Texas Evacuation Routes
Some primary hurricane evacuation routes in Texas include:
- Interstate 10 (I-10): This major interstate highway runs east-west across Texas, connecting cities like Houston, San Antonio, and El Paso. In the event of a hurricane, I-10 can be used to evacuate towards the west (toward San Antonio) or east (toward Louisiana).
- Interstate 45 (I-45): This interstate highway runs north-south between Houston and Dallas, providing a primary evacuation route for residents of the Houston metropolitan area to move inland towards the north.
- US Highway 59 (US 59): This highway runs north-south through eastern Texas, connecting cities like Laredo, Houston, and Texarkana. US 59 can be utilized as a primary evacuation route to head north away from the coastal areas.
- US Highway 290 (US 290): This highway runs northwest from Houston towards Austin, providing another route for residents to evacuate inland from the Gulf Coast.
- US Highway 77 (US 77): This north-south highway runs through southeastern Texas, connecting cities like Corpus Christi, Victoria, and Waco. US 77 can be used to evacuate northward away from the Gulf Coast.
- US Highway 281 (US 281): This highway runs north-south through central Texas, providing an alternate route for residents in the coastal region to evacuate inland towards the north.
- State Highway 146 (SH 146): This highway runs north-south along the east side of Galveston Bay, providing a route for residents in coastal communities like Texas City and La Porte to evacuate inland.
- State Highway 225 (SH 225): This highway runs east-west from the Houston metropolitan area to the coastal city of La Porte, providing a route for residents to evacuate inland away from Galveston Bay.
Remember to follow the guidance of local authorities and stay informed about the latest evacuation procedures and routes during a hurricane. It’s essential to have a personal evacuation plan and be prepared to leave promptly when an evacuation order is issued.
- The Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) is the state agency responsible for coordinating emergency response in Texas. The TDEM website provides information on hurricane preparedness, evacuation routes, and shelters. You can also sign up for email and text alerts from TDEM.