ANGLETON – A free seminar to help Gulf Coast residents prepare for the hurricane season will be offered the morning of May 23.
The meeting is from 9 a.m. to noon at the Lake Jackson Civic Center, located at 333 Highway 332 East. For more information, call Dr. Alma Fonseca, county Extension agent, at (979) 864-1555.
Residents and property owners in Brazoria and surrounding counties are encouraged to come and learn how to be prepared for the 2000 storm season, which officially begins in June.
“The Gulf Coast region is growing rapidly, whether they are permanent residents, summer residents or commuters to the Houston area,” Fonseca said. “Many of these newcomers have never lived on the coast and will need this education to be ready for the upcoming storm season.”
In 1998, there were about 228,000 residents in Brazoria County; that number is expected to increase to more than 330,000 in the next 10-15 years, according to figures released by the Brazoria County Partnership.
Topics covered in the seminar include: evacuation routes, flash flood situations, information sources, important papers and medications to have available and preparing children for evacuation.
Speakers include representatives with Harris County Emergency Management, the National Weather Service, Texas Department of Public Safety and Brazoria County Emergency Management.
Additionally, exhibitors from insurance companies, building supply companies, and emergency agencies will be available to answer questions.
The program is co-sponsored by the Texas Agricultural Extension Service, City of Lake Jackson, Brazoria County Emergency Management and the Dow Chemical Company.
In addition to the seminar, Extension’s Community Development Committee developed emergency preparedness packets, which include educational materials, evacuation maps and other materials. These are available through Brazoria County chambers of commerce.
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