Let us know where dangerous conditions exist by using your Twitter account.

Tweet @FBCOEM and use one of the following hashtags to report damage, or ask a question:

• #flood - If you see high water or start to see inland flooding around you.
• #tornado - If you see a funnel cloud, tornado, or rotating wall cloud.
• #hail - If you see hail larger than nickel size.
• #wind - If you see or have experienced severe winds.
• #damage - If you see damage from winds, hail or lightning.
• #debris - If you see debris blocking a road or other right of way
• #powerout - If your power is out.
• #wateroff - If you water pressure is low or turned off.

Don't have any idea what a hashtag is or not sure how they work? No problem! Read more on the Twitter support page.

If tweeting from your GPS-enabled mobile device, be sure to click your "location" button. If it's safe, include a photo or video!

If you can't turn on GPS, be sure to include a description of where you are in your tweet (i.e. loc:90 A & 99 or loc:307 Fort Street)

Don't have a Twitter account or a smart phone? If you have text messaging enabled on your phone, text "SIGNUP" to 40404 and follow the prompts. Once signed up, text "follow FBCOEM" to 40404 to start receiving our alerts via SMS. Normal carrier charges may apply for text messaging, but neither we nor Twitter will charge you for the service.

Of course you can feel free to email us at oem@co.fort-bend.tx.us with the same information, or simply submit a report online.

FBC OEM will transmit any severe weather reports to the National Weather Service on your behalf.

As always, tweet safely, and if you feel your life or property is threatened, dial 9-1-1

Got questions about it? Tweet @FBCOEM or e-mail us at oem@co.fort-bend.tx.us.

On Friday, May 11, 2012, the Fort Bend County Office of Emergency Management will host the annual Emergency Preparedness Workshop. The workshop’s focus is to showcase the capabilities and actions of first responders surrounding an emergency event.

Business owners, elected and public officials, medical personnel, educators and many others attend this event to learn the latest preparedness information from participating agencies, view equipment and vehicles used, and take part in activities involved with emergency preparation. Particularly, our employees’ preparation in an emergency is not only vital in their own lives but also in the continuity of County operations. Please encourage all to participate in this year’s event.

The event will be held at the Rosenberg Civic & Convention Center, Friday, May 11 from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Those who attend will find out about alerts from the National Weather Service, rescue operations and equipment used in wildfires from the Texas Forest Service, and health and safety techniques from Health and Human Services among other topics. There is no charge to attend this workshop and pre-registration is requested. Please see the attached flyer for more details.

Robert Hebert

County Judge

Straight-line wind storms, thunderstorms and tornadoes can occur at any time of year in Texas. So it pays for individuals and families to plan what to do well in advance. Feb. 19–25 is Severe Weather Awareness Week in Texas. The Texas Department of Public Safety and the National Weather Service remind you that this is a good time to talk to your friends and family about emergency preparedness.

While tornadoes are extremely dangerous, wind, ice and hail storms can do similar damage, so thunderstorms should never be taken for granted. Dangers include:

• Straight-line thunderstorm winds, sometimes referred to as downbursts that blow in excess of 100 mph, are strong enough to uproot trees, destroy crops and cause substantial damage to buildings and roofs. These include severe and rapid downdrafts of air that push damaging winds outward on or near ground level and that are especially dangerous to aviation.
• Hail falling to earth at speeds nearing 100 mph, damaging trees, crops, automobiles and buildings. Hail storms cause more than $1 billion in damage nationwide each year.

When severe weather threatens, monitor TV and radio broadcasts as well as NOAA weather radio for storm warnings and watches. When straight-line winds threaten, respond the same way you would to the threat of a tornado. Seek shelter in an interior room on the lowest floor, such as a bathroom, stairwell, hallway or closet. Stay away from windows. If you are outside, cover your head to protect against flying debris. Avoid highway overpasses.

To arrange for interviews on Severe Weather Awareness Week, call Ron Trumbla, National Weather Service at (817) 978-1111 ext. 140. For more information on all hazards preparedness visit:

• Texas Division of Emergency Management’s Severe Weather Awareness webpage
• National Weather Service Southern Region Headquarters
• American Red Cross
• Ready.gov

### (HQ 2012-017)

Release Date: January 30, 2012
Release Number: TX 12998-01
Media Contact: Richard Jenkins
Phone: (916) 735-1500

Sacramento, CA - Low-interest federal disaster loans are available to Texas residents and business owners affected by the flooding and severe storms on January 9, 2012, announced U. S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator Karen G. Mills. SBA acted under its own authority to declare a disaster following a January 27 request from Governor Rick Perry.

The disaster declaration makes SBA assistance available in Hams County and the neighboring counties of Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Liberty, Montgomery and Waller.

"The U. S. Small Business Administration is strongly committed to providing Texans with the most effective and customer-focused response possible, and we will be there to provide access to federal disaster loans to help finance recovery for residents and businesses affected by the disaster," said Mills. "Getting our businesses and communities up and running after a disaster is our highest priority at SBA."

"Low-interest federal disaster loans are available to homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes and private, nonprofit organizations whose property was damaged or destroyed by the disaster," said SBA's Houston District Director Manuel R. Gonzalez. "Beginning Wednesday, February 1 at 9 am, SBA customer service representatives will be on hand at the following Disaster Loan Outreach Center to issue loan applications, answer questions about SBA's disaster loan program, explain the application process, and help each individual complete their application," Gonzalez continued. The center will be open on the days and times indicated. No appointment is necessary.

Opens Wednesday, February 1
Mondays through Fridays, 9 am to 6 pm
until further notice

Disaster loans up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $40~OOO to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property. . '

Businesses of any size and private, nonprofit organizations may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets. SBA can also lend additional funds to homeowners and businesses to help with the cost of making improvements that protect, prevent or minimize the same type of disaster damage from occurring in the future.

For small businesses and most private, nonprofit organizations of any size and aquaculture businesses, SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. EIDL assistance is available regardless of whether the business suffered any property damage.

Interest rates can be as low as 2.063 percent for homeowners and renters, 3 percent for private, nonprofit organizations and 4 percent for businesses, with terms up to 30 years. Loan amounts and terms are set by SBA and are based upon each applicant's financial condition.

Applicants may apply online via SBA's secure Web site at https://disasterloan.sbg.gov/ela.

Disaster loan information and application forms are also available from SBA's Customer Service Center by calling SBA at (800) 659-2955, emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visiting SBA's Web site at www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance. Individuals who are deaf or hard-of-hearing may call (800) 877-8339.

The filing deadline to return applications for property damage is March 30, 2012. The deadline to return economic injury applications is October 30, 2012.

For more information, visit SBA 's Web site at www.sba.gov.
SBA Field Operations Center - West, P.O. Box 419004, Sacramento, CA 95841

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Following the severe weather this morning, the Fort Bend County EOC has returned to Level 4 - Normal Readiness.

Officials from the Office of Emergency Management and the Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office were in the EOC throughout the morning and early afternoon, manning stations to monitor and respond to the potential threat. The Sheriff's Office representative, Bob Haenel, acted as PIO giving numerous interviews to local media.

Let us know how we did! Did you receive alerts in a timely manner? Are there better ways for us to get this information to you? Would you recommend us as a source of information for your friends and family?

Contact the Office of Emergency Management via the inquiry form, our Facebook page, our Twitter account, or by emailing oem@co.fort-bend.tx.us.

In anticipation of potential severe weather this morning, the Fort Bend County EOC has been partially activated.

Officials from the Office of Emergency Management and the Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office are in the EOC, manning stations to monitor and respond to the potential threat.

We are monitoring the storm activity in the region, and will be updating this site, the FBC OEM Facebook Page, the FBC OEM Twitter account, and WebEOC.

For more information, contact the Office of Emergency Management via the inquiry form or by emailing oem@co.fort-bend.tx.us.

Note: This information is being published on behalf of the Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office. For more information, please use the contact information at the bottom of this document.

Scholarship awards are available for up to $2,000 per academic year to students who will be attending a four-year college or university program and up to $1,000 per academic year to students enrolling at two-year community/junior colleges or technical schools.

To be eligible for scholarship consideration, applicants must be a graduating high school senior whose parent or legal guardian is a current or honorably retired peace officer, reserve peace officer, correctional officer, emergency medical technician/paramedic, firefighter or 9-1-1 dispatcher serving with a governmental or volunteer emergency response agency within Fort Bend County.

Behind the Badge Charities emerged following the line-of-duty death of Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Deputy J.D. Norsworthy in January, 2011.

“The Fort Bend County Deputy Sheriff’s Association gave us an opportunity to bring the greatest good from deepest tragedy,” said Detective Robert Williams, who is president of the foundation. “With raw emotion and the endless support of our friends and donors we organized and hosted a benefit fundraiser that was successful beyond our expectations.”

Through that fundraiser, held in March, 2011, the charity was able to establish trust funds for the Norsworthy children and also provided emergency assistance grants for several Sheriff’s Office personnel.

Williams said the foundation wanted to expand the charity’s reach “to be more responsive to all public safety professionals working in Fort Bend County.”

The organization is planning its next fundraiser to coincide with National Police Week , May 12-17, 2012, with the fundraiser scheduled for Friday, May 18 at the Stafford Centre.

“The goal of this year’s fundraiser will be to establish a permanent endowment for scholarships and the Injured Officer Emergency Assistance Fund,” Williams said. “Every day our public safety professionals place themselves in peril to keep our communities safe. This is an opportunity for the community to assist these real life heroes in their moment of need.”

To obtain a scholarship application, visit Behind the Badge Charities on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BehindtheBadgeCharities or e-mail: BTBC.scholarship@gmail.com.  Completed applications must be postmarked by March 31, 2012.

To obtain more information about the fundraiser on May 18 or to donate, contact Robert Williams at 281-7035512 or e-mail: BTBC.fundraiser@gmail.com.

Due to the heavy rains in our region today, emergency management officials are urging people to stay home, if possible. If you must travel, use extreme caution and please do not drive through flooded areas; water may be deeper than it appears or roadways may have been washed away.

As of 12 noon on Monday, Jan. 9, the following flooded roads have been reported in the Missouri City area:

• 5th Street at FM1092
• Brightwater Drive at Lexington Boulevard
• Beltway 8 at Fondren Road
• FM 1092 at Lexington Common Street
• Fonmeadow Drive at Fondren Road
• US 90A

CenterPoint is reporting power outages in the Fort Bend area due to high winds, extreme lightning and heavy rain falls. Technicians are working to restore service as soon as possible.

Missouri City Police officers, Firefighters and Public Works crews are monitoring the weather situation and are prepared to respond to all emergencies.

Stacie Walker
Public Information Manager
City of Missouri City
1522 Texas Parkway
Missouri City, Texas 77489
281-403-8530
swalker@missouricitytx.gov