​Laura is almost into the Gulf of Mexico, and unexpectedly it is already showing signs of intensifying.

The challenge with this soon-to-be hurricane is it is moving at an unusually fast pace across the Gulf. This gives us only about 48 hours to prepare for a landfall where confidence is lacking both in exactly where the eye will go and how strong it will be at that time.

This is why we must prepare for the worst (direct hit from a major hurricane) and hope for the best. Unfortunately, I fear too many are complacent right now seeing the majority of the cone to our east, and that would turn this into a nightmare scenario if, God forbid, we take a direct hit from this hurricane.

I just recorded a massive video update that goes into all the meteorological details about what will influence where Laura goes and why we should have more confidence in everything by the 10AM Tuesday forecast track update from the National Hurricane Center. So PLEASE do not let your guard down.

Other responsibilities limit me from going into greater details here, so please watch the video I recorded. I put my heart and soul into it.

LAURA VIDEO UPDATE: abc13.com/forecast

A new track will be out at 10PM. I'll have the latest info first on live TV and then post here second after I've had a chance to digest all the changes (unless they issue the update really early, then I'll try to get out a quick post).

(POSTED MONDAY 8:45PM 8/24/2020)

​Let's talk about the cone.
Galveston and Houston are still in Laura's cone.
In the minds of the National Hurricane Center forecasters, the left side, middle, and right side of the cone have equal chances of taking a direct hit from what will likely be Hurricane Laura's eye.
That's why they continue to caution:
"Users are again reminded to not to focus on the exact details of the track or intensity forecasts as the average NHC track error at 72 h is around 100 miles and the average intensity error is around 15 mph (13 kt). In addition, wind, storm surge, and rainfall hazards will extend far from the center."
Trust me, I DO NOT want this storm coming here to my community but I DO want my community to be PREPARED and understand that we are NOT in the clear and may have to act QUICKLY should it come this way.
There is a substantial amount of reliable computer guidance well to the west (left) of Laura's current cone, so I do not want you to be surprised if any of the following happen later today:
1.) The track may shift westward, putting more of southeast Texas back in the cone.
2.) Portions of our coastline may be put under Hurricane, Tropical Storm, and Storm Surge Watches, and due to the uncertainty of this situation, those watches may extend outside of the cone.
3.) Evacuation orders may be issued for residents in particularly vulnerable sections of our coastline, like the Bolivar Peninsula. We are running out of time to get people along the coast out of harm's way IF it does track this way, so be ready just in case.
Yesterday I made reference to how Laura is mimicking the track of the 1900 Storm to underscore why we have to be on guard for a path to Texas. Let's hope the similarities end here near Cuba. One thing we all know has changed in the last 120 years is we have information and technology at our fingertips to help us know what is going on long before a storm arrives. Please continue to use these resources to stay informed and be prepared to act IF necessary. We have about 48 hours left to get our preparations in order.
We'll continue to keep you calmly and realistically informed and aware throughout the days ahead.
VIDEO UPDATES: abc13.com/forecast
(POSTED 11:42AM 8/24/2020)

Unfortunately the National Hurricane Center shifted their cone back toward us last night after computer model guidance also shifted this way.
And remember how I told you the UKMET model is performing the best? It sends Laura right into Matagorda Bay. Do NOT let your guard down.
Here’s what else changed while you were sleeping last night.
Laura’s center was disrupted by the mountainous terrain of eastern Cuba, and that caused a center reformation farther SOUTH. Every time that occurs, it throws the track off course and farther west toward us.
Here are your new probabilities for hurricane and tropical storm force winds, and they’ve gone back up:
Galveston 14% Hurricane / 55% Tropical Storm
Houston: 8% / 42% Tropical Storm
I’ll post again after the new 10AM forecast track comes out. Let’s hope for the best, but be prepared for more shifts throughout the day.
(POSTED MONDAY 7:55AM 8/24/2020)

​

Dear Friend, 
Here on the Gulf Coast, we are in familiar territory - hurricane season- which continues through November 30. NOAA predicts this season to be an especially active one. Below is some helpful information to help us stay prepared should another flood event or hurricane hit our region. For your safety, please find helpful resources below:Watch v. Warning: Know the difference between hurricane and tropical storm “watches” versus “warnings.” A hurricane or storm watch is a notification for residents to be on alert of a potential storm. Areas that are reported to have a hurricane or storm warning are required to take immediate actions to safeguard life.


Plan to Evacuate: Keep an emergency kit packed, know where or who exactly you will stay with during an evacuation and keep your call filled with a full tank of gas. Items such as batteries for hand radios and flashlights are also helpful and difficult to find following hurricanes and floods. 

Download the FEMA Mobile App: Receive real-time alerts for up to five different locations and locate emergency shelter places, and connect with FEMA to register for disaster assistance online. Download the app by clicking HERE. 


Keep emergency contact information handy: Phone numbers for local emergency management officers, local law enforcement, hospitals, utility service providers and insurance information are recommended to be kept nearby during storms. 

Check Insurance Policy: Most homeowners insurance does NOT cover flood damage. Many homeowners in our region are required to have flood insurance based on the location of homes and businesses in a flood plain. Don’t get caught unprepared. Check out more on flood insurance here. 

Important Phone Numbers:
2-1-1 for shelter, food and disaster services
7-1-1 for Relay Texas Service
1-800-452-9292 for TxDOT statewide road closures 
1-800-525-5555 for roadside assistance
Additionally, in the event of a hurricane or excessive flooding, my office stands ready to help. If you need assistance, my office stands ready to help. Please call my Sugar Land office at 281-494-2690 or my DC office at 202-225-5951. Stay safe by being prepared.

Very respectfully,
Pete Olson
 
OFFICE LOCATIONS
 Sugar Land  Office
2277 Plaza Drive
Suite 195
Sugar Land, TX 77479
Phone: (281) 494-2690
Fax: (281) 494-2649
Pearland Office
6117 Broadway Street
Pearland, TX 77581
Phone: (281) 485-4855
Fax: (281) 485-4850
*By appointment only
Washington, DC Office
2133 Rayburn
House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-5951
Fax: (202) 225-5241

Dallas, Texas (July 30, 2020) – While conditions continue to steadily improve in South Texas after Hurricane Hanna moved through the area over the weekend, The Salvation Army disaster response teams continue to serve those affected by the storm. As of Thursday, the response efforts are concentrated in areas of McAllen and the Rio Grande Valley that experienced flooding and power outages. 
Mobile kitchens and teams from Kerrville, McAllen, Austin, Victoria, and San Antonio are serving food, hydration and providing emotional and spiritual care in Sullivan City, Palm View, Port Mansfield, San Pelita, Sebastian, Lyford and McAllen. Food service ended in Corpus Christi on Wednesday evening. Salvation Army staff continue to work closely with long established feeding partners and local jurisdictions to ensure that services and resources are not duplicated.
“The Salvation Army is fortunate to work with some wonderful partners in disaster response who come alongside us and make it possible to establish service quickly and effectively to reach those in need,’ said Alvin Migues, Texas Emergency Disaster Services Director for The Salvation Army. “We are particularly grateful to Breedlove Foods, Coca-Cola and Midwest Food Bank for their generous donations of food products and water that have significantly supported our food delivery this week in South Texas.”
The Salvation Army in Texas stands prepared year-round to respond to disaster situations, including hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires and flooding, storing essential equipment and supplies such as clean up kits, water, and paper products at their Emergency Disaster warehouse in Arlington, Texas. “Our network of partners respond very quickly to provide for any additional needs that we may have once a disaster strikes,” said Migues. “This week alone, Breedlove Foods provided multiple trucks of dehydrated food products that support rapidly deployable hot meals from our mobile kitchens, Coca-Cola delivered bottled water along with assorted Coke products, and two truckloads of food boxes arrived from Midwest Food Bank that are headed for the McAllen area for rapid distribution. Their support makes it possible for us to reach the most people and provide for their immediate needs.”
In response to Hurricane Hanna The Salvation Army has provided more than 6,480 meals and 5,441 snacks and drinks. It is anticipated that response efforts in the Rio Grande Valley will continue through the weekend as The Salvation Army continues to engage and coordinate with local and state Emergency Management, The Disaster Recovery Task Force, and the Texas Feeding Task Force.
For the latest information please go to www.disaster.salvationarmy.org and watch for regular updates on our social media pages at www.facebook.com/salvationarmytexas/ and www.twitter.com/salarmytx. To make a donation go to www.helpsalvationarmy.org or call 1-800-SALARMY
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About The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army, an evangelical part of the universal Christian church established in 1865, has been supporting those in need in His name without discrimination for 130 years in the United States. Nearly 30 million Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army each year through the broadest array of social services that range from providing food for the hungry, relief for disaster victims, assistance for the disabled, outreach to the elderly and ill, clothing and shelter to the homeless and opportunities for underprivileged children. 82 cents of every dollar spent is used to carry out those services in 5,000 communities nationwide. For more information, go to www.salvationarmyusa.org.
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Salvation Army in Texas Ready and Prepared to Respond to Tropical Storm Hanna
Dallas, Texas (July 24, 2020) – The Salvation Army Emergency Disaster (EDS) teams in Texas are ready and prepared to respond to potential heavy rain and flooding associated with Tropical Storm Hanna as the area of low pressure approaches the South Texas coastline. 
Alvin Migues, Emergency Services Director for The Salvation Army said, “Our disaster response units in Corpus Christi, McAllen, and Harlingen are on standby and will be ready to respond as needed. We will be watching this system very closely over the next 24-36 hours and its projected track as it moves inland.”
The principle threat from Tropical Storm Hanna will be rainfall, with totals of over five inches possible and potentially higher amounts where bands of rain stall for a period of a few hours.  The flash flooding threat will extend from the Texas Coast to well inland, on a line stretching Corpus Christi to Laredo and then on into northern Mexico.
 
The 2020 Hurricane Season is predicted to be an active storm season, with another named storm, Gonzalo, already having the potential to reach the Gulf. The Salvation Army is prepared to provide emergency response, providing support to first responders and affected communities, as they have done since the Galveston Hurricane of 1900 prompted the first relief effort of its kind in the USA.
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic presents significant challenges to the long-established models and methods of EDS service delivery and The Salvation Army staff is actively working to put response protocols in place that adhere to social distancing and limit any potential exposure.
“We have sent a survey to more than 5,500 Emergency Disaster Services volunteers registered with The Salvation Army in Texas, specifically addressing their willingness and availability to serve should the need arise in the current pandemic,” said Migues. “Our phenomenal network of volunteers is the foundational backbone and driving success of The Salvation Army’s ability to meet the needs of those who need it most and we anticipate being in a strong position to respond, quickly and effectively, even considering the challenges in the world today.”
 
In addition to a fleet of more than 35 mobile kitchens assigned year-round to locations in Texas, The Salvation Army also operates two Field Kitchens with the ability to provide more than 7,500 meals per day, a mobile Laundry Unit, two Shower Units and more.
“The Salvation Army has an extensive network of trained staff, volunteers and Officers who are prepared to respond to disasters in Texas, and across the nation,” said Migues. “The focus of our response efforts is the provision of meals and hydration to both first responders and affected communities, as well as emotional and spiritual care. Every disaster is unique and creates its own special needs and our services are flexible and rapidly scalable. The Salvation Army stands ready to respond when and where we are needed.”
For the latest information please go to www.disaster.salvationarmy.org and watch for regular updates on our social media pages at www.facebook.com/salvationarmytexas/ and www.twitter.com/salarmytx. To make a donation go www.helpsalvationarmy.org.
##
 
 
 
About The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army, an evangelical part of the universal Christian church established in 1865, has been supporting those in need in His name without discrimination for 130 years in the United States. Nearly 30 million Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army each year through the broadest array of social services that range from providing food for the hungry, relief for disaster victims, assistance for the disabled, outreach to the elderly and ill, clothing and shelter to the homeless and opportunities for underprivileged children. 82 cents of every dollar spent is used to carry out those services in 5,000 communities nationwide. For more information, go to www.salvationarmyusa.org.
​

The disturbance in the Gulf of Mexico has become better organized. There is now an 80 percent chance of developing into a Tropical Storm or Tropical Depression over the next 48 hours. The storm is expected to reach the Texas Gulf Coast Friday or Saturday.

Keep an eye out for Tropical Storm watches and warnings this weekend. The main threats are heavy rain with possible flash flooding. Rainfall from 3 to 5 inches is expected for coastal counties. Elevated surf and gusty winds are also possible.
Behind the storm expected this weekend, Tropical Storm Gonzalo has formed in the Atlantic. It's hurricane season, La Marque. If you haven't already, make a plan for your family and your pets. Get enough supplies and water to last a week and make an evacuation plan. Please check on your neighbors or family members who might need help.
Please register for community news flash e-notifications at connect.cityoflamarque.org or monitor local news for updates. Follow US National Weather Service Houston-Galveston Texas for reliable forecasts.

Don’t wait, prepare your “Go-Kit” TODAY! Hurricane season is in full swing and #Texans must plan now to have essential supplies on hand during and after a #disaster.
Remember, you may be your own #firstresponder.
👉🏼 Need help building a kit? Visit: https://ready.gov/kit