Feb. 10, 2012 – The National Weather Service and local emergency managers are gearing up for Severe Weather Awareness Week Feb. 19-25.
Severe thunderstorms, tornadoes and flash floods contribute to death, injury and damage to personal property across Texas every year. Severe Weather Awareness Week serves to remind citizens to review and test their emergency plans.
As part of the week's activities, the NWS will conduct a mock tornado drill on Wednesday, Feb. 22 at 10 AM. This mock warning is an opportunity for citizens and organizations to exercise their ability to receive tornado warnings and activate their emergency plans. The test will activate NOAA weather radios the same way they are activated for the routine Wednesday test.
The Galveston County Office of Emergency Management will participate in Severe Weather Awareness Week by providing public information through this web site throughout the week. For more information about severe weather, visit the NWS’s Houston-Galveston web site at: www.srh.noaa.gov/hgx/. Follow the "Severe Weather Awareness" link in the left column.

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Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2012 – Low-interest federal disaster loans are now available for Texas residents and business owners affected by the flooding and severe storms on Jan. 9, 2012.
The U.S. Small Business Administration is making the loans available in Galveston, Harris, Brazoria, Ft. Bend, Chambers, Liberty, Montgomery and Waller counties.
Low-interest federal disaster loans are available to homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes, and private, non-profit organizations whose property was damaged or destroyed by the disaster.
Applicants may apply online via SBA’s secure web site, https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela. The filing deadline to return applications for property damage is March 30, 2012. The deadline to return economic injury applications is Oct. 30, 2012. Individuals with hearing disabilities may call (800) 877-8339.

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Jan. 27, 2012 – Gov. Rick Perry has renewed the disaster proclamations for drought and wildfire threat.
Though much of Texas has received significant rainfall since December, it is not enough to erase the state’s drought conditions. Reservoirs that provide water storage across the state remain extremely low overall.
The minimal rainfall throughout 2011 and record-high temperatures contributed to the declining reservoir and aquifer levels. The disaster declaration for drought covers all 254 counties in the state, whereas, the declaration for wildfire threat covers 105 counties.
The drought proclamation was issued on July 5, 2011 and has been renewed several times since then. The initial wildfire proclamation was issued on Dec. 21, 2010. Click here for a copy of the drought proclamation and here for a copy of the wildfire proclamation.

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Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2012, 11 AM – The National Weather Service has extended the Tornado Watch for Galveston County until 2 PM today, and issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning until 11:45 AM.
Strong thunderstorms with damaging wind gusts and isolated tornadoes are moving into the area and will likely bring heavy rainfall and gusting winds.
Rainfall accumulations may average 1-2 inches, while some localized amounts could be up to 5 inches.
Drivers of vans, campers, trailers and other high-profile vehicles should be alert to the danger of high winds.
The Galveston County Office of Emergency Management is monitoring the weather closely. Please tune in to local media for the latest reports, and check the NWS web page for more detailed information:
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/hgx/.

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