Pet victims of Hurricane Isaac come to Houston

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- For days we've been showing you the destruction from Isaac and how people's lives have been changed. But it's not just humans who have been displaced and Houston's SPCA is lending a hand.

Shane and Trixie are among the dogs that have arrived at Houston's SPCA from the St. Bernard Parish animal control facility. It's the second time this week that the SPCA has stepped in to help. In the first batch there were 60 animals. On Friday, they received another 22 cats and seven dogs.

Meera Naandal with the Houston SPCA said, "They needed our assistance because of the aftermath of Hurricane Isaac."

Local officials are also expecting to receive about 50 animals from Mississippi, although the arrival date is not yet known.

The more than 100 animals finding sanctuary in Houston will be available for adoption. In fact, many of the pets from the first wave to arrive have already found loving homes. Some of the more recent arrivals will be getting spay or neuter surgery before they can move into a new home.

"We will start getting these guys out on the adoption floor as soon as possible," Naandal said. "We have lots of very friendly cats from Louisiana. They are up for adoption too."

For more information about adoption procedures, visit HoustonSPCA.org.

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Local leaders stress preparation as hurricane season gets underway

  Pooja LodhiaHOUSTON (KTRK) -- Today is the first day of the Atlantic hurricane season. Local emergency officials are joining federal and state leaders in urging you to think now about your hurricane emergency plan.

We've already seen two named storms this year and hurricane season just got started.

"Are you ready for hurricane season?" we asked one Houston man today.

"No, probably not," he answered.

If that's your answer, Harris County Emergency Management has a message for you.

"Understand you live in a hurricane-prone area," said Harris County Judge Ed Emmett. "Assume a hurricane is going to make a direct hit."

The county is already tracking severe weather across the country, preparing for the worst. And employees at the Office of Emergency Management are asking you to do the same.

"Make sure you have water. Make sure you have batteries, so you can stay informed by radio or other means," said Emmett.

Emmett recommends having a detailed evacuation plan.

"They need to know, am I in an evacuation zone or am I in an area with shelter in place," he said. "Look in your pantry if you're going to shelter-in-place and make sure you have enough goods to survive a week or ten days."

If you don't evacuate when you're asked to, he says county workers won't risk their lives to rescue you.

"We've gotten too used to, 'Well, is going to provide something for us.' The government has a role, the state of Texas, FEMA," he said. "But the first response has got to be your own. You owe it to yourself and your family."

Here's a list of all the hurricane season forecasts for this year and the agency reporting them, as posted on Chief Meteorologist Tim Heller's weather blog

NOAA: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration which oversees the National Hurricane Center.

9-15 Tropical Storms 4-8 Hurricanes 1-3 Major Hurricanes.

Impact Weather: Houston based private forecasting firm that works with oil companies.

10 Tropical Storms 5 Hurricanes 2 Major Hurricanes

 AccuWeather:

12 Tropical Storms 5 Hurricanes 2 Major Hurricanes

The Weather Channel:

11 Tropical Storms6 Hurricanes2 Major Hurricanes

Colorado State University: from Dr. William Gray and Dr. Phil Klotzback.

10 Tropical Storms 4 Hurricanes 2 Major Hurricanes

Florida State Univeristy: Center for Ocean-Atmospheric Prediction Studies

10-16 Tropical Storms5-9 Hurricanes

North Carolina State University:

7-10 Tropical Storms4-7 Hurricanes1-3 Major Hurricanes

Tropical Storm Risk: London-based forecast company.

13 Tropical Storms 6 Hurricanes 3 Major Hurricanes

Weather Research Center: Home to Houston's Weather Museum, the WRC forecast is based on sunspot cycles, not current or forecast weather patterns.

8 Tropical Storms 5 Hurricanes

Keep your family safe this hurricane season. Check our complete tropical weather preparation guide

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League City residents get ready for hurricane season

  LEAGUE CITY, TX (KTRK) -- Hurricane season is just weeks away, but the time to start preparing is now.

League City officials will meet with residents today to help them get ready for severe weather at a hurricane preparedness workshop.

The workshop will offer advice on planning for emergencies, preparing emergency kits, signing up for the city's call system that alerts neighbors about emergency situations and instructions on what to do before, during and after a storm.

League City's Office of Emergency Management will walk people through the entire process.

The workshop starts at 10am at Helen Hall Library on Walker Street.

Those who can't attend can get tips, watch informational videos and download toolkits on the city's emergency preparedness website.

For more information on hurricane season, visit our ABC13 Houston Hurricane Guide.

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