Storm Preparedness: Actions of Houston-Area Residents Ahead of Hurricane Beryl

BRIEF : Jul. 7, 2025

fallen power line

Photo: National Weather Service/wikimedia

This brief provides a descriptive overview of disaster preparedness ahead of and during the 2024 hurricane season.

Disaster preparedness will not stop the next storm from happening, but it can strengthen the region’s resiliency and improve its ability to recover. To better understand Houston and Harris County residents’ experiences with and attitudes toward disaster preparedness, over 5,000 were surveyed in the spring of 2024 and in the weeks following Hurricane Beryl.

Key findings

  • Although the majority or residents (68%) reported feeling prepared for Hurricane Beryl, many households did little to enhance their readiness. Of nine hurricane-related preparedness actions, only two — filled vehicle fuel tank and charged portable power banks — were reported by a majority.
  • About two-thirds of residents did not feel that state or local government officials were adequately prepared. Standard measures were taken, such as staffing emergency call centers, reinforcing personnel and issuing travel advisories; however, the city and county were not equipped to face a prolonged power outage.
  • Almost 9 in 10 residents were particularly critical of local electric utility companies. CenterPoint Energy, which services much of the Houston area, conducted an after-action review that identified key areas for improvement, including enhancing its damage-prediction model, better maintenance of vegetation near powerlines and updating and hardening the local power grid.
RELATED RESEARCH
disaster preparedness
Houston and Harris County Disaster Preparedness and Attitudes Leading Up to the 2024 Hurricane Season
May. 5, 2025

This research study examines the current levels of both perceived and actual disaster preparedness among Houston and Harris County residents, as well as contextual and sociocognitive predictors of each.

RELATED INITIATIVES
Greater Houston Community Panel

The Greater Houston Community Panel includes thousands of scientifically selected adults in Harris County, Texas, who are regularly surveyed about their families and communities, including their health, well-being, expectations, opinions, priorities and aspirations.

Body
Body
Body
Mailing Address

6100 Main St. MS-208
Houston, TX 77005-1892

kinder@rice.edu
713-348-4132 

Subscribe to our e-newsletter

Physical Address

Rice University
Kraft Hall
6100 Main Street, Suite 305
Houston, TX 77005-1892

Featured Sponsor

Support the Kinder Institute