Port, Tenants Preparing for Hurricane Season

Port, Tenants Preparing for Hurricane Season

June 30, 2026

By Rodger Rees, Galveston Wharves Port Director and CEO -- Decades of experience on the Texas Gulf Coast have taught us that we can’t take hurricane preparedness for granted. That’s why port staff and tenants review and update response plans yearly. These plans are designed to ensure the safety of everyone working at the port and to help expedite safe and efficient storm recovery.

We begin preparing well ahead of the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs June-November. We coordinate planning, communications and response with federal, state and local entities, as well as our staff, tenants, labor and other business partners. 

As a first step, we collect and review updated tenant hurricane plans. We also encourage them to conduct tabletop exercises and/or drills with their employees and attend our annual hurricane preparedness meeting. Our meeting on June 22 was one of our most well-attended yet, with more than 60 people, including representatives from the U.S. Coast Guard and the National Weather Service (NWS).

Brian Kyle, lead forecaster for NWS Houston/Galveston, told the group that the 2026 outlook includes 3-6 hurricanes and 1-3 major hurricanes. While experts are forecasting below-normal storm activity, he cautioned that preparedness is important because it takes only one major storm hitting our area to cause massive damage.

Following Expert Guidance

When severe weather threatens, we follow our plans and make operational decisions to ensure safety on the waterfront based on guidance from the NWS, Coast Guard and other experts.  

Brett Milutin, deputy port director and COO, leads our emergency response planning and preparedness. When a storm threatens, we have regularly scheduled calls with the NWS and Coast Guard and communicate that information to our stakeholders. These updates include weather conditions, forecasts, Coast Guard marine safety bulletins, and suggested and/or required actions. 

At our hurricane planning meeting, Samuel Holtrup with the Coast Guard’s Marine Safety Unit/Texas City reviewed port conditions, actions and preparedness information. The port follows the Coast Guard’s port condition directives, which are based on expected arrival of gale-force and hurricane-force winds.  

The Coast Guard’s captain of the port will cease all vessel traffic typically 12-24 hours before gale-force winds arrive. Depending on expected conditions, the Coast Guard could order all vessels to leave the area and close Galveston Harbor to vessel traffic.

As port director, I’m charged with making the decision to close access to port property based on forecasts and information from the NWS and city of Galveston.  

Sign Up for Notifications

Anyone interested in receiving critical, time-sensitive text alerts about events significantly impacting port operations can sign up through the port’s emergency notification system. Notifications include severe weather alerts, fog delays, Coast Guard port status changes, harbor closures, and other emergency situations. 

To register, text “POG Notices” to (409) 978-8030. When prompted, provide your first name, last name and email address. This is another tool in our hurricane preparedness tool kit to keep everyone safe.