Galveston, TX – August 22, 2020 – The City of Galveston is closely watching two tropical disturbances that could make landfall along the Gulf coast this week and we urge residents to begin preparations.
There are still many uncertainties about the track and strength of the storms and residents should be prepared to act quickly should things change.
The first system is Tropical Storm Laura. This system is expected to move northwest in the coming days and head toward Hispaniola and Cuba. The effects of Tropical Storm Laura could be felt along the Gulf Coast beginning Wednesday or Thursday.
The second system, Tropical Storm Marco, is just east of the Yucatan Peninsula. This system is expected to move across the peninsula before continuing north toward the US. We anticipate impacts from Tropical Marco could begin along the Gulf Coast as early as Monday night.
The storms could produce tropical storm force winds for the Southeast Texas Coast late Monday night or Tuesday. We could also expect to see heavy rainfall and potential flooding.
At this time, we are recommending Galveston residents who live in low-lying areas and on the island’s west end to make efforts to secure their homes. This could include boarding windows, and raising valuables and irreplaceable personal effects to higher areas of your home.
As always, we urge our residents to prepare a plan and ensure you have enough water, batteries, and any necessary prescriptions in case of losing power for a few days. Please follow the City of Galveston, local media and weather reports to stay connected and aware of the storms’ progression. Depending on forecasts from the National Weather Service and the National Hurricane Center, a voluntary evacuation of the west end could become necessary later this weekend. Stay informed for updates and additional recommendations.
The City of Galveston’s Office of Emergency Management is prepared and closely monitoring the storms. We have initiated our pre-storm drainage plan by collecting all debris that could blow or float into a storm drain. Please do your part by securing any loose items that could create debris in strong winds or flooding.