Katy ISD is adapting its curriculum to handle the rise in technology and artificial intelligence.

What’s happening: At a July 20 work study meeting, Sanée Bell, assistant superintendent of teaching and learning, provided an update to the board of trustees on the technology Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills implementation and the district’s AI framework.

TEKS for technology applications are the state-approved guidelines for students kindergarten through eighth grade on how to responsibly and incrementally interact with technology that is student-centered, teacher-guided and future-ready.

Petfolk is continuing its Greater Houston expansion with the opening of its new Fulshear location.

What to expect: The veterinary practice offers a variety of pet services including primary, sick and urgent care as well as diagnostics, surgeries and dental care, according to its website.

Zooming out: The new location joins locations in Vintage Park, Pearland, Sugar Land and Missouri City, per its website.

• 29615 Jordan Crossing Blvd., Ste. 240, Fulshear

Fort Bend County has secured a new shelter partnership aimed at keeping residents safe during hurricanes and other large-scale disasters.

The big picture: Fort Bend County Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management officials announced a new agreement with the Fort Bend Epicenter—a multipurpose venue located in Rosenberg—as a major emergency shelter option to provide a safe location during hurricanes and other disasters, officials announced in a July 23 Facebook post.

The center, which will be ready for use throughout the year in case of an emergency, provides county officials with a space to shelter a large number of residents in a centralized location, per the post.

Why it matters: The announcement comes as hurricane season is ongoing through Nov. 30, although National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration officials are predicting the first below-average Atlantic hurricane season since 2015.

However, Fort Bend County residents are encouraged to review their emergency plans and know where to go in case of a storm, county officials said.

Need to catch up on Community Impact’s coverage from last week? Check out six trending stories from the South Houston area from July 20-24.

1. Pearland shifts with new mayor and city leadership changes

2. New 17-acre River Oaks development set to define luxury with new amenities

3. New DPS office to open in Katy after 15-plus years

4. Goodwill to open 2nd Missouri City store in Sienna

5. Pomodoro’s Cucina Italiana awarded $850K incentive to open in Seabrook

6. Blue Mambo to rebrand, relocate to Bissonnet in elevated beauty partnership with Hair Craft Collective

As more data centers are being built in Texas, the state’s water planning agency warns that limited information is available about the booming industry and its impact on water supplies.

The overview: The Texas Water Development Board adopted its initial 2027 State Water Plan on July 23, with a “more robust” version of the plan expected later this year. The plan consists of 3,000 water management projects and 6,700 strategies that experts say are needed to prepare for future severe droughts.

It will cost about $174 billion to complete the projects, according to the TWDB. However, if they are not implemented, a severe drought could cost the state $91 billion in economic damages as soon as 2030 and lead to $177 billion in annual losses by 2080.

The context: These projections do not account for the amount of water that data centers—which largely purchase their water from public systems—may use or how the large facilities could contribute to overall water availability. Right now, the board said it did not have enough information to do so.