Fort Bend County establishes partnership with Epicenter for 'mega shelter'

FORT BEND COUNTY, Texas -- Fort Bend County has secured a new shelter partnership aimed at keeping residents safe during hurricanes and other large-scale disasters.

The big picture

Fort Bend County Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management officials announced a new agreement with the Fort Bend Epicenter-a multipurpose venue located in Rosenberg-as a major emergency shelter option to provide a safe location during hurricanes and other disasters, officials announced in a July 23 Facebook post.

The center, which will be ready for use throughout the year in case of an emergency, provides county officials with a space to shelter a large number of residents in a centralized location, per the post.

Why it matters

The announcement comes as hurricane season is ongoing through Nov. 30, although National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration officials are predicting the first below-average Atlantic hurricane season since 2015.

According to predictions, the NOAA is forecasting a range of eight to 14 named storms in the Atlantic Ocean with winds of 39 mph or higher, including:

• Three to six hurricanes with winds of 74 mph or higher
• One to three major hurricanes with winds of 111 mph or higher

Since the season began June 1, the Atlantic Ocean has seen two named storms: tropical storms Arthur and Bertha.

Staying prepared

Fort Bend County residents are encouraged to review their emergency plans and know where to go in case of a storm, county officials said.

According to its website, NOAA recommends residents prepare by:

• Developing an evacuation plan
• Assembling disaster supplies, including food, water, batteries, chargers, a radio and cash
• Checking on insurance-including flood insurance-and documenting their possessions
• Creating a communication plan with a handwritten list of contacts
• Strengthening homes by trimming trees, installing storm shutters and sealing outside wall openings

"The time to prepare for the next major storm is not when it is already in the Gulf ... the time to prepare is now," Interim Fort Bend County Judge Daniel Wong said. "We hope we never have to use the Epicenter as a mega shelter. But if the day comes when thousands of people need a safe place to go, Fort Bend County will be ready."

This article comes from our ABC13 partners at Community Impact Newspapers.