September may signal the start of a new school year and cooler months elsewhere in the country, but it brings a different reality in Houston.
Hurricane season is far from over and extreme heat remains a dangerous threat.
“Houston is known for its heat and hurricanes,” said Director of Product Marketing at BKV Energy, Sam Luna. “This is the time to take action, so you’re prepared and not panicking later.”
Houston is ranked as the fourth most intense “urban heat island” in the U.S., meaning concrete and asphalt trap and radiate heat, making hot days even hotter. September often brings triple-digit temperatures and peak hurricane activity in the Gulf of Mexico.
“Once we hit these high temps, air conditioning has to work overtime and that drives up electricity bills,” Luna explained. “At the same time, storms can knock out power when people need cooling the most.”
“Many people are part of the ALICE population, with limited assets, income-constrained, and employed. They’re working, but the check doesn’t meet the need for the month.”
– Dr. Monique Williams
Dr. Monique Williams, Chief Operating Officer of Bread of Life, Inc., said the families she works with feel this squeeze most acutely.
“We know we’re going to get to one of two extremes, extreme heat or hurricanes and something will come of that,” she said. “So what we do is our best to bolster our support to the community by having relevant products that will help support them as the weather comes our way.”
Williams explained that Bread of Life anticipates needs through regular community distributions.
“If we know by chance that a hurricane is coming our direction, as we’re having distributions, we are specifically asking for things that can respond to this season, battery packs, food kits, gas cans,” she said. “We may not get everything, but knowing it’s coming. We think about what we can request or purchase ourselves. That way, we can begin giving things beforehand.”
Last year’s Category 1 storm left thousands of Houstonians without power in sweltering conditions. One of the biggest mistakes people make is underestimating how long a storm’s impact can last. Luna said a household “three-by-three” plan can help: Three days of food and water, three ways to get information and three ways to charge devices.
- Adjust the thermostat: “If you’re not at home during the day, raise it by three to four degrees,” he said.
- Use fans strategically: Make sure ceiling fans push air downward to create a cooling effect.
- Block solar heat gain: Close blinds or curtains during the day to keep the sun from heating rooms.
- Pre-cool at night: “Your house will stay comfortable longer, and the A/C won’t need to work as hard when the heat peaks.”
Williams said she sees another significant gap rooted in economic pressure.
“Many people are part of the ALICE population, with limited assets, income-constrained and employed. They’re working, but the check doesn’t meet the need for the month,” she explained. “When the food you have is all the food you have, thinking about saving that food in case something happens may not be a priority. That’s why even when we prepare people all summer long, those supplies may be tapped out by the time a hurricane hits.”
