"Gulf Coast families know how fast a storm can change everything. Flooding, power outages, and empty store shelves can happen with very little warning. Emergency management director Jesse Ryholt put it plainly: 'It only takes one storm to come through and really do some damage.' Getting ready early protects your household and helps your community recover faster."
Galveston County puts up digital billboards that count down the days to hurricane season. These billboards remind our neighbors to get ready before June 1st when the Atlantic hurricane season starts. The county's Office of Emergency Management runs this campaign every year to help families prepare early.
This matters because hurricanes can hit our Gulf Coast communities hard. The billboards help us remember to build emergency kits before we need them. When storms come, stores run out of supplies fast. Getting ready early means we protect our families better.
The campaign affects everyone in Galveston County and nearby Harris County areas. These storms impact Houston too. Strong hurricanes bring flooding, power outages, and dangerous conditions to our whole region. Being prepared helps our communities bounce back faster.
Start building your emergency kit now. Gather water for three days for each person and pet. Stock non-perishable food, medications, flashlights, and batteries. Keep important documents safe. Charge your devices and know your evacuation routes. Sign up for Galveston County emergency alerts on their website. Even if forecasters predict a quiet season, it only takes one storm to cause serious damage. The billboards around Galveston County will keep counting down to remind us all to stay ready.
Galveston County has started its countdown to the 2026 hurricane season with new digital billboards.
The billboards are part of Galveston County's annual hurricane preparedness campaign, urging residents to get ready for the upcoming season, which starts on June 1.
Director for the Galveston County Office of Emergency Management, Jesse Ryholt, said he hopes the billboards can be a reminder for residents to prepare ahead of time, like starting on an emergency kit.
"You can sort of pace it out over a couple of weeks as you head into hurricane season, whether it’s building your battery stash or dry canned foods ... just sort of building up your emergency supply kit," Ryholt said.
According to a Galveston County news release on Monday, emergency kits can include anything from water, non-perishable food, medications, flashlights, batteries and important documents.
"Make sure you have at least 72 hours of supplies for each person, including pets and any special dietary needs," officials said in the release.
The release told residents to plan ahead for power outages by charging devices and setting up backup power sources as well as knowing evacuation routes. Officials also advised residents to sign up for county-wide emergency alerts.
NOAA will issue its outlook for the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season during a news conference on May 21; however, Ryholt said residents should be prepared no matter the forecast.
"It really only takes one storm to come through and really do some damage, so it’s not a ‘Well, it looks like it’ll be a clear season.' No, let’s not rest on that mindset, let’s always be ready," Ryholt said.
Last month, researchers at Colorado State University released their prediction that there will be 13 named storms, six hurricanes and two major hurricane days this season. Three additional forecasts from CSU will be released throughout the year, on June 10, July 8 and Aug. 5.
There are eight hurricane season countdown billboards displayed around the county. To get the message out, the Galveston County Office of Emergency Management partnered with Clear Channel Outdoor, which provided the free billboards.
According to Clear Channel Outdoor officials, hurricane season countdown billboards also launched in Montgomery County on Tuesday and will launch in Fort Bend County on Thursday.
