Tropical Storm Francine | Rain hitting Houston on Sept 10th |
Tropical Storm Francine is upon us and the team at ConnectSmart wants to ensure you are prepared for whatever comes your way. If you live in the Greater Houston area then you know the flood waters here are no joke. We aim to help you navigate around them, stay safe on the road, and make sure you know how to request no-cost towing should you get stuck on an eligible freeway.
Here are a few important ConnectSmart safety features you'll want to keep in mind while driving during inclement weather:
Check routes: see roadway flooding, stalled vehicles, construction, and more along your route in the app
Live road conditions: view real-time road conditions with Houston TranStar cameras right in the app
Pre-trip safety alerts: save your usual driving or transit routes and receive safety alerts before you leave for a trip
Alternate routes: easily find and check for alternate routes to avoid delays and hazards
Want to view flooding risks in your area or throughout the region? Simply go to the Home page and you’ll see Flood Warnings right on the map. You can scroll and zoom in and out to view the flooding hazards in red in the area. Once you plan your trip, the alert will show up along your route.
If you see flood alerts in the app, you should avoid those areas, and if you encounter a flooded road, the best advice is to turn around, don’t drown.
What happens if you have a road emergency, like a flat tire, or engine issue? If your car stops in the middle of an eligible road a Tow and Go button will pop up on the right side of the screen and you can tap it to request roadside assistance at no cost to you. Just follow the prompts for a tow truck to come meet you.
Here are some general tips from TxDOT when a hurricane is headed here:
Follow this preparedness guide, provided by Transtar (también disponible en Espanol).
Keep a survival kit in your home.
Know your evacuation route, provided by H-GAC.
Have emergency information accessible, like important phone numbers and documents.
If elderly or disabled, call 2-1-1.
TxDOT also recommends knowing how to evacuate should traffic need to flow in the opposite direction of a lane’s normal traffic flow, called “contraflow lanes”. This can happen during severe weather events because all traffic lanes move away from the Gulf Coast and toward inland safety. In this instance, an extra wide shoulder is converted into an active thru lane for more space during an emergency, called a hurricane evacuation lane. Refer to this link for more information on how to use contraflow lanes and see the available routes.
This summer, stay informed and stay safe -- use ConnectSmart for your trip to be ready for any severe weather emergency!
For your reference, here are some emergency resources to check for the latest updates:
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