Last week’s Jackson County Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster meeting welcomed three guest speakers to inform the attendees on proper preparedness for the upcoming hurricane season.
Meteorologist Matt Moreland, out of Houston and Galveston met virtually to help others on where to find information online and elsewhere.
“It only takes one storm,” Moreland said.
“No matter whether it’s a quiet season, it only takes one.”
Whereas El Niño is generally safer for the Atlantic coast due to unusually warm water, La Niña is better for the Pacific due to unusually cold water. There tend to be fewer hurricanes due to stronger vertical winds with El Niño.
“Texas is usually in good shape once we get to October,” he added, “the storms steer east.
It’s in late August, early September when the storms tend to come.
Moreland said on the website hurricanes.gov, they give an outlook on the weather four times a day. More information can be found on weather. gov/hgx/hurricaneguide2026.
He also shared a term some might be familiar with: cone of uncertainty. In the past, the cone of uncertainty could prepare for two-thirds of the possible outcomes of a scenario, but a new cone of uncertainty has been refined, where it can be up to 90% correct.
“Most storms develop or rapidly intensify over the Gulf, which means it lowers your timeline in becoming prepared… when you hear the words watch or warning, a warning means it will happen,” he said. “Don’t focus on the number, focus on the trend, strengthen your home, and use caution after the storm because that’s when fatalities happen.”
Next, Samantha Fabian of STEAR, the State of Texas Emergency Assistance Registry, informed the people about what STEAR can offer during the storm seasons.
STEAR was a transportation assistance registry in 2005 and became STEAR in 2013, they have a new database that can be found at steam. texas.gov/ “STEAR is for Texans of all ages, medically fragile, or lack transportation assistance,” Fabian explained. “The registry is voluntary, and it’s best to register early, because last minute enrollments during a disaster could mean you not being able to reach a local emergency management office.”
She reminded everyone to not forget to dial 211 for evacuation routes, shelters, meals and financial assistance.
Visit ready.gov for more information on how to stay prepared.
County Judge Jill Sklar also reminded everyone that the county is using the CodeRed app for up to date information happening in Jackson County. Lane Larson is the county’s emergency management coordinator and can be reached by calling 361-703-4607, or emailing him at [email protected] Lastly paramedic Denver Eichler and his best friend, old but loyal chocolate Labrador who goes by the name Gauge, introduced ways of taking care of your furry friends during a storm season. He shared ways of checking a dog’s temperature, and said doing compressions for a K-9 dog is no different that doing it to a human.
For more information, one can also visit the Jackson County VOAD on their website, jcvoad. org or visit their Facebook page at JCVOAD.
Above are the new Jackson County VOAD officers for the upcoming year. This staff has made their presence known in the county and are growing slowly but surely.
Talk to one of them today about how to make a difference in the community.
