The good news for Houston is that Harvey will make landfall
south and west of us so we should feel minimal effects of the wind and ocean
surge. However, we should expect heavy and steady rain from Saturday
until as late as Wednesday. This could cause flooding as the ground
cannot absorb all that rainfall. Each companionship is preparing for
possible flooding and/or power outages as follows:
- Purchased bottled water (3 gallons per missionary).
- Have some ready-to-eat snacks that can be eaten with no preparation. Granola bars, fruit snacks, crackers, PopTarts, etc.
- Instructed to have automobile gas tank full and mobile phones charged. In an emergency we must be able to communicate by text message.
- In no circumstances are missionaries to approach, walk through or drive through standing water.
- In case of power loss, have a flashlight with fresh batteries. They should not have any open flame in their apartments (i.e., no candles, lanterns, etc.).
- Missionaries will report to their zone leaders (there are two zone leaders for approximately every 20 missionaries) about their safety and conditions in their areas at least twice a day starting Saturday at noon. The zone leaders will contact the missionaries for updates.
- If the missionaries have flooding in their areas, defined as standing or flowing water on the roads, fields, roadsides, parking lots, etc. they should stay in their apartments.
- If there is no flooding, but the rain is very heavy and constant, making it difficult to ride a bike or see while driving, the missionaries are to stay in their apartments.
- The zone leaders will update me several times a day on each missionary. We have set up a instant notification system using their tablet devices, and phones if necessary.
- We will work with local members to help any missionaries who need to evacuate their apartments but we do not expect this to be necessary.
- We will post update once or twice daily to the Texas Houston Mission blog. Parents can check the blog for updates. The Blog address is http://texashoustonmission.blogspot.com/. There should be no need for you to contact the mission office or anyone else in the area as we will keep you informed with updates.
- Of course, any concerns with any specific missionaries that we identify will result in a personal phone call from me to the parents.
- We are in constant communication with Church headquarters and with the Area Welfare Specialist and Regional Disaster Response Coordinator so we have the most current and best sources of information and can plan accordingly.
Please be assured, our highest priority is the safety of
the missionaries. We are confident all will be well and that we are well
prepared. Thank you for your prayers and love.
Warmest Regards,
Jordan P. Peterson
President, Texas Houston Mission
(281) 440-6770