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Residential Life & Housing

University of Houston
Residential Life & Housing
4361 Wheeler St.
Oberholtzer Hall
Houston, Texas 77004
713.743.6000

Severe Weather
Student Action Plan

Hurricane

Severe Weather Action Plan Starts at the Beginning of Hurricane Season, June 1st and Runs Through November 30th

Review this Severe Weather Student Action Plan

Update list of necessary phone numbers and information in case of an evacuation


Beginning of Summer/Fall Semester

Students obtain a copy of the Severe Weather Action Plan at check-in. Copies of the plan are also available at their respective Area Coordinator (AC) offices or online at Severe Weather Plan webpage.

Plan and prepare for an evacuation should a storm threaten to make landfall in the Houston area. Your preparations should include the following:

  1. Make travel arrangements and find the recommended evacuation routes out of the Houston area. See map below.
  2. Have an out-of-area point of contact that family and friends can call to learn your evacuation plans.
  3. If you do not have a car, arrange for car-pooling with friends and/or roommates.
  4. If you do not have a car, and cannot arrange for personal evacuation, contact your housing AC office: Moody Towers – 3-6050, Quadrangle – 3-6040, and Cougar Place – 3-6045.

Residence Halls students who need to be evacuated by the University should contact their respective AC Office at the beginning of the semester.


72 Hours Before Hurricane

Hurricane Evacuation Map                           Family Communications Plan

The President's Office will notify the Administration/Emergency Management Team of the decision to evacuate campus.

The Vice President of Student Affairs communicates campus evacuation decision to students and begins evacuation of residential students who require assistance.  Residential students begin evacuation procedures:

  1. Back up personal computers.
  2. Turn off and unplug computer and other electrical equipment.
  3. Pack all important portable belongings for removal from campus. (Note: limited belongings will be allowed at area shelters.)
  4. Move personal computer and other important equipment to a protected area of the room. (Best location: away from windows, inside closet.)
  5. Cover remaining personal equipment/belongings and important files with plastic i.e. garbage bags.
  6. Place all loose papers and important documents in drawers, cabinets or files.
  7. Remove personal, irreplaceable items.
  8. Leave campus, preferably within 4 hours of initial announcement of evacuation, no later than 8 hours.

Immediately after the Storm

Listen to radio/TV for announcements of when to return to campus, or contact the University via the Public Information Hotline, (713) 743-2255.


Tornadoes

Tornados can happen any time with little or no warning when weather conditions are favorable. Listen to your radio or TV for announcements.


Thunderstorm & Lightning

Thunderstorms range between 5 and 25 miles in diameter, making it very localized. They can occur at any time, day or night, throughout the entire year. They are more common in the afternoons during the warmer months. Approximately 1800 thunderstorms are in process at any given moment around the world and lightning strikes the earth 100 times every second. If you are outside and there are thunderstorms within 10 miles, you are at risk of being struck. A thunder travels a mile in roughly 5 seconds. The time between the lightning flash and you hearing the thunder gives the approximate distance.

More simply, as a rule, if you are outside and can see lightning and hear thunder, move inside a building.

Houston Area Map

Hurricane Evacuation Map (PDF, click to view)

Family Communications Plan (PDF, click to view)

Flood Zone Map by Zip Code (1.25MB)