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Port Houston Refines Storm Readiness as 2026 Hurricane Season Approaches

Port Houston is intensifying emergency preparedness efforts ahead of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, drawing on operational lessons from major weather events including Hurricane Harvey in 2017. The port authority oversees the Houston Ship Channel, the nation's busiest waterway by tonnage, operating more than 200 private and eight public terminals. Chief Operating Officer Eric Casey said the port begins monitoring tropical systems five or more days before potential landfall. The port coordinates with the Coast Guard, Houston Pilots and industry partners during this period. At 72 hours before expected impacts, crews reduce empty container stacks and secure equipment. As sustained winds approach 45 mph, cranes are secured. The port conducts comprehensive after-action reviews following each storm season to identify successful measures and operational gaps, immediately integrating findings into updated emergency protocols.