Hurricane season is just around the corner, and for Houstonians, that means getting prepared for whatever the Atlantic throws our way. The city is no stranger to big storms and just had Hurricane Beryl rip through the area last year. Even as a Category One storm, Beryl knocked out power for millions across multiple days.

But even through our familiarity with storms, a new report shows more than 90-percent of Houston is not ready for a hurricane.

That seems very high, considering Houston resides in 'hurricane alley.' Yet with how people are caught off guard when a storm does hit, it also is not totally far-fetched either. As the season approached June 1st, now is the time to stockpile, and be ready in case a big storm works its way into the area.

Deputy Emergency Management Coordinator for Harris County Brian Murray says economic factors have left some people unable to stock up on supplies properly. But you do not need to break the bank to be prepared.

"Preparedness is not about having a $15,000 whole house generator," he says. "It is about sustaining yourself for five to seven days following a disaster."

In the survey of 5,000 Houstonians, just 8 percent of respondents felts adequately prepared. Only 32 percent had an implemented emergency plan, and just 16 percent had practiced emergency drills.

But as we know all too well, being prepared is not limited to hurricane season. Houston sees more than its fair share of severe weather. We had the derecho last May, major flood events, and tornadoes are not uncommon. So, staying ready is a year-round effort, not just for the five months of hurricane season.

"About half of our residents consider themselves prepared for a disaster, but that is still not where we want it to be," says Murray. "If you live in Harris County, we see a lot of disasters and severe weather, the idea we can lose power a few days is not unheard of...knowing that, the idea of being prepared is the smart way to live here."

He adds if you go to readyharris.org, they have a checklist you can review and fill in as needed.

Hurricane Season begins on June 1st.

Jimmy Barrett

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