TxDOT prepares for hurricane season
June 1, 2026
By Danny Perez
HOUSTON — As the hurricane season begins, TxDOT stands ready to respond across the state.
Hurricane season officially begins June 1 and lasts until November 30. From training drills to supplies, crews work year-round to prepare for a possible storm.
In the Houston area, TxDOT recently conducted a “dry run” hurricane field exercise to get prepared for the upcoming hurricane season. This provided a chance to check equipment, review plans, train staff, and identify any operational issues.
Dry runs such as this help to:
- Verify that emergency plans are clear and concise
- Ensure supplies and equipment are adequate and functional
- Improve incident response times
- Identify weaknesses in communication, logistics, or decision-making
- Build confidence and reduce surprises during a real emergency
The goal was to be ready to perform duties that would be required before, during, and after a hurricane makes landfall in the area. The exercise lasted over an eight-hour day, providing an opportunity to train employees that will assist in emergency operations.
“These exercises give our teams hands-on experience with what a real event may look like, allowing us to respond safely, efficiently, and with confidence,” said Melody Galland, TxDOT maintenance director in Houston. “Every event is different, but preparation makes the difference, and through practice, we strengthen our ability to serve the people of Texas when it matters most.”
A “mock hurricane” scenario was created showing a developing weather system in the Gulf. The tropical system would eventually move into the area, impacting roadways and other infrastructure. Crews would then move throughout the Houston area checking roadways, signals, bridges and locations for potential impact. Crews utilized various equipment including drones, trucks and heavy equipment for the operation.
“There has been a marked improvement since we first started this exercise, including our maintenance teams and signals maintenance,” said Josh Pulley, TxDOT emergency management coordinator in Houston.
In the Corpus Christi area, crews also conducted an annual drill to install a partial section of the department’s storm surge wall on SH 361 in Aransas Pass.
The exercise allows TxDOT personnel to familiarize themselves with the wall’s installation and to ensure all parts of the wall are operational.
Crews will begin putting up the wall when a hurricane is predicted to make landfall in the Coastal Bend. The complete wall was last erected in 2017 prior to Hurricane Harvey.
TxDOT PIO Rickey Dailey contributed to this article.
