Introduction

Purchasing a home is one of the major milestones in your life and a major investment. It provides protection from the elements for you and your family as well as your worldly possessions. If you live on the coast, as many people do, you need to be aware of the threat to your investment from coastal natural hazards such as hurricanes, tornadoes, and flooding. This handbook was created to help you prepare for coastal natural hazards and help you reduce the risks to your family and property. Although it is never possible to eliminate all risk from a hazard, you as a homeowner can take action and implement many small and cost-effective steps that could significantly lower your risk and exposure to those hazards.

This handbook is available free as a downloadable PDF file at the Texas Sea Grant College Program website or the Texas General Land Office website. It will be updated on an as-needed basis as new information becomes available and feedback from the public is obtained. You can also request a copy by contacting the Texas General Land Office Coastal Resources Division at (512) 475-0773 or Texas Sea Grant at seagrant@tamu.edu.