Fort Bend County Expands Hurricane Shelter Capacity Through New Epicenter Mega Shelter Partnership
Fort Bend County residents will have another large-scale shelter option available during hurricanes, floods and other major disasters under a new agreement involving the Fort Bend Epicenter in Rosenberg.
County officials gathered at the Epicenter on Thursday to highlight the partnership between the facility and the Fort Bend County Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, known as HS&EM. Approved by Fort Bend County Commissioners Court, the agreement allows emergency management officials to activate the venue as a temporary mega shelter when additional space is needed.
For families, the agreement is intended to provide something especially important during a crisis: a clearly identified, centralized location that can accommodate a large number of people while county agencies coordinate shelter operations, food, transportation and other emergency services.
“Emergency preparedness is about having plans, partnerships, and resources in place before disaster strikes,” said Greg Babst, director of the Fort Bend County Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. “This agreement gives us another significant resource that we can incorporate into our emergency response planning and provides additional capacity to shelter residents when the need arises.”
Why the Fort Bend Epicenter Can Serve as a Mega Shelter
Located at 28505 Southwest Freeway near North Fairgrounds Road in Rosenberg, the Fort Bend Epicenter is generally known as a sports, entertainment and community event venue. Its size, location and existing infrastructure also give the county another option for large-scale emergency operations.
The Epicenter property covers approximately 51.75 acres near U.S. 59 and sits at what the county’s shelter agreement describes as one of the highest points in Fort Bend County. Approximately 130,000 square feet inside the building can be used for temporary mass sheltering and for staging emergency-relief equipment and services.
Under the agreement, designated areas can be established for the general population, people with special needs, shelter staff and residents arriving with pets. The county’s pet-friendly sheltering plan would guide animal accommodations, with the county responsible for providing appropriate staffing.
The agreement also provides for emergency communications, mass feeding coordination and use of the facility’s generator. Fort Bend County may hold an annual hurricane education seminar and disaster simulation exercise at the Epicenter, subject to the venue’s availability.
When the Epicenter Could Be Activated
The Fort Bend Epicenter may be used as a temporary shelter following a declared state of emergency involving a hurricane, flood or other major threat. It may also be activated for certain public-safety emergencies without a formal disaster declaration, subject to the facility’s availability and consent from its asset manager.
The agreement generally allows shelter operations to continue for up to seven days, unless the parties agree that more time is necessary. County officials would be responsible for helping residents who cannot return home transition to longer-term housing arrangements.
The partnership comes during the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season and shortly after Tropical Storm Bertha brought locally heavy rainfall and isolated flooding to parts of Southeast Texas. A flash flood warning was issued for portions of Fort Bend and Harris counties, including Sugar Land, Missouri City and Stafford, although widespread flooding and major damage were not reported.
“The time to prepare for the next major storm is not when it is already in the Gulf... the time to prepare is now,” Fort Bend County Judge Daniel Wong said. “We hope we never have to use the Epicenter as a mega shelter. But if the day comes when thousands of people need a safe place to go... Fort Bend County will be ready.”
What Fort Bend County Residents Should Do Now
The new Fort Bend County emergency shelter partnership does not replace the need for household preparation. County officials are encouraging residents to review where they would go if evacuation or sheltering became necessary, confirm how they would communicate with relatives and make sure essential supplies are available before a storm approaches.
Families may also want to account for prescription medications, identification documents, children’s needs, mobility equipment and pet supplies in their hurricane preparedness plans. Residents should follow official Fort Bend County emergency alerts during a disaster because the decision to open the Epicenter—and instructions about who should report there—would depend on the specific emergency.
By arranging shelter space before it is needed, Fort Bend County aims to add flexibility to its hurricane and disaster response system while giving local families another measure of reassurance during an uncertain season.
Stay tuned to My Neighborhood News for updates on Fort Bend County emergency preparedness, hurricane resources and public-safety information affecting local residents.
Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.
