Hurricane Preparation Checklist

The traditional hurricane season is June 1 through November 30. It is time to make a plan and be ready. Here are a few resources for this year’s Hurricane Preparedness Week:

  • Know your risk – Hurricanes are not just a coastal problem. Impacts from wind and water can be felt many miles inland. Significant impacts can also occur regardless of the storm’s strength.
    • Consider your threats: Storm surges, flooding from heavy rain, strong winds, tornadoes, rip currents
    • Determine if you live in a flood-prone area
    • Find out if you live in an evacuation zone
  • Avoid having to rush through potentially life-saving preparations by getting your disaster supplies now. Supplies may not be available just before a storm arrives. Get an insurance review early, as flood insurance requires a 30-day waiting period.
    • Develop an evacuation plan
    • Assemble disaster supplies: food, water, batteries, charger, radio, cash
    • Get an insurance checkup and document your possessions
    • Create a communication plan with a hand-written list of contacts
    • Strengthen your home
  • Understand forecast information before a storm. This can tell you a lot about what is expected, including the storm’s path, rainfall amounts, wind speeds and more. Most importantly, it lets you and your family know what actions to take to prepare, monitor, shelter or evacuate. Visit www.hurricanes.gov for more information.
    • Rely on forecasts from your local National Weather Service office
    • Know your alerts and the difference between Watch and Warning
    • Focus on potential impacts, regardless of storm size and category
    • Know that deadly hazards occur well outside of the Forecast Cone
  • Know what to do during a storm. Whether you’ve evacuated or are sheltering in place, know what to expect from the hazards you may face. Remain vigilant, stay up-to-date with the latest forecasts and alerts, and continue to listen to local officials.
    • Protect your hone: Cover windows, secure doors and loose items
    • Determine sheltering options and consider your pets
    • Ready you go-bag, meds and supplies, charge phones, fill up/charge vehicle
    • Help your neighbors, especially the elderly and other vulnerable people
    • Follow evacuation orders if given
  • A key part of hurricane preparedness is understanding the dangers that remain well after a storm. This is not the time to put your guard down. Nearly half of hurricane fatalities occur after the storm.
    • Use caution after storms: If evacuated, only return home when directed it is safe to do so
    • Remain vigilant, as hazards remain: Heat, downed powerlines, floodwaters, etc.
    • Clean up safely: Don’t push yourself and check on neighbors
    • Only use generators outdoors, 20+ feet from your house
    • Prepare for the likelihood that help and communications may not be available
  • Do not wait to take action! Start preparing today!
    • Determine your risks from water and wind
    • Begin preparing now, before a storm
    • Learn how to understand hurricane forecasts and alerts
    • Learn what to do before, during and after a storm

Municipal Utility District vs. HOA, What is the Difference?

What is a MUD and HOA?

Municipal Utility District

A Municipal Utility District (a “MUD”) is a political subdivision of the State of Texas authorized by the Texas Legislature, Texas Constitution, and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (the “TCEQ”) to provide water, sewage, drainage and other services within the MUD boundaries.

HOA

A Homeowners Association (a “HOA”) is membership of homeowners that is responsible for the enforcement of the Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions for the properties in their immediate subdivision.

How are they Created?

Grand Mission MUD No. 2

Grand Mission Municipal Utility District No. 2 (the “District”) was created in 2005 by the TCEQ. The District was approved by the majority of the registered voters within the boundaries of the District. The District currently contains 688.4 acres.

HOA

HOA’s are created under and regulated by state law. In Texas, a committee of at least three land owners in the boundaries of the proposed HOA must form to petition for the creation of an HOA. The committee must file official written notice and requires at least 60% of the property owners to sign and approve the petition for creation. Typically, most HOA’s are created by the Developer and/or Homebuilder in the neighborhood’s early stages. Most HOA’s are created as a non-profit entity for the purpose of serving the community.

Who is the Governing Body?

HOA

The governing body of an HOA is referred to as the Board of Directors. The By-Laws of each HOA state the number of Board members, how they are elected or appointed, and their terms of office.

The District

The governing body of a MUD is an elected Board of Directors. The Board of Directors is typically comprised of five (5) people who are property owners (or registered voters) within the boundaries of the MUD and are elected to four (4) year staggered terms by a majority vote of the registered voters within the District.

The District employs the following consultants to assist the Board of Directors in the management and operations of the District:

  • Engineer – Quiddity Engineering, LLC
  • Attorney – Coats Rose, P.C.
  • Operator – Municipal District Services
  • Bookkeeper – Myrtle Cruz, Inc.
  • Financial Advisor – Rathmann & Associates, L.P.
  • Tax Assessor/Collector – Tax Tech, Inc.

How are they Funded?

The District

The District is funded through ad-valorem taxes and water and sanitary sewer revenue. The District has authority to tax all property owners within its jurisdictional boundary. Water and sanitary sewer rates are imposed on all residential and commercial users, which may include a combination of single family subdivision(s), multifamily, commercial, or other types of property.

HOA

HOA’s are typically funded through annual assessments or special assessments. Only residents within the specific HOA’s boundaries pay assessments to the HOA.

For questions, please send an email to board@gmmud2.org.

 

Weather Update as of 12/19/22

  • The approaching arctic air outbreak will be the coldest air mass since February 2021.
  • It is forecast that temperatures will drop quickly Thursday Night into Friday Morning.
    • Temperatures likely to be in the teens north of Highway 105, near 20 degrees near I-10, and in the mid 20s south of I-10
    • Many areas could be below freezing for 20-36 hours
  • Many areas will likely not get above freezing on Friday.
  • Though warming into the upper 30s will occur on Saturday, temperatures will drop below freezing on Saturday Night/Sunday Morning

Important to Protect the Four Ps

  • People
  • Pets
  • Plants
  • Pipes

National Weather Service Information

  • Thursday into the Christmas Holiday
    • The Arctic front is on track to move into the area on Thursday. It will bring periods of freezing temperatures (and likely some <25°) into much of the weekend.
    • Too early to confidently pinpoint exactly just how low readings will fall, or how many consecutive hours below freezing any single location will get.
    • Confidence is high that we will see some bitterly cold air and freezing temperatures, but don’t focus on any individual model, or model run, this far out.
    • The specifics will change as time progresses.
  • All businesses and residents should begin preparation for some hard freezes before the coldest weather is set to move in on Thursday.
  • For industry that needs an extended amount of lead time, the NWS encourages individuals to review plans/actions that might need to be implemented should conditions warrant (any extended durations of subfreezing temperatures, gale force winds, high seas, low water conditions, etc.)