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Harris County Face Coverings Required Effective Monday, June 22

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Community Guidance as Texas Begins to Reopen

On Friday, June 19th, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo signed an order requiring businesses to generate, post, and implement health and safety policies which include, at a minimum, a requirement that workers, customers or visitors wear face coverings. The order takes effect at 12:01 am on Monday, June 22nd.

The order directs all commercial entities providing goods or services to require that all employees or visitors to a business premise wear face coverings in areas that involve any proximity to co-workers or the public. Face coverings may include homemade masks, scarfs, bandanas, or a handkerchief. Commercial entities must post the health and safety policy in a conspicuous location sufficient to provide notice to employees and visitors of all health and safety requirements.

To support the development of health and safety policies, Harris County is making available a sample health and safety policy and additional guidelines for businesses. Businesses that fail to develop, post, and implement a Health and Safety Policy are subject to a $1,000 for each violation.

A copy of the order may be found here.

Source: https://www.readyharris.org/Stay-Safe

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Hurricane Season Begins June 1

Published Thursday, May 21, 2020

Although hurricanes may not garner as much attention during a coronavirus pandemic, this year’s Atlantic hurricane season is nevertheless shaping up to be an active one, with Tropical Storm Arthur forming weeks ahead of the official start date. 
Before the next disaster strikes, Harris County Precinct 4 encourages residents to prepare by following the tips below. 
• Make a hurricane preparedness kit. Purchasing essential household items before a storm forms will help prevent panic shopping and ensure that grocery stores do not run out of supplies.
• Make an evacuation plan. Evacuations take place by zone. Although Precinct 4 is not in an evacuation zone, it’s important to avoid the roads if you are not evacuating to prevent massive traffic jams. Check out a map of evacuation zones here.
• Follow trusted sources such as the National Weather Service Houston-Galveston, Harris County Flood Control District, and ReadyHarris to receive accurate, up-to-date information. You can sign up for Ready Harris alerts here to receive information from the Harris County Office of Emergency Management. 
The Atlantic hurricane season begins on June 1 and ends Nov. 30. This season will mark the third since Hurricane Harvey devastated the Gulf Coast region in 2017. 
Learn more here:
• Tropical Weather: NOAA National Hurricane Center • Local Weather: National Weather Service Houston-Galveston

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Economic Impact Payment

Public Information Manager, Community Services Department Harris County, Harris County Agency

Harris County Residents Non-Tax Filers. Harris County individuals receiving retirement pensions and/or Non-Tax Filers: if you did not file a tax return and have not received stimulus check, please visit https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/non-filers-enter-payment-info-here. Should you need assistance with entering the information, please contact a Resource Navigator at (832) 927-4955.

For residents who filed a tax return in 2018 and/or 2019: You can check your eligibility and if eligible, status of your Economic Impact Payment at www.irs.gov/coronavirus/economic-impact-payments.

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Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo Orders Residents to Wear Masks in Public for Next 30 Days

April 22, 2020

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo on Wednesday issued an order requiring residents to wear masks when in public for the next 30 days, beginning on Monday, April 27, 2020. The order requires individuals over the age of 10 to wear a face covering, which can be a homemade mask, scarf, bandana, or handkerchief, when outside the home. Medical masks or N-95 respirators are not recommended as they are needed for health-care workers and first responders.

Masks should cover the nose and mouth, and must be worn except when an individual is exercising or engaging in physical activity outside alone; alone in a separate indoor or outdoor space; eating or drinking; when driving; or when doing so poses a threat to their health, mental health, or safety. Masks are not required when an individual is in the presence of only members of their residence.

“When it comes to fighting this virus, each of us is capable of committing heroic acts by making adjustments in how we live our daily life,” said Judge Hidalgo. “Steps like wearing a face covering, getting tested, and staying home save lives and reduce transmissions, which will get our economy back online sooner. I’m heartened by the number of residents who have already been following guidance to wear face coverings already, but we are in this for the long haul. The best way to get our economy back up and running again – and keep it open – is by making sure we’re working together to prevent the spread of this virus. Wearing face coverings is a vital piece of our playbook.”

The order comes as an uptick in hospital admissions indicates the region has not yet reached the peak of the Coronavirus outbreak. During the past week, the county has doubled its testing capacity and dispatched mobile testing units to all four precincts.

To view the order, or for information on how to make your own face covering, visit readyharris.org.

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Let’s Say Thank You!

A very sweet resident wanted to pass along a suggestion of thanking The Enclave mail carrier. And maybe you have other ‘essential’ personnel providing services during this unique time that you would like to say ‘Thanks!’.

Below are free printable Thank You cards if you would like to print your own.

Thank You CardsDownload
Thank-You-Cards-Foldable-2-1Download
Thank You Cards 4Download
Thank You Cards 2 foldableDownload

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Don’t Forget —Front Steps Project / Kingwood Photo Club

There’s still time!

For more information and to schedule a time for a Kingwood Photo Club member to photography you and/or loved ones (including your pets), which practicing social distancing, click HERE.

Scroll down in the above link to see if you recognize any of your neighbors that have already made that call!

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A Guide to Snakes – Yes, it is that time of the Year!

This article is not intended to scare residents, but to educate.

Each year, several residents report a snake or two in the neighborhood. Most reports are of the nonvenomous type, like the Gulf Coast Ribbon Snake or Eastern Garter Snake.

But unfortunately, they are not the only snake that might be present from time to time. Texas also has several venomous snakes. The most likely to appear in our yards is the Southern Copperhead.

Click here for “A Guide to Snakes of Southeast Texas”.

The posting below appeared April 15 on the site “Nextdoor”.

Chris Wist, Lakewood Heights

Snake relocations and quick ID (Free)

“Neighbors, I want to once again, as I do every year, offer my services to you. I relocate snakes free of charge. If I am not able to relocate, I have a vast network of individuals who also relocate snakes. This is free of charge. My passion in life is spreading knowledge and understanding of one of the most misunderstood animals. If ever you find a snake, please contact me through here or on Facebook. I will immediately and positively identify your visitor. From that point we can decide if relocation is needed. I will offer my phone number to anyone genuinely interested in this offer. Please message me if you would like to save my number for this reason. I look forward to assisting and educating the community.”

Chris has provided the following information:

If ever you see a snake, try to capture a clear picture of it. If I get a picture in a text message, I will respond with an ID the second I see it. This also helps if the snake happens to get away so we can discuss what snake was visiting. Chris Wist 832-372-0292