The Harris County Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management (HCOHSEM) says that most Texans along the coast have learned to take hurricanes seriously and prepare ahead of time; however, some of the more than a million people that have moved into our area more recently, may not understand how tropical weather systems can affect their communities.

This is why HCOHSEM works year-round to remind everyone that it is imperative to prepare and stay informed. Because cell phones and mobile devices are a major part of our lives and an essential part of how emergency responders and survivors get information during disasters, HCOHSEM recently launched a new mobile app, ReadyHarris, just in time for hurricane season.

The ReadyHarris app delivers real-time weather and emergency alerts, hosts a step-by-step guide to building a personalized family disaster plan, offers survival tip sheets, maps evacuation routes and locates local emergency services. The app can be downloaded for free from iTunes and Google Play as ReadyHarris, and is available in both English and Spanish.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is predicting a near-normal hurricane season, 10 to 16 named storms, four to eight hurricanes and one to four major hurricanes. But the number of storms does not particularly matter, because it only takes one to devastate a community.

The last hurricane to make landfall in Texas and affect our region, was Ike in 2008. Last year, Tropical Storm Bill rapidly developed in the Gulf and caused widespread flooding across East Texas. This year, floods have devastated Harris and surrounding counties reminding us that severe weather remains the biggest and most common threat.

HCOHSEM urges residents to prepare ahead of disaster. Build an emergency kit that suits your needs. Have food, water and medicine for at least a week. A first aid kit, flashlight, batteries, sanitation supplies, cash, and a battery powered radio are essential. If you have pets, prepare an emergency kit for them as well, and a have a plan on how to care for them when you are on the road or staying at shelter or motel.

If you live in an area that is threatened by storm surge or in an evacuation zone, please discuss evacuation plans with your family and do not stay if you are asked to leave. Ask your city or county officials if your home is located in an evacuation zone or check the Zip Zone Evacuation Map.

If you do not live in an evacuation zone, shelter at home until the storm passes. You will be safer at home than exposed to hazardous weather and dangerous road conditions. You will also help keep the roads clear for emergency workers and people evacuating from storm surge areas. You can always leave after the storm passes and local authorities say it is safe to do so.

If you or someone you know might need assistance during a disaster, please register for the State of Texas Emergency Assistance Registry (STEAR), a free registry that provides local emergency planners and responders with additional information about needs in their communities. To register, contact 2-1-1 Texas, the state’s free 24-hour helpline.

Don’t forget to check your insurance coverage. Hurricanes can cause flooding, the most frequent and costly disaster in the United States. Damages caused by flooding are not covered under normal homeowner’s insurance policies. Visit www.floodsmart.gov to assess your risks and get an estimate for flood insurance for your home.

Stay informed by following HCOHSEM on Facebook and Twitter, and by signing up for emergency alerts at www.readyharris.org.

Hurricane season officially runs from June 1st through November 30th.

April is recognized as Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month and your Crime Stoppers of Houston joined community-wide efforts to raise awareness about this serious issue:

– Press Conference: Held on April 1st in partnership with The Children’s Assessment Center (CAC), the Harris County District Attorney’s Office, the Harris County Attorney’s Office and the Harris County Sheriff’s Office. We announced the 12 most wanted child abuse fugitives in Harris Countyand encouraged Houstonians to actively engage in keeping our children safe from abuse and neglect.

– Fugitive Sweep: Facilitated with the Harris County Sheriffs’ Office Warrants Division: 25 felony warrants and 1 misdemeanor warrant arrested, 30 felony warrants, 5 misdemeanor warrants and 1 class C warrant cleared as well as 2 arrests on new felony warrants and 2 arrests on new misdemeanor warrants charged.

– 104.1 KRBE “Around H-Town” Interview about Child Abuse Prevention. (Click on photo to listen to interview) Thank you Freddy Cruz for your support of our mission!

– A Crime Stoppers tip solved the hit-and-run case involving a 3-year-old boy: The suspect was arrested and faces a felony charge of failure to stop and render aid after he struck the boy with his car and then fled the scene. After being hospitalized, the little boy is now recovering at home.

– Safe Community Seminar on Child Abuse: a panel of experts including Dr. Lawrence Thompson, Director of Therapy and Psychological Services at The CAC and The Harris County District Attorney’s Office Connie Spence, Assistant District Attorney, Chief of Child Abuse Division discussed: important prevention information, ways to report child abuse, prosecution of crimes against children cases and our impact as a community.

In addition to those highlights, April turned out to be another very busy month…

– we provided information about the various forms of child abuse and neglect and important prevention tips on our website and social media.

– Crime Stoppers’ ED Rania Mankarious also addressed Daycare and Youth Camp Safety in her weekly blog on The Buzz Magazines.

– Held our 2nd annual Mothers Against Crime “Prep for Prom” event on April 3rd at Tootsies where we met with moms and daughters to shop and learn. A group of women panelists including Harris County Assistant District Attorney Beth Exley, Miss Houston 2015 Thamer Kay Favor and Crime Stoppers Safe School Manager Michelle Sacks shared prom safety tips and true stories pointing to the importance of erring on the safe side while having an unforgettable night.

– Furthermore, Crime Stoppers’ Executive Director Rania Mankarious commented on the murder of Haruka Weiser at the University of Texas in Austin in her Sunday blog on The Buzz Magazines and shared important college safety tips.

– We also discussed cyber-bullying on KTSU’s A Closer Look responding to a Pew Research Center study that found that 26% of 18-24 year-old-women say they’ve been stalked online, while 25% say they were the ‪target of repeated sexual harassment online.

– Beyond that, Crime Stoppers’ ED Rania Mankarious participated in Houston Business Journal’s Bizwomen Mentoring Monday, an event held around the country to connect aspiring professionals with strong, female, local leaders.

– She also talked about Houston’s crime situation on KTRH Newsradio (read article “Crime Down, Murders up in Houston” here) and shared public safety and crucial animal cruelty prevention information on 90.1 FM KPFT Houston (click on the picture on the right to listen to the interview).

– To further support Houston’s Anti-Animal Cruelty efforts we partnered with the Houston Humane Society, Harris County Constable Office – Precinct 5, and the Texas Humane Legislative Network for an “Animal Cruelty Information Class” which covered several topics including: what is animal cruelty, how to report animal cruelty, the investigation process, the court process, disposition process and partnership information.

– Honoring local crime victim organizations, law enforcement and criminal justice professionals acknowledging their commitment and dedication in working with victims’ rights, we joined Mayor of Houston Sylvester Turner and other agencies for a special National Crime Victims’ Rights Week Proclamation Ceremony.

– We also attended the Houston Apartment Association Apartment Safety Meeting at the Baker Ripley Neighborhood Center together with Crime Stoppers supporters State Representative Gene Wu, Council Member Mike Laster, District J and Houston City Council Member Mike Knox, At-Large 1 to discuss crime prevention information.

– Thank you to Miles David Atelier for selecting us as his beneficiary of his Miles David shop-to-give-back‬‬‬ Happy Hour; as well as Spindletop Charities, one of our Safe School Program sponsors, for their support through the Spindletop’s Annual International Oilmen’s Golf Tournament.

– And last but not least… a HUGE Congratulations to Crime Stoppers Board Member Chuck Beckman, H-E-B and Deputy Director Nichole Christoph for completing the inaugural ATF Houston Field Division Citizens’ Academy, an annual event for local community, religious and civic leaders, and organizations to interact and talk directly with ATF special agents and participate in hands-on activities related to ATF’s areas of investigative responsibilities.

For detailed numbers on our Tip Line please read below!

We want you to know that your ongoing support and engagementcontinues to be the driving force behind the impact Crime Stoppers of Houston makes each month. The work we do is for YOU, your kids, your families… our neighbors and is only made possible through your and our media/community partners’ strenuous commitment to our mission to keep Houston safe. THANK YOU!

During the month of March, the Crime Stoppers of Houston Tip Line:

• Received 655 tips
  • 8 tips – Solved felony cases
  • 48 tips – Executed felony warrants
• Arrested 42 suspects
• Solved/executed 56 cases
• Cleared 34 offense reports
• Paid 46 anonymous tipsters

Below is one of the cases solved by Crime Stoppers in March:

In the evening of March 12, 2016, the suspect entered a Raceway Store and Service Station and attempted to rob it at gunpoint. The clerk ran to the back of the store with the suspect pursuing him. Once in the back, the clerk along with another male employee tried to close a door to deny the suspect entry. The suspect while attempting to force his way inside the door, managed to fire his weapon, striking the other male at least twice. In response to the suspect’s gunfire, the other male fired his own gun at the suspect, striking him once in the groin area. The suspect then fled the store wounded. The male struck by the suspect’s gunfire was later pronounced dead.

On March 14, 2016, a tipster called Crime Stoppers and provided the name and address of the suspect. This information was forwarded to HPD Homicide Sergeants, who later produced a photo spread to the witness with positive results. Charges were filed the next day and a warrant was issued for the suspect’s arrest. On March 22, 2016, the suspect and four other males were stopped in traffic in Midland, TX. During the traffic stop, an alert officer noticed the nervous actions of the suspect who was seated in the back seat of the vehicle. A check revealed that the suspect was wanted for Capital Murder. The suspect was later transported back to Harris County.

During the month of March, Crime Stoppers of Houston:

• Solved 1 school – based case
• Held 42 Safe School presentations
  • Trained 2,272 students
  • Reached 310 teachers/law enforcement members
  • Reached 105 parents

As the number of senior citizens in Harris County continues to grow, new forms of elder abuse and exploitation constantly appear. We must all recognize the ongoing and new schemes and scams that plague persons 65 and older. The term exploitation includes the illegal or improper use or attempted use of an elderly person’s assets or resources.

Financial exploitation is a very common form of elder abuse. Family members, care givers and other familiar individuals, as well as strangers may all be perpetrators. Because of resources accumulated over a lifetime, including Social Security income, and insurance, elders may easily become targets of greedy relatives, Ponzi scheme artists, and online thieves.

Many of the elderly are less likely to report exploitation because they are dependent on the perpetuator to provide food, clothing and shelter. In other instances, the elderly are not aware of the exploitation because they may be in a cognitive decline, are dealing with health problems or are coping with the loss of a loved one. If the elderly do realize exploitation has occurred, they may be reluctant to report the crime because they are afraid of retaliation, worried they will lose their independence, be denied legal rights or have a private guardian appointed.

The Harris County Attorney’s Office represents the Harris County Guardianship program and is all too familiar with many tragic stories. Our Office believes that our elderly population needs to be embraced and protected by our community.  If you learn that an elderly person is being exploited, please say something. Whether you notice changes in their bank account, the disappearance of their personal belongings, forged signature on important documents, long lost relatives moving in, or any other suspicious activity, please call Adult Protective Services at (800) 252-5400.

Our Office works with the Adult Protective Services, the Sheriff, Constables, and other law enforcement agencies and are available to discuss your concerns. Together we can end the silence associated with elder abuse and exploitation. Additionally, our office has a speaker’s bureau to address relevant topics important to the elderly and to all Harris County residents. Call us today at 713-274-5101.

Here’s what to shred and when, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC):

Immediately shred (or bring to upcoming events) sales and cash-withdrawal ATM receipts, paid credit card statements and utility bills, expired warranties, unsolicited credit card offers and canceled checks that are not tax related. Also, remove and shred pharmacy labels before tossing empty prescription bottles.

Within a year, destroy pay stubs (after cross-checking with your W-2 or other tax forms), bank statements, and paid and undisputed medical bills.

After seven years, shred tax-related receipts, canceled checks, W-2 and 1099 forms, and records for declared tax deductions. Although the FTC recommends keeping (and not shredding) tax returns indefinitely, the Internal Revenue Service says that if you file a claim for a credit or refund, you can shred old returns three years from the date you filed the original return or two years from the date you paid the tax, whichever is later.

When no longer needed, expired passports and driver’s licenses, copies of birth certificates, old insurance policies and résumés should be shredded. Keep your auto title until you sell the vehicle, and home deeds and home improvement receipts for as long as you own the property. Save disputed medical bills until the issue is resolved.

Never shred — and, in fact, ideally store in a locked or bank safe deposit box — the following:

• Original birth and marriage certificates
• Social Security cards
• Divorce decrees
• Citizenship and adoption papers
• Death certificates of family members
• Active passports (even if you’re not traveling)
• College diplomas
• Military records
• Wills and trusts
• Power of attorney paperwork
• Active life insurance policies

Sign up to get scam alerts and more at AARP Money Newsletter.

The AARP Fraud Watch Network gives you access to information about how to protect yourself and your family. Non-members and members alike can get Watchdog Alerts, stay up on con artists’ latest tricks, and find out what to do if you’ve been victimized. It’s free for everyone because AARP is committed to safeguarding Americans’ financial futures.

Child abuse, whether it is physical, emotional or sexual in nature, is as much an act of terrorism as if a bomb exploded. The traumatic stress that abuse leaves in its wake is comparable to that of the most devastating terrorist explosion. The only difference is that an act of terrorism occurs and is over until the next evil plan to destroy. But for an abused child the nightmare of terror and abuse may occur daily and last for years. Victims of terrorism, if they survive, receive immediate help, comfort, assurance of safety and medical attention. Victims of child abuse, if they survive, are left to suffer in silence, to bear the pain of shame and neglect, with no one to turn to for comfort and compassion. As long as child abuse is treated as an unpleasant subject  that is not addressed, it will continue to be dealt with only on a professional level, rather than openly and honestly in an open forum. In an effort to help innocent children who are terrorized by child abuse and the terrorists who cause their suffering, it is necessary
to make child abuse awareness a priority. It is up to the entire community to speak out that child abuse should never happen, can be prevented and help is available. We must all work to end the cycle of child abuse because all children deserve a childhood filled with respect, laughter and love. For more information, please visit www.thethreadalliance.org.