Cameron County EMC share tips on how to prepare ahead of hurricane season

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — With hurricane season just around the corner, ValleyCentral took some time to talk to the emergency management team in Cameron County to learn more about what precautions are being put in place in the case of another severe weather situation.

Tom Hushen, Emergency Management Coordinator for Cameron County, said that although hurricane season begins on June 1, preparations start way before that.

"We've been preparing for hurricane season every year and even during the off time,"Hushen said.

Hushen spoke of the recent heavy rains that flooded parts of Cameron and Hidalgo Counties. he said that might have given residents a taste of what a hurricane can do to the area.

"What we got there was the water without the wind," Hushen said. "Now imagine if we added the wind, how devastating that would be."

He said his key piece of advice is to have a plan.

"Make sure that your ditches are clean, make sure that your cars are filled during hurricane seasons, so if something does pop up, you're ready to go. Make sure that you look at routes on how to get out and listen to the news," Hushen said.

Something the county learned from the March 27 rainfall was that large amounts of water in such a short period of time were devastating to parts of the Valley.

"With nature, you can never tell, things can change at a moment's notice and that's why you've always gotta be vigilant and prepared," he said.

Hurricane season begins June 1 and ends November 30.