Texas Gulf Coast — High Surge Risk

Hurricane Preparedness in Texas

The Texas Gulf Coast stretches over 360 miles from the Sabine River to the Rio Grande, exposing millions of residents in Houston, Galveston, Corpus Christi, Beaumont, and the Rio Grande Valley to hurricane threats. Texas's broad, shallow continental shelf amplifies storm surge, and the Houston metro's complex freeway system can gridlock during evacuations.

Evacuation Checklist → Supply Checklist → Live Storm Center

⚠ Storm Surge Warning

Galveston Island and the Bolivar Peninsula face extreme surge risk. During Hurricane Ike, surge exceeded 15–20 feet on Bolivar Peninsula. The Houston Ship Channel area is also vulnerable. Storm surge kills faster than wind — know your zone.

Storm History

Major Hurricanes Affecting Texas

Major Texas hurricanes include the Great Galveston Hurricane of 1900 (deadliest U.S. natural disaster), Hurricane Alicia (1983), Hurricane Rita (2005 — one of the largest evacuations in U.S. history), Hurricane Ike (2008, massive storm surge across Galveston Island and Bolivar Peninsula), and Hurricane Harvey (2017, record rainfall and flooding in Houston).

Official Resources

Emergency Management & Evacuation Links

State Emergency Management

Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM)

Texas TDEM →

Find Your Evacuation Zone

Official zone lookup — check before the season, not when a storm is named.

Texas Hurricane Preparedness →

Additional Resources

⚡ Contraflow Operations

Texas activates contraflow on major Gulf Coast highways — including I-10, I-45, US-290, and US-59 — during major evacuations. The 2005 Rita evacuation exposed fatal flaws in the plan; improvements have been made but leaving early remains essential. Monitor TxDOT for contraflow status.

Texas-Specific

Preparedness Tips for Texas

Houston residents: know your county flood/surge zone — use Harris County's zone finder
Galveston Island: mandatory evacuation orders are serious — the island will flood
Harvey taught us: flooding can occur 100+ miles inland — don't assume you're safe inland
Leave early — Houston freeways gridlock fast; traffic deaths occurred during the Rita evacuation
Have a plan to shelter pets — Texas shelters vary on pet policies
During flood events: never drive through flooded roads — 'Turn Around, Don't Drown'

Current Atlantic Activity

Live NHC Storm Outlook

Atlantic 2-Day Outlook

NHC Atlantic 2-Day Graphical Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic 7-Day Outlook

NHC Atlantic 7-Day Graphical Tropical Weather Outlook

Images from NOAA NHC (nhc.noaa.gov). Not affiliated with NHC. Full Storm Center →

Take Action Now

📋 Hurricane Supply Checklist →

Water, food, power, first aid, medications, documents, pets — everything to stock before the storm.

🚗 Evacuation Checklist →

Go-bag contents, when to leave, how to secure your home, zone lookup links.

💡 Power Outage Checklist →

Generator safety (never indoors), food safety, heat safety, communications.

FAQ

Texas Hurricane FAQ

How do I find my Texas hurricane evacuation zone?

Evacuation zones in Texas are managed at the county level. Contact your county emergency management office or check tdem.texas.gov for links to county-specific zone maps. Harris County (Houston) residents should check hcoem.org.

What happened during the Hurricane Rita evacuation?

In 2005, roughly 3 million people evacuated ahead of Hurricane Rita, causing massive gridlock on Texas highways. Dozens of deaths were attributed to the evacuation itself, including a bus fire. Texas has since improved contraflow operations and evacuation coordination, but the lesson is clear: leave early, before official orders if possible.

Is Houston at risk for storm surge?

Yes. The Houston Ship Channel, Galveston Bay, and communities near the coast face significant surge risk. Galveston Island and the Bolivar Peninsula have extreme surge exposure. Far inland areas of Harris County are more at risk from flooding than surge, but surge can extend 30+ miles inland in some scenarios.

Disclaimer: This page provides general preparedness information. Always follow orders from your local emergency management officials. Evacuation zone information changes — verify with your county or state EM office. In an emergency, call 911. Not affiliated with NOAA, NHC, FEMA, or any state agency.