Houston-area closures and cancellations due to Hurricane Laura
HOUSTON - Several southeast Texas businesses are announcing closures and cancellations as Hurricane Laura approaches the Gulf Coast.
For a list of school districts that have closed, visit our closings page here.
SCHOOL CLOSINGS AHEAD OF HURRICANE LAURA
Here is a list of businesses who are taking precautions ahead of the storm's arrival:
CHILDREN'S MUSEUM OF HOUSTON
The Children's Museum of Houston will be closed Wednesday, Aug. 26 and Thursday, Aug. 27.
HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEMS
Harris Health System is closing all of its outpatient healthcare facilities at 12 p.m. (noon) Wednesday, Aug. 26, ahead of the possible landfall of Hurricane Laura. All facilities will remain closed on Thursday, Aug. 27.
All patients will be contacted directly to reschedule appointments.
LIST: Evacuations ordered in these SE Texas counties and cities
HARRIS COUNTY DISTRICT CLERK'S OFFICE
Harris County District Clerk Marilyn Burgess has announced that due to Hurricane Laura, operations at the Harris County District Clerk’s Office (DCO) will be limited Wednesday and Thursday. Currently, plans are to reopen fully on Friday.
Earlier today, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo signed a Declaration of Disaster and, following a directive from the County Engineer, DCO offices along with other county operations in the downtown courthouses closed at noon.
The courthouses will remain closed through Thursday, with the possibility of reopening on Friday, August 28. All court settings scheduled for Thursday have been cancelled. Check with the individual courts for more information on specific settings.
Probable Cause Court operations relocated back to the Joint Processing Center on Wednesday after the 7:00 a.m. docket. Both Criminal Intake and Probable Cause Court will continue to work 24/7 throughout this storm. Steps have been taken to assure they will not lose power.
THE HEALTH MUSEUM
The John P. McGovern Museum of Health and Medical Science will be closed on Wednesday, August 26 and Thursday, August 27 due to inclement weather. For additional updates, please visit The Health Museum website and social media channels.
HOUSTON CITY OFFICES
All city of Houston offices will be closed on Wednesday, Aug. 26 beginning at 2 p.m. Only essential employees will be allowed.
HOUSTON HEALTH DEPT. COVID-19 TESTING SITES
Houston Health Department-affiliated COVID-19 testing sites are closed Wednesday, Aug. 26 and Thursday, Aug. 27.
HOUSTON ISD
All Houston Independent School District food distribution efforts have been canceled Thursday and Friday due to potential inclement weather from Hurricane Laura.
Curbside summer meals are canceled on Thursday, Aug. 27. Student meal delivery to designated apartment complexes will continue Wednesday, Aug. 26, but will be canceled on Thursday, Aug. 27 and Friday, Aug. 28. Both summer meal programs conclude this week.
The mass community food distribution scheduled for Friday, Aug. 28 in the NRG Stadium Yellow Lot has been rescheduled for noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 29 at the same location.
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CITY OF HOUSTON MUNICIPAL COURTS
The City of Houston Municipal Courts will be closing Wednesday, August 26, 2020 at 2 p.m. and resume normal operations on Thursday, August 27, 2020. Resets will be given in person at all City of Houston court locations Monday, August 31, 2020 through Friday, September 4, 2020, until 5 p.m. Please visit the Municipal Courts’ website at www.houstontx.gov/courts for information on all court locations and hours of operation. It is important to note that if an individual fails to reset their case(s) during the reset period (8/31/20 through 9/4/20), an arrest warrant may be issued.
On Wednesday, August 26, 2020 beginning at 2 p.m., there will be:
- No Trials by Judge. Resets will be given in person at all City of Houston court locations Monday, August 31, 2020 through Friday, September 4, 2020, until 5 p.m. Scheduled court settings will resume Thursday, August 27, 2020.
- No Arraignments. Anyone scheduled for arraignments during this time must come in person Monday, August 31, 2020 through Friday, September 4, 2020 to receive a new arraignment date. Scheduled court settings will resume Thursday, August 27, 2020.
- No Parking Adjudication Hearings. Hearings will resume Thursday, August 27, 2020.
As a reminder, Jury Duty and Jury Trials are suspended due to COVID-19 until October 1, 2020.
H-E-B
To ensure the safety of H-E-B customers and Partners (employees) and in accordance with H-E-B’s existing inclement weather protocol, select H-E-B stores located across the Greater Houston area will have modified hours.
The following stores will close at noon on Wednesday, August 26: Baytown, Baytown Joe V’s Smart Shop, Mont Belvieu.
At this time, all other Houston-area H-E-B and Mi Tienda stores and Central Market Houston will close at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, August 26.
All H-E-B Fuel Stations and Pharmacies in the area will follow store hours.
HOUSTON ZOO
The Houston Zoo will be closed Wednesday, Aug. 26 and Thursday, Aug. 27. Zoo animals will be cared for during the storm by a select group of team members who will stay at the Zoo. Whether the Zoo will reopen on Friday, Aug. 28 will be determined as the weather event continues.
LEGACY COMMUNITY HEALTH CLINICS
Legacy Community Health announces the following closures due to inclement weather anticipated from Tropical Storm Laura:
Legacy San Jacinto – CLOSED WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY
4301 Garth Suite 400 Baytown, TX 77521
Legacy Central Beaumont – CLOSED THE REST OF THE WEEK
450 North 11th St. Beaumont, TX 77702
Legacy Beaumont Central Stagg – CLOSED THE REST OF THE WEEK
3455 Stagg Dr.
TRACK STORMS ON OUR TROPICAL WEATHER PAGE
KROGER
Kroger has announced that they will close all Houston area stores at 6 p.m. Wednesday, to ensure their associates and their families can stay safe through the storm.
MD ANDERSON
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center’s League City location will be closed Wednesday, Aug. 26, through Friday, Aug. 28. All other MD Anderson locations (Texas Medical Center, Bellaire, Memorial City, Sugar Land, The Woodlands and West Houston) will end operations at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 26, and will be closed for clinic and treatment appointments on Thursday, Aug. 27.
Members of MD Anderson’s care teams will contact patients whose appointments are affected to reschedule. Patients who need to make changes to appointments on Friday, Aug. 28, or who have specific questions or concerns, can contact their care teams via secure messaging in MyChart, our contact our askMDAnderson health information specialists, 1-877-632-6789.
During the weather event, MD Anderson will continue special precautions related to COVID-19, including entry screenings, visitor restrictions and social distancing standards.
MOODY GARDENS
Moody Gardens is closed ahead of Hurricane Laura's landfall in accordance with the city of Galveston's mandatory evacuation order.
SPACE CENTER HOUSTON
Space Center Houston will close Wednesday, Aug. 26 and Thursday, Aug. 27. Officials say participants registered in activities that were postponed due to the closure will be contacted with rescheduling information. The center plans to resume normal operations beginning Friday, Aug. 28. For updates, visit their website.
UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE (USPS)
With the approach of Tropical Storm Laura, and due to a mandatory evacuation, the Postal Service is providing this information for postal customers in some locations of the Texas Gulf Coast area. Effective immediately, Retail and Delivery services will be temporarily suspended at the following Post Offices until further notice.
We apologize for any inconvenience customers may experience, but the safety of both customers and employees comes first. Updates will be provided as soon as they are available. Customers can check here for further information.
· Galveston Finance, 601 23rd Street, Galveston, TX 77550
· Galveston Bob Lyons, 5626 Broadway Street, Galveston, TX 77551
· Kemah Post Office, 1129 Hwy 146, Kemah, TX 77565
· Seabrook Post Office, 1600 Main Street, Seabrook, TX 77586
· Bridge City Post Office, 900 Texas Ave, Bridge City, TX 77611
· China Post Office– P.O. Box, 305 N Broadway St, China, TX 77613
· Port Bolivar, 2500 Broadway Ave, Port Bolivar, TX 77617
· Groves Post Office, 6230 39th Street, Groves, TX 77619
· Hamshire Post Office, 25142 Highway 124, Hamshire, TX 77622
· High Island Post Office, 2008 5th Street, High Island, TX 77623
· Mauriceville Post Office, 11424 Highway 21, Mauriceville, TX 77626
· Nederland Post Office, 223 N 14th St, Nederland, TX 77627
· Nome Post Office – P.O. Box, 2285 Highway 90, Nome, TX 77629
· Orange Post Office, 500 4th Street, Orange TX 77630
· Orangefield Post Office, 5481 FM 408, Orangefield, TX 77639
· Port Arthur Post Office, 345 Lakeshore Dr., Port Arthur, TX 77640
· Crystal Beach Post Office, 2000 Highway 87, Port Bolivar, TX 77650
· Port Neches Post Office, 1324 Port Neches Avenue, Port Neches, TX 77651
· Sabine Pass Post Office, 5424 Tremont Street, Sabine Pass, TX 77655
· Winnie Post Office, 324 Hwy 124, Winnie, TX 77665
· Vidor Post Office, 285 Archie St, Vidor, TX 77662
· Beaumont Lumberton Post Office, 650 S Main St, Beaumont, TX 77657
· Beaumont South End Post Office, 3501 Avenue A, Beaumont, TX 77701
· Beaumont Tobe Hahn Post Office, 3910 N Dowlen Rd, Beaumont, TX 77703
· Downtown Beaumont Post Office, 300 Willow Street, Ste. 1, Beaumont, TX 77704
· Beaumont GMF, 5815 Walden Rd, Beaumont, TX 77707
YMCA OF GREATER HOUSTON
The following locations and programs will be closing:
Starting Tuesday, Aug. 25 at 8 p.m. Edgar A. Smith Family YMCA, Perry Family YMCA, Vic Coppinger Family YMCA and Wendel D. Ley Family YMCA will be closed.
Y Learning Center, Day Camp and all youth programs will be closed Wednesday, Aug. 26 - Friday, Aug. 28.
All other Greater Houston area YMCA locations will close at 12 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 26.
Early Childhood Care will close at 12 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 26 - Friday, Aug. 28.
YMCA After School Child Care will follow school district closures. If school is canceled, YMCA After School will not be available.
All YMCA of Greater Houston facilities will be closed until at least Friday, Aug. 28. Announcement of reopening will be made the morning of Friday, Aug. 28 via the Y’s website.
RESTAURANTS
Brennan’s of Houston, 3300 Smith St
Wed: Last reservation tonight at 7:30 p.m.
Thurs: Open for lunch at 11 a.m.
Dish Society, 5740 San Felipe; 12525 Memorial Dr; 1050 Yale St; 712 Main St; 23501 Cinco Ranch Blvd, Katy
Wed: Early close today at 3 p.m.
Molina’s Cantina, 7901 Westheimer; 3801 Bellaire Blvd
Wed: Early close tonight at 8 p.m.
Thurs: Delayed open tomorrow at 12 p.m.
Phat Eatery, 23119 Colonial Pkwy, #B2, Katy
Wed: Early close tonight at 7:30 p.m.
Tobiuo Sushi & Bar, 23501 Cinco Ranch Blvd, #H130, Katy
Wed: Early close tonight at 7 p.m.
We'll continue to update this list as more businesses announce closures.
The FOX 26 Weather Team is closely monitoring developments. They will continue to keep you up-to-date online, on-air, and on social media.
You can also stay up-to-date 24 hours a day by downloading the free FOX 26 weather app. You'll receive weather alerts for your location, along with video weather updates.