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Catawba County hurricane guide

Catawba County Emergency Management (CatCoEM), a division of county Emergency Services in Newton, plans for and coordinates the response to emergencies and disasters, including tornadoes, flooding, and ice storms. This is an inland Piedmont county with no storm surge evacuation zones. Sign up for the county's CodeRED Community Alert System before a storm, and ask about the Special Needs Registry if you or someone in your home has a functional need or disability.

Checked on October 2, 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 Catawba County Emergency Management. In a life threatening emergency, call 911.

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 828-465-8989 Catawba County Emergency Management. Office line. Not for emergencies.
County information line 828-465-8200 Catawba County Government main line. Office line. Not for emergencies.
Sheriff's Office 828-464-5241 Main office line. For emergencies, call 911.
Road and traffic conditions (511) 511 Road closures and conditions. From outside North Carolina, call 877-511-4662. Overnight and during emergencies, use DriveNC.gov.

Official alerts and information

  • Catawba County Community Alert System (CodeRED): Free alerts by phone, text, and email. Sign up before a storm. Website.
  • Catawba County Emergency Management: The county's emergency management page. 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.

Catawba County does not publish a list of shelters in advance. Watch Community Alert System messages and county announcements for information about shelters, and do not go to a site until it is announced.

Help to evacuate

  • Catawba County Special Needs Registry: The county asks residents with functional needs or disabilities to sign up for the Special Needs Registry in addition to the Community Alert System, so the county has more information about your needs in an emergency. The registration form is on the county site. 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 2, 2026. If a number or address here is wrong, please tell us at Keith@KMyers.me.