 14 and will resume on Wednesday, September 15 starting with pickups that were originally scheduled for tomorrow.
Storm Surge Warning Issued for
Clear Lake and Bay Area Houston
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has issued a Storm Surge Warning for Clear Lake and Bay Area Houston.

A storm surge warning indicates there is a danger of life-threatening inundation from rising water moving inland from the shoreline somewhere within the specified area, generally within 36 hours.

Please avoid travel in and around these areas as water are expected to rise in these areas.
Flash Flood Watch Issued for Houston
Weather Information
The National Weather Service has issued a Flash Flood Watch for Houston until Tuesday evening. This means conditions are favorable for flooding to occur.
Heavy rain is expected to begin impacting Houston this afternoon and periods of intense and/or prolonged rainfall may cause flash flooding. 
Tropical Storm Nicholas will move north and make landfall late tonight near Matagorda Bay. Periods of showers and thunderstorms will increase in coverage late this afternoon with periods of heavy rain expected tonight.
 
Protective Actions
Be Prepared. People should bring their pets inside and delay travel or outdoor activities during periods of heavy rainfall. If travel is unavoidable, reduce your speed to avoid hydroplaning.  
 
If a Flash Flood Warning is issued for your area, DO NOT travel.  
 
Turn Around, Don't Drown®: Do not drive through flooded areas. If you see water covering the road, do not attempt to cross it.  Only a few inches of water can float a vehicle. If you find yourself in a dangerous situation where your vehicle is taking on water, get out of the vehicle, get to a higher position, and call 911.   
 
Monitor Official Sources for Current Information:  Harris County Flood Warning System (harriscountyfws.org), Houston TranStar (houstontranstar.org), and the National Weather Service Houston/Galveston Forecast Office (weather.gov/hgx).
 
Monitor Stream, Bayou, and Creek Conditions:  Rain may move repeatedly across the same area, causing creeks and bayous to rise and possibly exceed their banks. Stay informed of current conditions and avoid traveling near creeks and bayous.
 
Avoid Traveling during Periods of Heavy Rain:  Rain can reduce visibility and prevent you from seeing the road ahead, which could lead to accidents.

Timely information during emergencies is important. AlertHouston delivers critical information to Houston residents regarding current conditions, expected impacts, and protective actions to keep themselves and their loved ones safe.

Register for emergency alerts through email, text message, voice call, or mobile app push notification. You may download the Everbridge app free of charge from the Apple or Android app store. Most alerts are geo-targeted; subscribers with loved ones around the city may register up to five physical addresses per contact record. Sign up today at www.alerthouston.org.
Resources & Official Updates
Houston Transtar Travel Not Advised After 6:00 PM
Houston Transtar has great resources on travel conditions and is updated regularly.

Currently, TRAVEL IS NOT ADVISED after 6:00 p.m. due to the potential threat of flash flooding.

Stay up to date with the Houston Transtar mobile app by visiting the app store or google play.

Please visit the Houston Transtar website for the latest.
The regional Flood Warning System measures rainfall and monitors water levels in bayous, creeks, and rivers on a real-time basis to inform area residents of potential flooding conditions. This system relies on a network of gage stations that have been strategically placed throughout Harris and surrounding counties.

Alert notifications are available at over 250 locations across the region.
Sign up for default alerts or create custom alerts to receive real-time rainfall and stream level alerts by email and/or text message. Sign up Here.