Current Activation Level
November 24, 2025, (Houston). The TGCRVOAD is raising its Alert Level to 2 – STANDBY in anticipation of receiving Requests for Assistance related to the tornado activity in Northwest Harris County on Monday afternoon. Members should note that damage assessments are still partial and preliminary, that a full picture of the impact was not available at sundown, and that no deployments should occur until official Requests for Assistance are issued by local authorities.
A fast-moving severe storm produced a confirmed tornado in northwest Harris County early Monday afternoon. NWS spotters reported a visible funnel shortly after 1:30 p.m. near U.S. 290 before it touched down in the Klein / Memorial Northwest area around 2 p.m. The tornado damaged more than 100 homes, uprooted large trees, downed power lines, and caused structural damage near Stuebner Airline Road, though no injuries have been reported.
Preliminary assessments, halted by nightfall, identified thirteen homes with major damage. Survey work will resume Tuesday morning.
Harris County is encouraging residents to dial 3-1-1 for debris pickup and to report damage to property using the state’s iSTAT tool. See ReadyHarris.org
Activation Levels
TXGCRVOAD uses Activation Levels to communicate a shared understanding of our activities. Level 4 denotes Normal Operations, and levels 3 through 1 indicate that TGCRVOAD is in some disaster response/short-term phase. Note that the TGCRVOAD may be operating on several levels at a time. For example, we could be Level 3 – monitoring a potential threat in the Gulf of Mexico that may be a week away; Level 2 – standing by to respond to a threat to Matagorda County that is imminent; Level 1 – responding to a wildfire in Montgomery County, and transitioning responsibility to the local LTRC for a tornado a month ago in Fort Bend County.
TGCRVOAD Activation Levels
- Level 4 NORMAL OPERATIONS
- Level 3 SITUATIONAL AWARENESS
TGCRVOAD: Monitors the threat and identifies the need to escalate the activation level
VOAD Members and Partners: Monitor the threat - Level 2 STANDBY
TGCRVOAD: Monitors VOAD activity and assists with coordination activities
VOAD Members and Partners: Stage resources and prepare to respond quickly as Requests for Assistance (RFAs) are made - Level 1 ACTIVATED
TGCRVOAD: Conducts Coordination Conference Calls – Situation Reports (SitReps) and Coordination; Coordination with VOADS, Long-Term Recovery Committees (LTRCs), and Offices of Emergency Management (OEMs).
VOAD Members and Partners: Provide periodic Situation Reports (SitReps) and participate in Coordination Conference Calls - LEVEL 1 ACTIVATED – transition to LTRC
TGCRVOAD: Coordinates Activities of VOAD Members and Partners and Long-Term Recovery Committees (LTRCs); Supports LTRCs
VOAD Members and Partners: Ensure clean handoff to LTRCs; Support LTRCs
For more information, see Functions in Disaster