Destination Services

16649 Hollister Street Houston, TX 77066 Phone: 281-880-7500 or 866-835-7500 Fax: 281-880-7570 www.sterling-relo.com

TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION

Pre-Departure ...... 1

General Information ...... 2

Shopping Information ...... 3

Government Document Assistance ...... 4

Housing Overview ...... 5

General Services ...... 6

Banking ...... 7

Safety/ Emergency ...... 8

Vehicle Information ...... 9

Helpful Websites ...... 10

Notes ...... 11 Page 1

PRE-DEPARTURE

Top Priority Inside This Section: immunization record with English translation.

Top Priority/ Things to 1 • Please bring the original, copies, and English Keep in Mind translations of marriage licenses, all birth certificates, and other records including school reports, medical and eyeglass prescriptions with Checklist 2 English translations. We suggest you keep original documents with you at all times and place copies in a different area or with a travel part- Packing/Transporting 3 ner. Pets • USA Homeland Security: www.tsa.gov/ travelers/index.shtm. Please go to this website to learn the most up to date information about • Make sure all required immunizations are how to pack your carry-on bags to ensure entry completed, for adults and children, prior to into the USA, travel security and USA guidelines. departure from your home country. Check with your family doctor as soon as you know • Check with your airline to confirm information you are relocating to discuss your family med- regarding THEIR travel restrictions. Some air- ical requirements and refill prescriptions if lines provide car seats for families traveling needed. It is especially important to ask a with children or have specific requirements for medical professional for advice about immun- children. Please inquire before departure. izations for you and your children. See separate Immunization Requirements page. • It is important to have cash on hand for immediate needs as well as emergencies, rental cars, • The Center for Disease Control’s website, daily living expenses, and rent and/or housing www.cdc.gov , offers a complete up to date list deposits. of the required immunizations. To avoid addi- tional immunizations, expenses, and delays • Prepaid credit cards are usually not acceptable. from school admission, it is imperative that you bring a copy of each family member’s Special points of interest: • All immunizations need to be completed before de- Things to Keep in Mind parture. • Families traveling with small children: your consultant will assist you when shopping for legal • Bring originals, and appropriate car seats, as needed. Up to date information enclosed in this book. copies, and English • Your consultant will stay in contact with you prior to arrival and will set up a personal meet and translations of all greet after arrival. documents.

• Be sure to have plenty of cash on hand. Page 2

Checklist

This pre-departure checklist will help you prepare for your move.

TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS PETS LEGAL/FINANCIAL/INSURANCE

__ Flight Reservations __ Inoculations scheduled __ Review insurance coverage for household shipment and storage items __ Hotel Reservations, if necessary __ Host country import regulations __ Map routes, if driving __ Banking/credit cards– review infor- __ Copy of Medical/inoculation records mation for a bank or credit union to open __ U. S. Country currency for tipping, an account prior to departure translation, daily living, rent/deposits, __ Travel reservations and emergencies __ Lawyer, Accountant, and Stockbroker __ Registration of pets upon arrival in have all needed documents MEDICAL new location– city tags, etc. __ Review applicability of legal documents __ Physical Exams Scheduled DRIVER’S LICENSE in host country with attorney licensed in host county (especially wills, powers of __ Inoculations/immunizations scheduled __ Bring current license/ English transla- attorney, guardianship letters, etc.) __ Copy of Medical and Inoculation/ tion. Must be valid for 90 days. immunization records with English trans- __ Medical/life insurance __ Get international license prior to de- lations parture. Valid 1 year. __ Household storage/shipment insurance __ Copy of Prescriptions __ Insurance letter (copy of driving record __ Transfer/close or notify checking and __ Extra Refills of Prescriptions for past three years) savings accounts __ Dental Records HOUSEHOLD __ Blank checks and forms for fund transfer __ Copy of Eye Prescription __ Complete household inventory __ Passports/ Extra photos __ Extra Eyeglasses/Contact Lenses __ Sort through belongings that may need __ Wills __ Record Blood Type to be donated to charity, discarded, or sold __ Visas, as necessary SCHOOL __ Take video/ photos of valuable items/ __ School Records with English Transla- __ Work Permits, as necessary items shipped tion __ Original Social Security Card __ Samples of Schoolwork (if appropriate) __ Cancel/ reroute newspaper, magazine subscriptions (if applicable) __ Marriage certificate translated to English __ Correct Inoculations/immunizations per Host Country, state and school regu- __ Telephone/internet/cable services __ Birth certificate translated to English lations. disconnected Refer to Safety/ Emergency– Page 6. NOTIFY CHANGE OF ADDRESS __ Water/electricity/gas services discon- __ Check on cut-off dates for school en- nected __ Clubs, organizations trance (age restrictions) __ List of items shipped to new home– __ Credit cards/ charge accounts __ Funds available for any private school keep the inventory list separate from application fees and/or deposits shipment! __ Bank/financial institutions __ Application made to new school (if

** Remember to hand-carry valuables such as jewelry along with copies of all documents and important papers such as school records, immunization records, legal documents (wills, birth certificates, marriage certificate, divorce decree, etc.), insurance papers, passports, and inventory of items shipped. Pre– Departure Page 3

Packing/Carry On Items

Air travelers may now carry liquids, gels, Each traveler may use only one. • All prescription and over the counter and aerosols in their carry on bag when 3. Each traveler must remove their plastic medications (liquids, gels, and aerosols) going through security checkpoints. bag from their carry on and place it in a including eye drop and saline solution With certain exceptions for prescription bin on the conveyor belt for X-ray screen- for medical purposes. and over the counter medicines, baby ing. X-raying separately will allow TSA • Liquids including water, juice, or liquid formula and breast milk, and other essen- security officers to more easily examine nutrition, or gels for passengers with a tial liquids, gels, and aerosols, the follow- the declared items. disability or medical condition. ing rules apply to all liquids, gels, and To ensure the health and welfare of cer- aerosols you want to carry through a tain air travelers, in the absence of suspi- • Gels or frozen liquids needed to cool security checkpoint. cious activity or items, greater than three disability or medically related items 1.All liquids, gels and aerosols must be in ounces of the following liquids, gels, and used by persons with disabilities or three ounce or smaller containers. aerosols are permitted through the secu- medical conditions. Larger containers that are half-full or rity checkpoint: toothpaste tubes rolled up are not allowed. • Baby formula and breast milk if a baby or small child is traveling 2. All liquids, gels and aerosols must be placed in a single, quart size, zip top, clear plastic bag. Gallon size bags or bags that are not zip top are not allowed.

Bringing Pets into the U.S. Be sure to check the weather in Houston The U.S. Public Health Service 1. Rabies Certificate (at least before arriving. Due to requires that pet dogs and 30 days old but less than our ever changing cats brought into this country one year at time of arrival be examined at the first port to the U.S.) weather, it could be of entry for evidence of dis- mild or quite hot eases that can be transmitted 2. Proof of Distemper shot for cats and dogs depending on the time to humans. Your animal will never be placed through an of year. Traveling with x-ray machine. 3. Health report/certificate issued by veterinarian with- extra clothes in a carry All breeds are accepted, but in 10 days of departure. on bag is advisable.

Transportation and Handling of Pets

Animals must be imported under setting the standards concerning agencies involved may vary from healthy, humane conditions. U.S. the transportation, handling, port to port, you are strongly Department of Agriculture care and treatment of animals. urged to check with your antici- (USDA) regulations require that pated port of arrival before im- Every pet container must be careful arrangements be made porting a pet. This will assure plainly marked, labeled, or with the carrier for suitable cag- expeditious processing and re- tagged on the outside with the es, space, ventilation, and protec- duce the possibility of unneces- names and addresses of the ship- tion from the elements. Cleaning, sary delays. per and consignee. feeding, watering, and other necessary services must be pro- Since hours of service and availa- vided. Under the Animal Welfare bility of inspectors from the oth- Act, the Department of Agricul- er ture is responsible for GENERAL INFORMATION

Inside this Section: Inside Houston

General Sam Houston, commander at the Battle Inside Houston/ Cul- 1 of San Jacinto. The burgeoning port and railroad industry, combined with oil discovery in 1901, ture has induced continual surges in Houston’s population. In the 20th century, Houston became Dates & Time Zones/ 2 the home of the Texas Medical Center, the Cityscapes Govern- world’s largest concentration of healthcare and research institutions, and NASA’s Lyndon B. Geography/Climate 3 Johnson Space Center. Houston’s economy has a broad industrial base

Hurricane Scale/ 4 in the energy, aeronautics, and technology in- Weather Facts dustries and only New York City is home to more Fortune 500 headquarters. The Port of Houston ranks first in the United States in inter- How to Write Checks/ 5- national waterborne tonnage handled and sec- TV & Radio Stations/ 10 Houston is the largest city in the state of Texas, ond in total cargo tonnage handled. Houston is the fourth largest in the United States. As of the also home to Rice University, one of the United Economy/ 11 2017 U.S. Census estimate, it had a population States leading teaching and research universi- Demographics/Arts of 2.313 million. The city covers more than 600 ties, and the University of Houston, Texas’s third square miles (1,600 km²). Houston is the county largest public research university with more Transportation/ 12 seat of Harris County and part of the Houston- than 43,000 students from 130 countries. Healthcare Sugar Land-Baytown metropolitan area, the sixth largest metropolitan area in the U.S. with a Houston is a multicultural city with a large and Tourism & Recrea- 13 population of more than 5.5 million. growing international community. The Museum District is home to many cultural institutions tion/Sports Houston was founded on August 30, 1836 by and exhibits, attracting more than 7 million Phones/How To 14 brothers Augustus Chapman Allen and John visitors a year. Houston has an active visual and Kirby Allen on land near the banks of Buffalo performing arts scene as one of five U.S. cities Block Telemarketer Bayou. The city was incorporated on June 5, that offer year round resident companies in all 1837 and named after major performing arts. Public Holidays/ 15 Celebrations

Culture

Special points of Houston is a multicultural city nickname of “Space City” in annual Houston Livestock interest: with a large and growing inter- 1967 because it is home to Show and Rodeo, held over 20 national community. The city NASA’s Lyndon B. Johnson days in late February to early • Houston is home is home to the nation’s third Space Center. Other nicknames March. Another large celebra- to more than 2 largest concentration of consu- include “H-Town”, “The Big tion is the annual night-time million people. lar offices representing 86 Heart”, “Bayou City”, and Houston Pride Parade, held at nations. Houston is designated “Magnolia City”. the end of June. Other annual • Only New York as a world-class city by the events include the Greek Festi- Globalization and World Cities Many annual events celebrate val, Art Car Parade, and the City has more Study Group and Network. the diverse cultures of Hou- Houston International Festival. Fortune 500 headquarters. General Information

Dates and Time Zones

The date is always written as month/day/year. It can be written as 03/10/19 or as March 10, 20129

The continental USA has four time zones: Pacific Standard Time (PST), Mountain Standard Time (MST), Central Standard Time (CST), and Eastern Standard Time (EST). The East Coast is three hours ahead of the West Coast.

Time is designated at A.M. Ante-Meridian (before noon) and P.M. Post-Meridian (after noon). There is a three hour difference between the Eastern Standard Time (EST) and Pacific Standard Time (PST) time zones. Example: If it is 5 pm in Florida/ New York (EST), then…

It is 4 pm in Houston, TX. (CST) It is 3 pm in Denver, CO. (MST) It is 2 pm in Los Angeles, CA. (PST)

Houston is minus 6 hours GMT.

*Don’t forget time changes due to daylight savings (“spring forward; fall back”)

Government The city of Houston has a strong mayoral form of municipal government. Houston is a home rule city and all municipal elections in the state of Texas are nonpartisan. The city’s elected officials are the mayor, city controller, and 14 members of the city council. The mayor of Houston serves as the city’s chief administrator, executive officer, and official representative. He is responsible for the general management of the city and for seeing that all laws and ordinances are enforced. As the result of a 1991 referendum in Houston, a mayor is elected for a two-year term, and can be elected to as many as three consecutive terms. The current city council line-up of nine district based and five at large positions was based on a U.S. Justice Department mandate which took effect in 1979. At-large council members represent the entire city. Under the current city charter, if the population in the city limits goes past 2.1 million residents, the current nine-member city council districts will be expanded with the addition of two city council districts.

Shown to the right: Harris County Courthouse General Information Page 3

Geography

According to the United when combined with urban and the Houston Ship States Census Bureau, the city sprawl, has made flooding a Channel, and has three has a total area of 601.7 recurring problem for the tributaries: White Oak Bayou, square miles (1,558.4 km²); city. Downtown stands about which runs through the this comprises 579.4 square 50 feet (15 m) above sea Heights neighborhood and miles (1,500.7 km²) of land level, and the highest point in toward downtown; Brays and 22.3 square miles (57.7 far northwest Houston is Bayou, which runs along the km²) of water. about 125 feet (38 m) in Texas Medical Center; and Most of Houston is located on elevation. The city once relied Sims Bayou, which runs the gulf coastal plain, and its on groundwater for its needs, through the south of Houston vegetation is classified as but land subsidence forced and downtown Houston. The temperate grassland and the city to turn to gound-level ship channel continues past forest. Much of the city was water sources such as Lake Galveston and then into the built of forested land, Houston and Lake Conroe. Gulf of Mexico. marshes, swamp, or prairie, Houston has four major Shown Above: Downtown Houston and which are all still visible in boyous passing through the Buffalo Bayou Bridge surrounding areas. Flatness city. Buffalo Bayou runs of the local terrain, through downtown

Climate Houston’s climate is classified (32°C). However, the vehicle and building in the on December 4, 2009 an inch as humid subtropical. Prevail- humidity results in a heat city; in fact, in 1980 Houston of snow fell in the city. This ing winds are from the south index higher than the actual was described as the “most was the earliest snowfall ever and southwest during most of temperature. Summer air conditioned place on recorded in Houston. In addi- the year, bringing heat across mornings average over 90 earth”. The hottest tion, it set another milestone the continent from the deserts percent relative humidity and temperature ever recorded in marking the first time in rec- of Mexico and moisture from approximately 60 percent in Houston was 109°F (43°C) on orded history that snowfall the Gulf of Mexico. the afternoon. Winds are September 4, 2000. Winters has occurred in two consecu- During the summer months, it often light in the summer and in Houston are cool and tive years. The coolest is common for the tempera- offer little relief, except near temperate. temperature ever recorded in ture to reach over 90°F (34° the immediate coast. To cope Houston sees an average of 18 Houston was 5°F (-15°C) on C), with an average of 99 with the heat, people use air days per year of 32°F (0°C) or January 23, 1940. days per year above 90°F conditioning in nearly every less. Snowfall is rare, however

Climate Data for Houston, 2019 Source: https://www.weather.gov/hgx/climate_iah General Information Page 4

Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale Hurricane season is from June through November. The information below is a reference guide to better understand Hurricane weather reports. The scale rates a hurricane’s intensity based on wind speed, and helps estimate damage and flooding from a hurricane landfall. Category Winds (MPH) Damage Effects

1 74-95 Minimal No real damage to building structures. Damage primarily to unanchored mobile homes, shrub- bery, and trees. Also, some coastal road flooding and minor pier damage.

2 96-110 Moderate Some roofing material, door, and window damage to buildings. Considerable damage to vegetation, mobile homes, and piers. Coastal and low-lying escape routes floor 2-4 hours before arrival of center. Small craft in unprotected anchorage break moorings. 3 111-130 Extensive Some structural damage to small residences and utility buildings with a minor amount of curtain wall failures. Mobile homes are destroyed. Flooding near the coast destroys smaller structures with larger structures damaged by floating debris. Terrain continuously lower than 5 feet ASL may be flooded inland 8 miles or more. 4 131-155 Extensive More extensive curtain wall failures with some complete roof structure failure on small residences. Major erosion of beach. Major damage to lower floors of structures near the shore. Terrain continuously lower than 10 feet ASL may be flooded requiring massive evacuation of residential areas inland as far as 6 miles. 5 >155 Catastrophic Complete roof failure on many residences and industrial buildings. Some complete building failures with small utility buildings blown over or away. Major damage to lower floors of all structures located less than 15 feet ASL and within 500 yards of the shoreline. Massive evacuation of residential areas on low ground within 5 to 10 miles of the shoreline may be required.

Weather Facts

For up-to-date • Houston is a city that is to drive through high water • For updates on severe weather prone to extreme weather weather conditions tune in conditions such as intense • Overpasses tend to freeze to a local Houston weather conditions tune in heat, flooding, and drought. faster than the roadway channel to a local weather It is important to be aware of these conditi