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>> Newcomers to Houston might not know the best way to ride out a storm. We’ve collected some of the best lighthearted tips to make the most out what can be a scary and miserable experience.
>> Newcomers to Houston might not know the best way to ride out a storm. We’ve collected some of the best lighthearted tips to
Photo: National Hurricane Center
Alcohol
You’ll need beer and liquor to ride out the storm. If you have beers people like, you can use them to barter for iPhone cords, bikes, even gasoline, probably. Whiskey can be used to make new friends in your community, and also help you forget about the oak tree that flattened your Prius.
Alcohol
You’ll need beer and liquor to ride out the storm. If you have beers people like, you can use them to barter for iPhone cords, bikes, even gasoline, probably. Whiskey can be used to make new friends
Photo: Melissa Phillip, Staff
Meat
Stock up on meat to grill. You’ll regret it when you start smelling your neighbors’ smoky handiwork. You will also learn to enjoy processed hot dogs as the days go by.
Meat
Stock up on meat to grill. You’ll regret it when you start smelling your neighbors’ smoky handiwork. You will also learn to enjoy processed hot dogs as the days go by.
Photo: Dave Rossman, Freelance
Start stocking up now. Whenever you get your usual haul for the house or apartment, buy another case. Just make sure it’s not that flavored stuff. We learned the hard way when trying to make camp stove ramen.
Start stocking up now. Whenever you get your usual haul for the house or apartment, buy another case. Just make sure it’s not that flavored stuff. We learned the hard way when trying to make camp
Photo: Bloomberg
When you notice the hurricane warnings are getting more severe, fill up your car’s tank and invest in a few extra gasoline jugs.
When you notice the hurricane warnings are getting more severe, fill up your car’s tank and invest in a few extra gasoline jugs.
Photo: STEVE HELBER, AP
This is not fun. These people in these cars were not loving life that day.
This is not fun. These people in these cars were not loving life that day.
Photo: STAN HONDA/AFP/Getty Images
The best thing you can do is be neighborly, share knowledge (no fake news), and stay upbeat when dealing with staff. They would probably rather be at home than dealing with an angry person mad that the last bag of ice was just sold.
The best thing you can do is be neighborly, share knowledge (no fake news), and stay upbeat when dealing with staff. They would probably rather be at home than dealing with an angry person
Photo: Kim Christensen
These things are a big help.
These things are a big help.
Photo: Generac
A bicycle will be a fun and healthy way to pass the time without your beloved Netflix there to comfort you. They also don’t waste precious gas. Use a bike to survey damage in the area if needed. (Will they cancel Critical Mass if a hurricane is hitting town?)
A bicycle will be a fun and healthy way to pass the time without your beloved Netflix there to comfort you. They also don’t waste precious gas. Use a bike to survey damage in the area if needed. (Will
Photo: Peathegee Inc/Getty Images/Blend Images RM
One Houstonian swears that stocking up on this will pay off. It doesn’t need to be refrigerated and is rather versatile.
One Houstonian swears that stocking up on this will pay off. It doesn’t need to be refrigerated and is rather versatile.
A smile
Don’t be afraid to talk to strangers and neighbors during the uncertain time around a hurricane. Everyone needs to open up their hearts in a disaster. (They could also have a really sweet generator you can use to charge your electronics.) less
A smile
Don’t be afraid to talk to strangers and neighbors during the uncertain time around a hurricane. Everyone needs to open up their hearts in a disaster. (They could also have a really sweet generator … more
Photo: Eric Christian Smith, For The Chronicle
Right now they are just something to throw a sandwich or handful of potato chips into when you are on the go, but during a hurricane these things will be priceless. They can hold all of your medication, your important papers, and your cellphone. Afterwards you can use them as a hat.
Right now they are just something to throw a sandwich or handful of potato chips into when you are on the go, but during a hurricane these things will be priceless. They can hold all of your
Yes if you have a home or large windows this could save you a lot of money in damages. Keep the boards for the next hurricane.
Yes if you have a home or large windows this could save you a lot of money in damages. Keep the boards for the next hurricane.
Photo: Grace Beahm, MBI
Comfortable lawn chairs
A comfortable lawn chair will be indispensable when it comes to guarding your home from looters. Oh, and also for hanging out with neighbors too.
Comfortable lawn chairs
A comfortable lawn chair will be indispensable when it comes to guarding your home from looters. Oh, and also for hanging out with neighbors too.
Photo: Lynet McDonald
Grilling out
A great barbecue pit will do wonders after a hurricane, and you can cook most anything on it. Even cookies.
Grilling out
A great barbecue pit will do wonders after a hurricane, and you can cook most anything on it. Even cookies.
Photo: Home Depot
Since 2008 a lot of us moved on from terrestrial radio. During emergency situations, though, that Marc Maron podcast won’t tell you about street closures or which Walmart might have bags of ice. Most AM and FM station here in Houston will have updates non-stop as a public service.
Since 2008 a lot of us moved on from terrestrial radio. During emergency situations, though, that Marc Maron podcast won’t tell you about street closures or which
Photo: Michael Paulsen
We don’t need to remind you to have extra phone charging cords and power sources on hand. This is 2017.
We don’t need to remind you to have extra phone charging cords and power sources on hand. This is 2017.
Get fancy
A hurricane survival kit should include a five-day cooler, candles, lights, batteries, hand-crank radio and insect repellent. A power inverter is helpful for those who’d like to charge their cell phones and run small appliances off a car battery. less
Get fancy
A hurricane survival kit should include a five-day cooler, candles, lights, batteries, hand-crank radio and insect repellent. A power inverter is helpful for those who’d like to charge their cell … more
Photo: Buster Dean, Chronicle
Spend the time without power to reconvene with the written word. Even the most boring things may become interesting reading.
Spend the time without power to reconvene with the written word. Even the most boring things may become interesting reading.
Photo: HANDOUT, HO
Have a lot of these on hand. It’s something we heard once. Seems like good advice.
Have a lot of these on hand. It’s something we heard once. Seems like good advice.
Photo: Cultura RM/Steve Gallagher Photography, Getty Images
Kiddie pools
A kiddie pool can cool you off during your time away from air conditioning, and double as a makeshift bed.
Kiddie pools
A kiddie pool can cool you off during your time away from air conditioning, and double as a makeshift bed.
Photo: Hill Street Studios/Getty Images/Blend Images
These things will happen, as we leave on the Gulf Coast. It’s not the end of the world if you can’t play Candy Crush for a few days or update your Facebook and stalk an ex.
These things will happen, as we leave on the Gulf Coast. It’s not the end of the world if you can’t play Candy Crush for a few days or update your Facebook and stalk an ex.
Photo: Stocktrek Images, Getty Images
The odds of a tropical storm hitting southeast Texas this week are inching slowly upward as swirling winds pick up in the Caribbean.
A tropical disturbance sparked by a broad band of low pressure in the northwestern Caribbean now has a 90 percent chance of turning into a tropical storm, according to the National Hurricane Center. If that system hits Houston, it could mean a torrent of rain and possible flooding.
But as of now, it’s still not clear where the stormy weather will hit.
“A lot of the models early on were going towards Florida and or south of Corpus Christi into Mexico,” said National Weather Service meteorologist Wendy Wong. “But some of the newer ones have a wider spread and it looks like most of the U.S. Gulf Coast should be keeping an eye on this now.”
Over the weekend, the warm seas and swirling winds have combined to toss a disorganized system of showers and thunderstorms at parts of the Caribbean. Over the coming days, that system is expected move slowly northwest over the Yucatan Peninsula and into the Gulf of Mexico where it will likely coalesce into a tropical or subtropical storm.
But will the storm pick up enough wind speed to turn into a hurricane?
“It’s always a possibility,” Wong said. “But given how close it is to the land when it does develop it may not.”
In the meantime, there could be some patchy showers before the skies clear on Tuesday. If the storm strikes Houston, it will likely come Wednesday or Thursday.
Of course, there’s still a chance the storm could miss the Bayou City entirely, but Harris County Homeland Security and Emergency Management is ready to go regardless.
“It’s pretty routine for us,” said OHSEM coordinator Mark Sloan.
“Most of us have already been prepared for hurricane season. We understand where we’re at because June 1 is the kick-off.”
The hurricane season, which doesn’t end till Nov. 30, is expected to be rougher than usual, with 11 to 17 named storms likely to strike. The first one – Arlene – formed out in the Atlantic in April, but stayed far from land.
If the current disturbance morphs into a storm, it will be named Bret.
A hurricane hunter aircraft is expected to head out to investigate the system sometime Sunday, according to the NHC. In the meantime, local officials are monitoring developments and staying at the ready.
“We’ll be staffing the Emergency Operations Center and monitoring this, tomorrow and all through the week as we figure out what Mother Nature wants to do with the storm,” Sloan said. “To us, this is what we do and why we do it.”
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