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Past Flood Victims Prepare For An Active Hurricane Season

We check in with a Meyerland family, who is taking extra measures to protect themselves.

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  • Randy Claridge, 44, bought life vests for his entire family, after HFD's rescue raft didn't have children's vests during the Memorial Day Flood of 2015. (Photo Credit: Allison Lee)
    Randy Claridge, 44, bought life vests for his entire family, after HFD's rescue raft didn't have children's vests during the Memorial Day Flood of 2015. (Photo Credit: Allison Lee)
  • The Claridges surrendered to the attic, after over three feet of water came into their home in 2015. (Photo Credit: Allison Lee)
    The Claridges surrendered to the attic, after over three feet of water came into their home in 2015. (Photo Credit: Allison Lee)
  • Jennifer Claridge, 45, says they ordered risers to keep their bed at a safer level, in case of future flooding. (Photo Credit: Allison Lee)
    Jennifer Claridge, 45, says they ordered risers to keep their bed at a safer level, in case of future flooding. (Photo Credit: Allison Lee)
  • The Claridges bought a metal bunk bed, to be more water resistant. They tell me no one is allowed to sleep in the bottom bunk, unless they first checked the weather forecast. (Photo Credit: Allison Lee)
    The Claridges bought a metal bunk bed, to be more water resistant. They tell me no one is allowed to sleep in the bottom bunk, unless they first checked the weather forecast. (Photo Credit: Allison Lee)
  • The Claridges raised their electrical outlets to the middle of the wall, to avoid water logging.
    The Claridges raised their electrical outlets to the middle of the wall, to avoid water logging.
  • The Claridge home has been flooded twice. (Photo Credit: The Claridge Family)
    The Claridge home has been flooded twice. (Photo Credit: The Claridge Family)
  • The Claridges say most of their living room furniture is now stored off-site, until they can get their home elevated. (Photo Credit: The Claridge Family)
    The Claridges say most of their living room furniture is now stored off-site, until they can get their home elevated. (Photo Credit: The Claridge Family)
  • This is the view from the Claridge's porch, during the Memorial Day Flood of 2015. (Photo Credit: The Claridge Family)
    This is the view from the Claridge's porch, during the Memorial Day Flood of 2015. (Photo Credit: The Claridge Family)

This hurricane season is expected to be more "active" than average. As the city of Houston is preparing for the season... so is its residents.

Randy Claridge lives with his wife and two children in Meyerland.

"You always hear it's a slow-motion disaster, and I'm like, "Yeah, that's exactly what it is," Ryan said.

The Claridges were rescued by the Houston Fire Department, when their home was flooded in the Memorial Day Flood, back in 2015.

"The first one was a freak. When it happens 11 months later, you think about it twice before you remodel your home," said Randy's wife, Jennifer.

When their home was flooded again, during Tax Day last year, they decided to take even more steps to prepare.

Randy bought life vests for each of the family members, after the city's rescue raft didn't have children's vests.

"When we got on the boat, the life jacket fell off Addison. It didn't fit at all," Randy said. "We weren't going back into the house without life jackets."

They raised the electrical outlets to the middle of the wall, and put their master bed on a platform.

"As crazy as that is, that's what our bed is on," Jennifer said.

And as they're bracing for this year's hurricane season, The Claridges are still waiting to find out if they've qualified for a grant to elevate their entire home.