EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER
Breaking News
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› Seabrook Natural Gas Leak
- August 31, 2010
KHOU-TV provided the following information regarding the natural gas line rupture in Seabrook earlier this afternoon:
SEABROOK, Texas – A shelter-in-place was ordered along and to the north of NASA Parkway between Lakeside and Repsdorph in Seabrook Tuesday afternoon after a construction crew ruptured a 6-inch gas line.
Officials also closed NASA Parkway to traffic.
CenterPoint said the crew of contractors broke the line just before 1 p.m., and it could take several hours for CenterPoint workers to shut off the gas.
After that, repairs can begin, but officials said they did not know how long that would take.
It was unclear what the contractors were doing when they broke the line.
Clear Creek ISD said no schools were directly impacted by the shelter-in-place, but five school bus routes will be affected.
Those include route 36 from Clear Falls, route 38 from Seabrook Intermediate, route 38 from Bay Elementary, route 36 from Ed White Elementary and route 47 from Seabrook Intermediate.
The district said, if possible, parents of children who ride the affected routes should pick their kids up at school.
Otherwise, the students will be kept at their schools until the gas leak is secured and the roads are reopened.
Check back for more on this developing story
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› Excessive Heat Advisory (copy)
- August 24, 2010
Drink Plenty of Fluids, Avoid Prolonged Strenuous Activity
The National Weather Service has extended the Heat Advisory for the JSC area until 7 PM CDT today (Tuesday). A combination of hot temperatures and high dewpoints will continue today as an upper level ridge of high pressure slowly retreats west. Daytime high temperatures are expected to reach 98 to 102 degrees inland and to the mid 90s along the coast. The combination of the heat and high humidity will result in maximum Heat Index values of 102 to 110 degrees in the afternoon.
INCREASED READINESS ACTIONS
Please advise employees that must be outside to take precautionary measures and avoid prolonged strenuous physical activity if possible. Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration. Your body can lose up to a gallon of water per hour through perspiration. Caffeinated beverages can increase the rate of water loss. Stay hydrated and wear lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing and apply sunscreen to exposed skin. Wear a hat to shield yourself from the sun. Heat kills. Children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under ANY circumstances. This is especially true during warm or hot weather when car interiors can reach lethal temperatures in a matter of minutes. Also be aware that direct exposure to sunlight can increase the Heat Index experience by as much as 15 degrees.
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› Personal Emergency Planning
- July 13, 2010
Family Communications Plan Card
Make sure your family has a plan in case of an emergency. Fill out these cards and give one to each member of your family to make sure they know who to call and where to meet in case of an emergency.
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› JSC Hurricane Prep Kit
- June 21, 2010
Your One-Stop for Emergency Preparedness
The JSC center director reminds all employees that "Hurricane season is upon us. After many years in Houston and several hurricanes, I offer a few words of advice: now is the time to prepare; have a plan; if you decide to evacuate, do it now—don't wait!" This brochure includes a lot of information that will get you started in accomplishing Mike's recommendations but only you can make it succeed.
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› 2010 Hurricane Season
- June 3, 2010
Are You Ready?
The 2010 Atlantic Hurricane Season began on June 1, 2010, and extends through November 30, 2010. The NOAA forecast is for an extremely active storm season with the potential of 14 to 23 named storms. Eight to 14 of those storms could be hurricanes and 3 to 7 of those hurricanes could be major storms with sustained winds in excess of 111 mph. It's important that everyone prepare themselves, their family, and their property to survive this hurricane season. The JSC NASACares employee accountability system will remain active and requires that once the center is closed, all civil service employees must report in with their NASA badge number.
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› Hurricanes and the Oil Spill
- May 28, 2010
What will happen to a hurricane that runs through
If the slick remains small in comparison to a typical hurricane's general environment and size (200-300 miles), the anticipated impact on the hurricane would be minimal. The oil is not expected to appreciably affect either the intensity or the track of a fully developed tropical storm or hurricane.
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› National Hurricane Preparedness Week 2010
- May 24, 2010
May 23‐29, 2010
Harris County Commissioners Court has declared May 23‐29 as Hurricane Preparedness Week. The Harris County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (OHSEM) aims to educate people about the hazards of hurricanes, tropical storms, high winds, storm surge and flooding...
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› Hurricane Shutter Selection Guide
- April 20, 2010
Storm shutters play an important role in keeping wind and water out of your home, which is critical to your home's survival. Protective barriers can keep wind pressure from building up inside, which often leads to a loss of the roof, reduce the chance glass will break, and reduce the chance of wind-driven rain soaking the home's interior.
The range of products on the market today means it's easier to find protection that fits your budget. There are two options for installing shutters, commercially installed or do-it-yourself. Commercially-installed shutters typically cost between $9 and $30 per square foot of opening. It costs about 50% less to do it yourself.
Know that just because a product is labeled "hurricane tested" does NOT mean it has passed the large-missile impact tests. Choose a product with the proper approval for impact-resistance. Look for these ratings:
Florida Building Code TAS 201, 202, 203
ASTM E 1886 and 1996-03
Miami-Dade Protocols PA 201, 202, 203
To download a comprehensive list of shutter materials, cost estimates and pros and cons to consider when choosing the right type of protection for your home, check the Shutter Selection Matrix at http://www.ibhs.org/publications/downloads/20070425_093852_26797.pdf.
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› Evacuating to Safety
- April 20, 2010
Preparing In Advance for An Uneventful Evacuation
Plan ahead for the safe evacuation of you and your family by making preparations in advance, checking evacuation maps, identifying key telephone numbers, determine shelter locations, and making plans for re-entry when advised it is safe to do so. This website on the Texas Online website provides good information.
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› Preparing Makes Sense
- April 20, 2010
Everyone Should Have a Plan
The likelihood of you and your family surviving a house fire depends as much on having a working smoke detector and an exit strategy, as on a well-trained fire department. The same is true of surviving a terrorist attack or other emergency. We must have the tools and plans in place to make it on our own, at least for a period of time, no matter where we are when disaster strikes. Just like having a working smoke detector, preparing for the unexpected makes sense. GET READY NOW.