With hurricane season approaching, local officials and organizations are encouraging residents to get prepared by attending two upcoming community meetings in Liberty County.
The Atlantic hurricane season officially begins June 1 and runs through Nov. 30.
The first event, hosted by the American Red Cross with support from the City of Cleveland, will take place Friday, May 8, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Cleveland Civic Center, 210 Peach Ave.
The Hurricane Preparedness event is designed to help residents understand how to stay ready in the event of a major disaster, how to prepare a disaster kit and what steps to take before and after a storm. Organizers also hope to strengthen community involvement in emergency response efforts.
Bubba Haley, a spokesperson for the local American Red Cross, said the organization is looking to expand its network of volunteers and community partners.
“We would like to get more of our volunteer fire departments at the event because they are so involved on the front lines of an emergency response. We also would like to see more churches involved,” Haley said. “Churches can be shelter heroes and assist in any way they can. Some of this can be through neighborhood assistance within the community.”
A second opportunity for residents to prepare will come the following month when the Liberty County Office of Emergency Management hosts its annual Hurricane Preparedness Seminar on Saturday, June 13, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The seminar will be held at the Hartel Building, 318 San Jacinto St. in Liberty.
According to LCOEM Director A.J. Johnson, this year’s meeting will cover hurricane season predictions, the growing role of artificial intelligence in storm tracking, and practical steps residents can take to prepare their homes and businesses.
Guest speakers will include Dr. Ali Mostafavi of Texas A&M University, representatives from the National Weather Service and Texas AgriLife Extension Service, and Kyle Donlevy, an emergency management specialist with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Both events are open to the public, and attendance is encouraged as the region enters what is often the most active time of year for severe weather.