July 11, 2025
By Rodger Rees, Galveston Wharves Port Director and CEO
Through the decades, the 200-year-old Port of Galveston has prepared for and recovered from dozens of major storms, including the 1900 Storm, still the deadliest weather event in U.S. history. An estimated 6,000 people lost their lives during that hurricane.
Decades of experience have taught us that we can’t take preparedness for granted. That’s why port staff and our tenants review and update response plans every year to prepare for severe weather events. These plans are designed to ensure the safety of everyone working at the port and to help expedite safe and efficient storm recovery.
We begin preparing months before the peak of hurricane season, coordinating planning, communications and response with federal, state and local entities, as well as our staff, tenants, labor and other business partners. As a first step, we collect and review our tenants’ updated hurricane plans. We also encourage them to conduct tabletop exercises and/or drills with their employees and to attend our annual hurricane preparedness meeting. Our June 20 meeting was one of our most well-attended meetings yet.
Following Expert Guidance
When severe weather threatens, we follow these plans and make operational decisions to ensure the safety of everyone working on the waterfront based on the guidance of the National Weather Service, the U.S. Coast Guard and other experts.
Brett Milutin, executive deputy port director, leads our emergency response planning and preparedness. When a storm threatens, we have regularly scheduled update calls with the National Weather Service and the Coast Guard. Then we communicate those updates to our stakeholders. These updates include weather conditions, forecasts, Coast Guard marine safety bulletins and suggested and/or required actions.
The port follows the Coast Guard’s port condition directives. These directives are based on expected arrival of gale-force and hurricane-force winds. The Coast Guard’s captain of the port will cease all vessel traffic typically 12-24 hours before gale-force winds arrive.
As port director, I’m charged with making the decision to close access to port property based on forecasts, along with information from the National Weather Service and the city of Galveston. At that point all tenants and port users will evacuate the port.
Depending on expected conditions, the Coast Guard could order all vessels to leave the area and for the port to close to all vessel traffic.
The maritime industry is crucial to the U.S. economy; however, the Coast Guard, as well as state and local officials, including port executives, place safety above all else.
Sign Up for Notifications
Anyone interested in receiving critical, time-sensitive text alerts about events significantly impacting port operations can sign up through the port’s emergency notification system. Notifications include severe weather alerts, fog delays, Coast Guard port status changes, harbor closures and other emergency situations. Port staff also provides information for non-emergency situations such as road closures and power outages, along with instructions if needed.
To register, text “POG Notices” to (409) 978-8030. When prompted, provide your first name, last name and email address. This is another tool in our hurricane preparedness tool kit to keep everyone safe.
Rodger Rees is Galveston Wharves port director and CEO.
