Hurricane Laura updates: Harris County judge signs disaster declaration

HOUSTON — The KHOU 11 weather team and National Hurricane Center are keeping a close eye on Hurricane Laura, which is forecast to make landfall late Wednesday into early Thursday morning near the Texas-Louisiana border.

The Houston area’s forecast is looking better with each update, but we still can’t let our guard down and be prepared for any dangerous, gusty winds and a storm surge in low-lying coastal areas.

RELATED: Hurricane Laura latest forecast cone and updates

RELATED: Hurricane Laura: Track and spaghetti models

8:06 a.m. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo has signed a disaster declaration so the county can be prepared to respond to any impacts from Hurricane Laura

4 a.m. Hurricane Laura’s forecast track has remained the same, targeting a landfall near the Texas and Louisiana border, bringing the worst of the weather to the Port Arthur, Beaumont and Lake Charles areas. The Houston area will still need to look for any impacts in the form of gusty winds and a storm surge late Wednesday into early Thursday morning. Get the latest storm updates here.

10 p.m. With the 10 p.m. update from the National Hurricane Center, Hurricane Laura has strengthened and now has maximum sustained winds of 90 miles per hour with gusts at more than 115. The storm was 405 miles southeast of Lake Charles, La., moving to the west-northwest at 17 miles per hour.  

9:13 p.m. Buses will be available Wednesday to transport Chambers County residents who wish to evacuate but who do not have the means to do so on their own.

Residents can check in at 6:30 a.m. Wednesday at one of two locations:

Kyle White Stadium North Parking Lot on Willcox Street in Anahuac or at Winnie-Stowell Park, 335 S Park Street in Winnie. Buses will depart at 8 a.m.

There is limited space available, and spaces are first-come, first-serve with the exception of a handful of residents who pre-registered via the 2-1-1 registry.

Evacuees will be transported to San Antonio, Austin or Dallas. Evacuees do not have a choice as to which location they will be transported. Once it is safe to return, those who evacuated via bus will have the option to return via bus. More information on return will be issued once it is available.

Residents who choose to evacuate via bus should note:

• Transportation to the departure location is not available.
• Due to COVID-19, riders will be spaced out and must follow safety guidelines including wearing a mask.
• Luggage space is limited. Each evacuee is permitted to bring one suitcase and one small personal bag.
• Each evacuee is permitted to bring one pet — weighing 30 pounds or less — as long as they are in proper pet carriers. Owners are encouraged to bring copies of licenses and/or vet paperwork.
• These are not medical shelters. Those who need assistance with oxygen and can provide their own supplies are permitted to utilize this transportation.

Riders are encouraged to find someone to drop them off before boarding the bus. Limited parking space is available, but evacuees who choose to leave their vehicles at the staging sites do so at their own risk.

Residents who are under home quarantine or isolation due to COVID-19 will not be permitted to board buses or enter a shelter. All prospective riders will be screened for COVID-19 symptoms prior to boarding.

7:14 p.m. Governor Greg Abbott has directed TxDOT to waive all tolls along the portion of SH 99/Grand Parkway beginning at 7 p.m. Tuesday. With this action, all tolls on Houston-area toll roads will be temporarily waived to help those evacuating due to Hurricane Laura.

“As Hurricane Laura approaches Texas, this waiver will ensure that Texans are able to evacuate efficiently ahead of the storm,” Gov. Abbott said. “I urge Texans in the area to continue to take all necessary precautions as Hurricane Laura nears the coast and heed the guidance of local officials.”

7 p.m. Chambers County has issued an evacuation order for low-lying areas and those in unanchored mobile homes and RVs. At this time, a general evacuation order has not been issued, county officials said.

6:45 p.m. The City of Galveston has implemented a series of curfews over the next three nights for the protection of residents and their property during Hurricane Laura. It begins at 10 p.m. tonight.

Any person found on the public right of way and not evacuating may be stopped by law enforcement and subject to a misdemeanor and an up to $1,000 fine. The curfew is intended to protect Galveston residents and their property from any potential looting.

Curfew hours

• Tuesday, August 25 at 10:00 pm until Wednesday, August 26 at 6:00 am;
• Wednesday, August 26 at 8:00 pm until Thursday, August 27 at 6:00 am;
• Thursday, August 27 at 8:00 pm until Friday, August 28 at 6:00 am.

5:20 p.m. Garbage collection in Houston will be suspended on Thursday, August 27. Leave your bins in a secure place to prevent loose trash from clogging sewers.

5:10 p.m. Harris Health System is closing all of its outpatient healthcare facilities at noon Wednesday, Aug. 26, ahead of the possible landfall of Hurricane Laura. All facilities will remain closed on Thursday, Aug. 27. All patients will be contacted directly to reschedule appointments. For information about Harris Health closures, visit www.harrishealth.org.

5:05 p.m. The Houston SPCA sent 238 animals to safety in Austin and the North Dallas area. Wings of Rescue flew coastal pets from Galveston Humane, including 57 cats, 20 dogs, three rabbits and one three-legged mouse. The  Houston SPCA and Austin Humane transported 102 cats and 28 dogs, while 27 baby squirrels went into the care of the Austin Wildlife Rescue.

4:50 p.m. Brazoria County Judge Matt Sebesta has issued a Voluntary Evacuation for low-lying coastal communities outside the protection levee.

4:46 p.m. All Houston Independent School District food distribution efforts have been canceled Thursday and Friday due to potential inclement weather from Hurricane Laura. Student meal delivery to designated apartment complexes will continue Wednesday, Aug. 26, but will be canceled on Thursday, Aug. 27 and Friday, Aug. 28. Curbside summer meals are canceled on Thursday, Aug. 27. 

The mass community food distribution scheduled for Friday, Aug. 28 in the NRG Stadium Yellow Lot has been rescheduled for noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 29 at the same location.

4:37 p.m. Houston Public Works will initiate the temporary lowering of Lake Houston Tuesday evening. Lake Houston will be lowered to 41 ft, which is 18 inches below full pool. It is predicted Hurricane Laura will bring 2 to 4 inches of rain to the Lake Houston Area over a six-day period, with isolated incidents of 6 inches of rainfall possible.

4:20 p.m. Houston residents in the voluntary evacuation zone who call 311 will be directed to a hotel and will not be required to pay for their room. This only includes residents in Houston ZIP codes 77059, 77062, and 77058 North. 

4 p.m. The latest report from the National Hurricane Center has Laura’s winds at 80 mph with wind gusts up to 100 mph. The track and timing haven’t changed. Landfall is still expected from Wednesday night into Thursday morning.

3:43 p.m. METRO will suspend operations of all transit services at 4 p.m. Wednesday in advance of the impacts to the region from Hurricane Laura. Service will resume when it is safe to do so.

3:36 p.m. More evacuations have been issued for Galveston County: A mandatory evacuation for Kemah and La Marque areas outside the levee. Dickinson is now under a voluntary advisory, along with low-lying areas of League City.

3:30 p.m. Montgomery County officials provide an update on preparations for Hurricane Laura.

3:20 p.m. HISD facilities will be closed on Wed, 8/26 and Thurs, 8/27; scheduled to reopen on Fri, 8/28 pending road and weather conditions

3:02 p.m. The Bolivar-Galveston Ferry will stop operating at 11:30 p.m. Wednesday. The last ferry will leave Bolivar at 11:30 p.m. Ferry service will resume when it is safe to do so.

2:46 p.m. Governor Abbott said reception centers in San Antonio, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Austin will open later today. The state is providing buses to transport Texans that are evacuating. There are also over 225,000 hotel rooms available across the state to provide shelter to evacuees. 

2:30 p.m.  Governor announced that he has added 36 counties to his State Disaster Declaration due to the threat of severe rain, wind, and flooding.  They are: Anderson, Angelina, Bowie, Cass, Cherokee, Dallas, Fort Bend, Franklin, Gregg, Grimes, Harrison, Houston, Leon, Madison, Marion, Montgomery, Morris, Nacogdoches, Panola, Polk, Red River, Rusk, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, Shelby, Smith, Titus, Travis, Trinity, Tyler, Upshur, Walker, Waller, Wharton and Wood.

2:20 p.m. Houston Zoo will be closed Wednesday, Aug. 26 and Thursday, Aug. 27. Whether the Zoo will reopen on Friday, Aug. 28 will be determined as the weather event continues. The animals will be cared for during the storm by a select group of team members who will stay at the Zoo throughout the weather event. The animals have safe and secure barns and night houses that have been constructed to weather storms like this one.

2:10 p.m. League City Mayor Pat Hallisey has issued a local state of disaster and a voluntary evacuation order for all of League City. Residents in low lying areas including those along Clear Lake, Clear Creek and Dickinson Bayou, along with residents with medical needs and who use devices that require electricity, are strongly encouraged to consider evacuating. All residents need to be aware that City emergency response services could be limited during the height of the storm. Storm surge, strong winds, and power outages are expected during the storm.

2:05 p.m. La Porte is issuing a Voluntary Evacuation Order for all areas, effective immediately. La Porte is now under a Hurricane Warning and Storm Surge Warning due to potentially dangerous impacts to our area. Hurricane Laura is expected to be a Category 3 major hurricane at landfall, with up to 115 mph winds. On its current track, La Porte can expect to experience tropical storm and/or hurricane force winds and 3-5 feet of storm surge.

1. 2:04 p.m. Fort Bend ISD, Cy-Fair ISD and Spring ISD are among the latest districts to announce closures. Tap here for the full list. 

1:30 p.m. Fort Bend County waves tolls on Fort Bend Parkway, Westpark Toll Road, and Grand Parkway in Fort Bend County to support evacuations related to Hurricane Laura. “It is encouraged that residents use these routes instead of flooded roads. Tolls will remain waived through Friday, August 28 at 11:59 p.m. to assist in the region’s hurricane response and recovery.”

1:12 p.m — Chambers County Judge Jimmy Sylvia issued a Mandatory Evacuation Order for at risk areas of Chambers County, effective immediately.  Residents who reside in low lying and flood-prone areas and those who live in trailer/manufactured homes are required to move to a safer location.

12:45 p.m. — Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo declares a voluntary evacuation of residents in evacuation ZIP code Zones A & B, which include coastal communities in Harris County and Houston. Find your evacuation zone on this ZIP code map, which includes routes.

RELATED: EVACUATIONS: Houston-area cities, counties that have issued evacuations ahead of Hurricane Laura

RELATED: Hurricane evacuations: Know when and where to go by ZIP code

12:29 p.m. — Channelview ISD will be closed Wednesday through Friday due to severe weather conditions. Tap here for the full list. 

12:25 p.m. — Alvin Community College has canceled all courses and the campus will be closed Wednesday and Thursday. The closure will include all face-to-face, online, hybrid and remote classes. No virtual services will be available. The ACC Lab School will also be closed.

SCHOOL CLOSURES: A list of school districts, colleges closing due to Hurricane Laura

12:17 p.m. — Major League Baseball announced today that Wednesday’s scheduled game between the Astros and Angels at Minute Maid Park has been postponed due to the potential impact that Hurricane Laura may have on the Gulf Coast. Read more.

12:03 p.m. — Space Center Houston will be closed Wednesday and Thursday in preparation of severe weather brought in by Hurricane Laura. The closure includes all in-person and virtual programs. Participants registered in activities that were postponed due to the closure will be contacted with rescheduling information.

11:45 a.m. — Galveston County Judge Mark Henry confirmed the following cities has issued voluntary evacuation orders including Bayou Vista, Hitchcock and Kema. City of Galveston, Clear Lake Shores, Jamaica Beach, La Marque and Tiki Island have all issued mandatory evacuations.

RELATED: Mandatory evacuation issued for all residents in City of Galveston and on Bolivar Peninsula

11:45 a.m. — “We do not have the resources to go door to door and pull people out of their homes.” | Galveston County Judge Mark Henry urges residents to evacuate the area as rescue efforts will be almost impossible during the storm. He reminded residents to bring any prescription medication, personal protection supplies and all pets.  “We do not have the ability to rescue you,” he said.

11:37 a.m. — Galveston County has issued a mandatory evacuation for the Bolivar Peninsula, as well as Bacliff and San Leon. Officials said 50 buses are prepared for evacuation. They’re also suspending ferry services at 11:30 p.m. Wednesday.

11:30 a.m. — Galveston County officials are discussing their latest emergency management plan after a hurricane warning was issued for the Galveston coastline. So far, the county has issued a voluntary evacuation order the Bolivar Peninsula.

10:48 a.m. — Cleveland ISD will be closed Wednesday through Friday district families prepare for arrival of Hurricane Laura. The district plans to resume classes Monday, Aug. 31.

10:33 a.m. — Dickinson ISD is releasing students at 11 a.m. and faculty members at noon Tuesday in preparation for Hurricane Laura. District officials said schools will be closed through Thursday, and they’re waiting to make a decision about returning Friday. Virtual learning is also postponed.

10:29 a.m. — La Porte ISD is ending classes, including virtual instruction and extracurricular activities, at noon Tuesday in preparation for Hurricane Laura. The district plans to reopen Friday, officials said.

9:49 a.m. —  EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY: Judge Lina Hidalgo has granted free passage to motorists on the Harris County tollway system to support evacuations along the Gulf coast. For now, no evacuation orders have been issued for Harris County. Full list of local evacuation orders.

9:09 a.m. — Brazoria County has closed all county beaches to vehicular traffic due to Hurricane Laura.

8:47 a.m. —  Brazoria County has issued a voluntary evacuation for low-lying coastal communities outside the protection levee. All residents need to continue to watch Hurricane Laura closely, as the track for this storm continues to change.

7:47 a.m. — Galveston ISD will be closed Tuesday and through the remainder of the week. All on-site and remote classes have been canceled. School is expected to resume Monday, Aug. 31.

7:42 a.m. — The Bolivar Peninsula is under a voluntary evacuation order, according to Galveston County officials. The evacuation also includes the unincorporated areas of Port Bolivar, Crystal Beach, High Island and Gilchrist.

7:24 a.m. — The National Hurricane Center confirms Laura has become a Category 1 hurricane. Read more.

6:32 a.m. — The city of Galveston has issued a mandatory evacuation instructing all residents to leave the city. It is urgent that residents heed this mandatory evacuation and leave with all family members and pets. Read more.

4:19 a.m. — Nassau Bay has issued a voluntary evacuation for all disabled residents and those with medical needs. List of evacuation areas.

4:18 a.m. — Seabrook has issued a voluntary evacuation for residents and businesses in the low-lying areas of the city, specifically lower Todville from Red Bluff south to SH 146 and Baywood Drive. Elderly residents and those with medical conditions are strongly encouraged to evacuate.

The National Weather Services has issued a Hurricane and Storm Surge Watch for these areas with an anticipated two to four feet of storm surge in Seabrook based on the current track of Tropical Storm Laura. List of evacuation areas. 

8:41 p.m. —  A mandatory evacuation has been issued for Jefferson County, Orange County and Port Arthur ahead of Tropical Storms Laura and Marco. 

8:23 p.m. — The City of Mont Belvieu issued a local state of disaster. The local state of disaster activates the Mont Belvieu emergency plan ahead of Tropical Storm Laura.

6:50 p.m. — Texas A&M University at Galveston is issuing a mandatory evacuation effective Tuesday, August 25. The timeline and access to campus is subject to change over the coming days based on weather conditions.

SCHOOL CLOSURES: A list of districts, campuses closing due to Tropical Storm Laura

6:20 p.m. —  Mayor Thom Kolupski has issued a voluntary evacuation for residents and businesses in low-lying areas in Seabrook, specifically lower Todville from Red Bluff south to SH 146 and Baywood Drive. These portions of Seabrook are most prone to storm surge and flooding. The National Weather Services has issued a Hurricane and Storm Surge Watch for these areas with an anticipated two to four feet of storm surge in Seabrook based on the current track of Tropical Storm Laura.

LIST: Houston-area cities, counties that have issued voluntary evacuations ahead of Tropical Storm Laura

6 p.m. — Tropical Storm Marco made landfall near the mouth of the Mississippi River. Heavy rain is expected through the night for the north-central Gulf Coast but Marco’s winds will continue to weaken.

6 p.m. — Brazoria County Judge Matt Sebesta signed a disaster declaration for the potential tropical weather threat. They’re often signed in advance to speed up the process if support is needed.

5:55 p.m.  — Brazosport College will close Tuesday, August 25 at 5 p.m. through Thursday, August 27. With this closure, all evening college classes scheduled for Tuesday, August 25, including online, face-to-face or in a hybrid/blended format are cancelled. Check here for more school closings.

5:40 p.m.  — Natural disasters such as hurricanes and tropical storms can be overwhelming and can seriously affect emotional health. Before, during and after such storms, the Disaster Distress Helpline 1-800-985-5990 can provide immediate counseling to anyone who is seeking help in coping with the mental or emotional effects caused by tropical storm-related incidents. The Helpline is a 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week and free resource that responds to people who need crisis counseling and support in dealing with the traumatic effects of a natural or human-caused disaster.

5:05 p.m.  —  More school closings or changes: Anahuac ISD will be closed Tuesday through Friday, Aug. 25-28. This includes all school activities; East Chambers ISD will transition to totally virtual learning beginning Tuesday, August 25;  Crenshaw School on Bolivar Peninsula will be closed for the remainder of the week. All other Galveston ISD campuses will remain open for remote learning Tuesday; Galveston College says all academic and campus operations will take place remotely, beginning Tuesday, Aug. 25, until further notice. 

4:50 p.m. — BARC Houston has cancelled all non-emergency intake services as we prepare for a possible influx of animals affected by the storms in the Gulf of Mexico. At this time, other services have not been not affected, however this is subject to change. The staff is working to insure that all animals on-site at BARC will be cared for and for essential crew members to stay overnight if necessary. 

4:20 p.m.  — The City of Galveston announces Island Transit services will be suspended beginning Tuesday and until further notice due to concerns regarding Tropical Storm Laura. Routes will run through the end of the day Monday. We will update once services resume.

4 p.m.  —  With the 4 p.m. Monday update, the National Weather Service issued a tropical storm watch for Montgomery, Liberty, Harris and Galveston counties.

A hurricane watch was issued for from Port Bolivar, Texas, to west of Morgan City, Louisiana. 

A storm surge watch is in effect from San Luis Pass, Texas, to Ocean Springs, Mississippi, including Lake Pontchartrain, Lake Maurepas, and Lake Borgne for areas outside of the southeast Louisiana Hurricane and Storm Damage Risk Reduction System.

RELATED: Tropical Storm Laura: Tropical storm, hurricane watches issued for parts of the southeast Texas coast

3:50 p.m.  —  Thursday’s game between the Houston Astros and the Los Angeles Angels at Minute Maid Park will be played on Tuesday as part of a doubleheader beginning at 3:05 p.m. Wednesday’s game, which was originally scheduled for 8:10 p.m., will be moved up to a 12:10 p.m. start.

3:35 p.m. — Galveston County Judge Mark Henry says he anticipates a voluntary evacuation for Bolivar Peninsula Tuesday if the current models don’t change. 

3:05 p.m. — County Judge Mark Henry has signed a Disaster Declaration for Galveston County in response to possible impacts from Tropical Storm Laura.

“Forecasts are showing the possibility of heavy rains, tropical force winds, and storm surge impacting our area,” said Judge Henry. “This storm potentially presents a serious threat to the life safety and property of our residents.”

2:15 p.m. — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott mobilized more than 70 members of the Texas Army and Air National Guard in response to Tropical Storms Marco and Laura.

2 p.m. — President Donald Trump approved an emergency declaration for Texas. FEMA is available to help state and local agencies to areas that will be affected by Tropical Storms Marco and Laura to coordinate disaster relief efforts starting Monday. The declaration includes Aransas, Bexar, Brazoria, Calhoun, Cameron, Chambers, Galveston, Hardin, Harris, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Kenedy, Kleberg, Liberty, Matagorda, Newton, Nueces, Orange, Refugio, San Patricio, Victoria, and Willacy counties. 

1:38 p.m. — City of Galveston Mayor Pro Tem Craig Brown has issued a voluntary evacuation for residents living in low-lying areas and west of the end of the Seawall in advance of Tropical Storm Laura, effective 1 p.m. Monday.

12:47 p.m. — Brazosport ISD is closing schools on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. There will be no classes for virtual at-home learners or at school learners on these closure dates. Other school closures will be posted here.

12:33 p.m. — Chambers County Judge Jimmy Sylvia issued a county-wide disaster declaration in advance of Tropical Storm Marco and Tropical Storm Laura’s landfall, expected later this week. There is currently no evacuation order for Chambers County.

11:30 a.m. — Port Arthur Mayor Thurman Bartie announced Monday he is calling for a mandatory city-wide evacuation beginning at 6 a.m. Tuesday, August 25. Mayor Bartie originally announced a voluntary evacuation of Sabine Pass, Saturday, August 22. 

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