06/09/2006
Monte Carlo Night is Coming!
Last
year Kwik Kar of Copperfield sponsored Lloyd Lee, a DJ who specializes
in good music and good times at the Silver Eagle Monte Carlo Night.
It is that time again for the Second Silver Eagle Monte Carlo Night scheduled for Friday July 28, from 7:30 – 11:30 pm at Silver Eagle Distributors, 8660 North Eldridge Parkway . There will be a cash bar and hors d’oeuvres available.
“This will be a great opportunity to network with community members and their guests in a relaxed fun atmosphere,” Mingoia explained. “You can try your hand at one of the gaming tables or dance to the lively music provided by our disc jockey or even just sit and visit at our ‘café’ tables,” she added.
Receipts from the gaming tables will be exchanged for chances at a number of exciting raffle prizes.
In addition to Silver Eagle Distributors LP who is underwriting the event, AmegyBank is a Sapphire Starfish, Kwik Kar of Copperfield is the DJ Sponsor, Independence Bank, N.A. is the Texas Hold’em Sponsor. Other sponsors to date are CenterPoint Energy, Crowne Plaza Houston-Brookhollow, Comfort Suites, Cy-Fair College/NHMCCD, Executive inn & Suites, Jersey Meadow Golf Course, Members Choice Credit Union and Motel 6.
“We appreciate the generosity of our underwriter and sponsors,” Mingoia said. “Their commitment to our Chamber and our members provides the funding necessary for these kinds of networking events. One of our major objectives is to offer ‘relationship-building’ opportunities in as many varied situations as we can,” she added.
For additional information or reservations, call Sherri Padalino at the Chamber Office at 281.955.1100.
06/01/2006
Chamber committee hosts hurricane preparation seminar
The good news for Gulf Coast-area residents in 2006 is that the Houston/Galveston Bureau of the National Weather Service is predicting fewer named storms than the total that occurred in 2005.
The bad news is that the National Weather Service has never predicted this many named storms.
With the official start of the hurricane season in June, the Emergency Preparedness Committee of the Cy-Fair Houston Chamber of Commerce sponsored a free seminar entitled “Emergency Preparation: The 2006 Hurricane Season” on May 31 in the professional building of Cypress Fairbanks Medical Center Hospital .
Last year set a record with 28 named storms, presenter Gene Hafele, the warning and coordination meteorologist with the Houston/Galveston Bureau of the National Weather Service. That beat the previous mark of 21 storms in 1933.
This year, he said, 17-18 storms are predicted, 10 of which are expected to grow into hurricanes and five or six into major hurricanes. “The numbers aren’t as high as what occurred last year, but they are higher numbers than anyone has predicted before,” Hafele said.
Recapping the disastrous 2005 hurricane season, Hafele noted that Hurricanes Rita and Katrina were, respectfully, the fourth and sixth strongest hurricanes on record. He added that Katrina easily exceeded Hurricane Andrew as the costliest hurricane in U.S. history, causing an estimated $80 billion in damage.
The Houston area dodged a bullet when it came to Hurricane Rita. Had the hurricane made landfall where it was originally forecast near San Luis Pass , the region would have suffered economic damage similar to that wreaked by Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans .
“Instead of talking about it, we might have still been recovering from what Rita would have done to us,” Hafele said.
Storm surges that can accompany hurricanes are the cause of most deaths and property damage in the storms, Hafele said. He noted that the storm surge created by Katrina was a record 27 feet.
“That’s why people who live near the coast need to evacuate,” Hafele said.
Of course, Gulf Coast area residents need to be concerned about high winds. If Hurricane Rita would have made landfall where it was forecast near San Luis Pass , portions of Harris County would have had wind gusts as high as 133 mph, Hafele said. He added that wind would have been as strong as 90 mph as far away as College Station.
“When you do evacuate for a particular storm, don’t always expect to escape all the effects of the storm, because the wind can penetrate very far inland,” Hafele said.
The number of hurricanes each season has been above normal since 1995, he said.
“This is part of a cycle we go through, and each period lasts 20 to 30 years,” Hafele said. “We are 11 years into this period, and we expect it to continue for another 10 or 20 years. The warmer the water is, the more intense the hurricanes can be. The weaker the wind shear in the Atlantic basin, the greater the storms can be. These factors have been in place since 1995, and we don’t foresee a change for the upcoming hurricane season.”
The accuracy of hurricane track forecasts has improved dramatically, but it’s still difficult for meteorologists to accurately predict the intensity of a storm, he said.
“Because of that,” Hafele said, “we always encourage people to plan for one hurricane category higher than we forecast.”
Hafele said last year’s evacuation in anticipation of Hurricane Rita was successful despite the massive freeway gridlock. Officials anticipate a smoother evacuation next time by planning to establish comfort stations, regional shelters and putting gasoline tankers in place along the routes, he said.
Generally speaking, residents in northwest Harris County would not need to evacuate if they live in a well-built home, Hafele said.
“Your home will probably survive the hurricane, but I would recommend for a Category 4 or higher hurricane that you board up windows and doorways,” he said.
Hafele said every family should have a hurricane plan in place. Those who do choose to evacuate should bring water and supplies such as snacks with them. Those who stay should have enough food and water to last for at least three days, he said.
Archived News
05/04/2006 District 126 candidate speaks at Chamber Governmental Affairs meeting
05/04/2006 City of Tomball is still pursuing possible Hooks Airport acquisition
04/11/2006 No end in sight for growth in Cy-Fair ISD, district official says
04/11/2006 Senate District 7 Democratic Candidate presents his platform at Chamber forum
03/24/2006 Chamber on a roll with Ten Pin Challenge
3/22/2006 Cy-Fair College stands to benefit from bond issue
03/02/2006 No silver bullet to solve traffic congestion, Texas A&M researcher says
02/08/2006 Raveneaux Country Club is the Site of the 2006 Spring Swing
02/02/2006 U.S. 290 plans are advancing, TxDOT engineer tells Chamber committee
02/02/2006 State legislator reports on gross receipts tax
01/05/2006 Chamber Transportation Committee sets priorities for 2006
01/05/2006 State Legislator proposes ideas for reducing School Property Taxes