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Union County hurricane guide

The Union County Division of Emergency Services protects against emergencies and disasters through mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery, and the county's alert page names the Office of Emergency Management as the administrator of its UC First Alert network. The county says hurricanes and their remnants often affect Union County, as with Sandy in 2012 and Ida in 2021. The county pages read do not publish evacuation zones or a shelter list, so follow your town's emergency management office for local orders.

Checked on October 8, 2026

Every phone number and web address on this page was checked against official sources on that date. Details can change, especially during a storm. Always follow instructions from Union County Division of Emergency Services. In a life threatening emergency, call 911.

What to know in Union County

  • The county says to keep enough supplies to shelter in place for at least three days, to pack a go bag in case you must evacuate, and that most emergency shelters cannot accommodate pets.

Emergency and information numbers

Service Number Notes
Emergency 911 Police, fire, and ambulance. Call only when someone's life or property is in danger.
Emergency management office 908-654-9881 Union County Division of Emergency Services, 400 North Avenue East, Westfield. Not for emergencies.

Official alerts and information

  • UC First Alert: Free alerts by email, text, and other devices. Sign up before a storm. The county page has the registration link. Website.

Evacuation centers

Open only when announced

Evacuation centers open only when officials announce them, and not every center opens for every storm. Check the official list of open centers before you leave home. Bring your own bedding, food, water, and medicines.

The Union County pages read do not list shelters. Check UC First Alert and your town's emergency management office to find out whether a shelter is open before you go. The county says most emergency shelters cannot accommodate pets.

Official list of open evacuation centers

Help to evacuate

  • Register Ready (special needs registry): New Jersey's Special Needs Registry for people with disabilities who need help during an evacuation or emergency. The county page links to it. Website.

Cities and towns

Each city has its own services and some have their own alerts. The county's evacuation zones, evacuation centers, and emergency alerts cover everyone, in every city and in unincorporated areas.

Sources

Checked on October 8, 2026. If a number or address here is wrong, please tell us at Keith@KMyers.me.