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Harvey may cause a life-threatening storm surge of up to 12 feet, with waves as high as 20 feet along the Texas coast. Perilous flash flooding and 115 mph gusts of wind are also possible.

How to prepare for the hurricane

Before the storm

When prepping for a hurricane, it's important to \"hide from the wind and run from the water,\" National Hurricane Center meteorologist Daniel Brown told ABC News earlier this month.

Emergency managers are encouraging residents who may be affected by the hurricane to monitor the weather forecast for their area and listen to the directives given by emergency officials, said Lt. Craig Cummings, spokesperson for the Texas Department of Public Safety in Houston.

Cummings encouraged people to have an emergency kit with essentials such as important documents, medications and supplies, including food, water, batteries, a flashlight and a battery-powered radio.

Some stores in Corpus Christi are already running out of supplies.

\"We're out of bread and we're out of water right now,\" Julie Canales, an employee at the claims department in the Corpus Christi Sam's Club, told ABC News. \"We’ve been stocked every day, but as soon as we get it it’s gone within an hour between truck [deliveries].\"

Coastal Hardware in Corpus Christi has already run out of sand bags and kerosene lanterns, store manager Jennifer Wimsett told ABC News. People are improvising by buying topsoil and filling up trash bags with them, she said.

It is also important to have a paper map for after the storm passes in case cell phones service goes down and people traveling are forced to take unfamiliar routes due to the flooding.

During the storm

Residents should fill bathtubs and other large containers with water to help with washing or filling toilets in case the water is shut off, according to safety tips recommended by Farmers Insurance.

During the storm, people should stay indoors and away from windows and glass doors. At the height of the storm, seek shelter in an interior room, according to the insurance company's tips.

The company also recommends that people who live in temporary structures like mobile homes or in high-rise building be prepared to evacuate.

After the storm

Drivers should not venture into flooded waters, Cummings said. It only takes about 2 feet of water for a car to be swept away in floodwaters and only about two inches of water to for an adult to be swept away, he said.

About 50 percent of all flash flood fatalities nationwide involve vehicles, according to Cummings.

\"If someone is in an area that is beginning to flood, it's essential that they get to higher ground and be looking for an evacuation route out of the area,\" he said.

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