PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX 600 AM CDT SUN MAY 20 2007 ...MAY 20 THROUGH 26 IS HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS WEEK IN TEXAS... THE HONORABLE GOVERNOR OF TEXAS...RICK PERRY...HAS DECLARED MAY 20 THROUGH MAY 26 AS HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS WEEK IN TEXAS. THE DEVASTATING HURRICANES THAT STRUCK FLORIDA REPEATEDLY IN 2004... AND HURRICANES KATRINA AND RITA IN 2005...HAVE MADE IT VERY CLEAR TO EVERYONE THAT IT IS CRITICAL TO PLAN AND PREPARE FOR THE WORST. THE 2007 HURRICANE SEASON EXTENDS FROM JUNE 1 THROUGH NOVEMBER 30 AND IS PROJECTED TO BE A VERY ACTIVE SEASON ONCE AGAIN. SINCE 1990...TEXAS HAS BEEN STRUCK BY ONLY THREE HURRICANES...ABOUT HALF AS MANY AS STATISTICS WOULD SUGGEST. TEXAS REMAINS OVERDUE FOR A HURRICANE STRIKE AND THIS COULD BE AN ACTIVE YEAR FOR TEXAS. BUT THE EFFECTS OF A TROPICAL STORM OR HURRICANE GO WELL INLAND PAST THE TEXAS COAST. HEAVY RAINFALL...FLOODING AND EVEN TORNADOES CAN OCCUR OVER 200 MILES INTO THE INTERIOR PARTS OF THE STATE. THAT MAKES THIS WEEK A PERFECT TIME FOR EMERGENCY PLANNERS...CITY AND COUNTY OFFICIALS...THE MEDIA...AND THE PUBLIC TO PREPARE FOR THE TROPICAL THREATS. SCHOOLS...HOSPITALS AND NURSING HOMES SHOULD TEST...REVIEW AND EXERCISE THEIR PLANS AND MAKE CERTAIN THEIR EMPLOYEES ARE READY. FINALLY...EVERYONE LIVING OR VISITING THE TEXAS COAST MUST BE PREPARED TO MOVE TO SAFETY IN AN ORGANIZED AND TIMELY FASHION IF NECESSARY. DURING THIS WEEK...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICES ALONG THE TEXAS COAST WILL ISSUE PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENTS EACH DAY TO HIGHLIGHT AN IMPORTANT TROPICAL EVENT THAT STRONGLY AFFECTED THEIR AREA. THESE MESSAGES WILL BE ISSUED AT 600 AM EACH MORNING AND REPEATED AT 300 PM EACH AFTERNOON. DATE OFFICE SUBJECT MON APR 21 BRO HURRICANE BEULAH TUE APR 22 CRP THE CORPUS CHRISTI HURRICANE OF 1919 WED APR 23 EWX THE CENTRAL TEXAS WAR HURRICANE OF 1942 THU APR 24 HGX TROPICAL STORM ALLISON FRI APR 25 LCH HURRICANES RITA AND AUDREY FINALLY...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WISHES TO THANK ALL INVOLVED IN PROMOTING PUBLIC SAFETY.