OK, Katrina has passed, Ophelia crepted by my part of the world, and Rita is dead-heading for Texas, here is what you should have already done if you're in a hurricane prone area;
GET OUT !!!!
GO AWAY !!!
COME AGAIN SOME OTHER DAY...
If by some logic you either have not left, or cannot leave, here is some very friendly advice;
If you are within 40 miles of the expected landfall, Pray, 'cause nothing I say that follows will help you in the eye of the storm.
If you are within 100 miles of landfall prepare for the following;
Loss of power for days, as well as phones, cable, probably natural gas, and likely potable water. depending on your elevation, and proximity to watersheds, you can also expect poor sewage/septic proformance, and if you're not on the highest ground around, water will be everywhere for several days as well.
After the storm, you'll be lulled into a false sense of security if you didn't experience any initial storm damage, but the fun isn't over. Inland flooding will not peak for 2 to 3 days after the storm passes. Roads you traversed after the storm will flood later, if you get real adventurous and go sight seeing, there is a good chance you will not be able to return home by the same route, if at all. ( after Floyd in 1999, my wife HAD to have a cup of coffee, and went looking for an open convienence store ( with electricity ) she found one, got her cup of coffee, and took 6 hours to return due to rising waters. A 3 mile trip took a 50 mile detour.
If you are a homeowner you really should have the following; Generator ( expensive yes, but so is the food in your fridge and freezer ) 20 gal. of gas, a propane or charcoal grill, 2 or 3 bottles of Propane, flash lights and batteries, drop cords, board games, battery operated radio, 5 gallons of water per person in the household, pet food ( if you have a pet ) medications, ID, and some cash. Also, if you do not flee, you still need to fill up all of your vehicles.
If you own, and know how to operate a chainsaw, you will be the best friend of your entire neighborhood, you can expect limbs everywhere, trees down on roads and houses, on power lines etc......basic hand tools such as hammers, crow bars and screw drivers are handy as well. You will need several vinyl tarps ( 10x12 is the most useful ) and roofing tacks, to patch over any lost roofing or windows, ladders are a prime tool to have as well.
NOW, IF YOU AREN'T USER FRIENDLY WITH TOOLS, DO NOT ATTEMPT TO SUDDENLY LEARN, YOU WILL HURT YOURSELF IF YOU ARE NOT CAREFUL, OR HAVE NO CLUE AS TO WHAT YOU ARE TRYING TO DO.LEAVE THE POWER LINES ALONE !!!!!!!
Start cleaning up as soon as you know you are safe, it helps keep your mind off the rest of your problems, such as work ( did it survive ?, insurance issues, health issues, friends and family conditions, etc ) Pile everything on the curb, FEMA will come get it sooner or later ( actually contractors to FEMA ) Prepare a nice BBQ of something in the freezer, play a board Game with the kids by flashlight, and try sleeping in the humid hot gulf coastal night ( the reassuring hum of the generator may even power box fan )
The Feds will arrive 2 or 3 days later, with open checkbooks, and little else. The Red Cross, and Salvation Army will be your first relief, smiling as they hand you ice, water, and offer a hot meal. Weeks later the same organizations will be issuing vouchers to assist folks in getting clothing, furniture, and permanent shelter. If you lose everything, these are the folks who will help you get re-started.
The SBA will open an office, and begin needs assessment for storm victims ( SBA administers all of the FEMA funding ) offering low intrest loans, grants, and the like for individuals as well as businesses. These programs are similar to GAP protection, assisting where normal insurance stops.
If you lost everything, housing can range from travel trailers in your yard, to Trailer Parks or motel rooms, depends on your insurance carrier and what they do ( or do not ) cover.
Weeks after the storm, thing will not return to normal. electricity will be restored in undamaged areas, but scenes of major damage will just be bulldozed piles of rubble. Months later, some normality may return, as Local, State, and Feds begin to start turning the wheels, buying out some properties, repairing others.
The happiest folks around are the home repair guys, them and the debris removal and car salvage folks. Tow trucks, dump trucks, and pick up trucks will be everywhere for months.
It took my community ( Rocky Mount, NC ) well over 2 months to just get things patched up, and years to clean up after Floyd ( 1999). There is still signs of the disaster that are hard to miss, a flooded out mall still stands empty, 100's of homes were razed and the neighborhoods stand empty, and on and on...
My experience with the Government ( at all levels ) was great, our area knows at this time of year, the wind blows, the rain falls, and hurricanes require respect and attention........I wittnessed lots of waste as well, but that's for another article.
Good Luck in Texas.