Evacuation Tips

Evacuation Tips For Brazoria County

How will I know when to evacuate? Mandatory evacuation orders will come from your local officials. Evacuations will be based on ZIP CODES. When that call comes, you need to be prepared to leave immediately.

Should I evacuate? Local officials make decisions to evacuate 36 to 48 hours before a storm makes landfall. Hurricanes are extremely unpredictable and can become much more dangerous in a matter of hours. It is NOT safe to wait. Plan to LEAVE EARLY. Should you choose to stay, please remember there are NO SHELTERS in Brazoria County. Also, please know that emergency crews will be unable to assist you during the storm.

Where should I go? You may evacuate to any city you choose. Brazoria County residents have been assigned Belton, Texas for public shelters. If you do not have hotel reservations or family you can stay with, you may evacuate to the public shelters.

What route should I take? There are no mandatory routes you must take when evacuating from your city. In fact there are several different routes you may take. When weather is good, take your family on an outing to check routes and become familiar with roadways. Please know that the State will be providing places for gas, water and food on all designated evacuation routes (SH 36, SH 288, SH 6, I 45, 290). If you choose to take an alternate route, essential services such as food, fuel, etc. are not guaranteed.

When evacuating you should: Coordinate your departure with the people who will be traveling with you. Notify an out-of-area persons of your evacuation plans. Make arrangements for your pets. Pack your disaster supplies kit into your vehicle. Secure your home. Double check your evacuation route and leave.

Evacuating tips. Keep your vehicle in good repair with at least a half a tank of fuel. Check on friends and neighbors who may have special needs. Prepare your disaster supplies kit NOW and take it with you when you evacuate. Secure your home quickly; evacuate when asked to do so.

I don't want to evacuate! Please know if you choose to stay during a major hurricane, there will be NO SERVICES available to you. Hospitals will close, ambulances will not run, and police and fire cannot respond until the storm passes.

When should I return? Please contact your city's emergency management coordinator's office or the county's emergency manager's office before returning. West Columbia's number is 979-345-5121. Brazoria County's Emergency Management number is 979-864-1064. Do not venture onto roads until you have been advised that they are passable and safe. The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) will post staggered re-entry maps on TexasOnline.com.

Fuel. Motorist should fill their tanks before evacuating. TxDOT has made arrangements to assure maximum-possible fuel availability during an evacuation. Should fuel supplies become low, evacuees should look for TxDOT signs indicating key fuel locations. TxDOT courtesy vehicles will be patrolling major evacuation routes.

Key Telephone Numbers. The number to call for road conditions on state highways is 1-800-452-9292. If you have an emergency, call 9-1-1. During a "hurricane watch," listen to your radio or television constantly. Emergency officials can interrupt routine broadcasts to give special weather updates, warning messages, and evacuation information. Tune to KTRH, 740 AM; KPRC, 950 AM or KLOL, 101.1 FM for information. For 24-hour weather broadcasts from the National Weather Service, tune to NOAA Weather Radio on the high-band FM frequency 162.55 megahertz (MHz) that broadcasts from Galveston, 162.40 MHz that broadcasts from Houston, or 162.425 MHz that broadcasts from Bay City.

What Can I do to prepare for a storm?

While there are no sure ways to predict when and where a hurricane will come ashore in Texas, both cities and counties have emergency managers whose job is to prepare the community and its citizens for these storms and other disasters. For answers to specific questions you may have concerning hurricanes and preparing for them, contact your local Emergency Management Office. In addition, read the information in this section and share it with friends and family. When a hurricane threatens, it will help you survive the storm.

How should I prepare for an evacuation? 

Prepare a disaster supplies kit and pack it in your vehicle. Make sure your car is in good repair and full of gas. Secure your home: turn off the gas, water, and electricity; board up the windows and draw drapes across them; brace garage doors; bring in or secure any loose objects in the yard; and lock all windows and doors. If you have a boat, secure it on a trailer near your house and fill it with water. Make arrangements for pets before you leave; most public shelters, and many hotels and motels do not allow them. Leave a note telling where you plan to go. Designate an out-of-area contact that family and friends can call to get information on your whereabouts. Finally, designate a meeting point for your family should you get separated.