Bexar County hurricane guide¶
The Bexar County Office of Emergency Management (BCOEM), in San Antonio, plans for and coordinates the response to disasters across the county. Bexar County is inland, but the county warns that hurricanes bring heavy rain that can cause flood damage far from the coast, and that flooding can continue after a storm has passed. Sign up for REAN alerts, and never drive through flooded roads.
Checked on October 3, 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 Bexar County Office of Emergency Management. In a life threatening emergency, call 911.
What to know in Bexar County¶
- The county says to evacuate if local officials tell you to, or if you live in a mobile home or temporary structure, a high-rise, or on a floodplain or near a river.
- Check road conditions and low water crossings across the county on BexarFlood before you drive in heavy rain.
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 | 210-335-0300 | Office line. Not for emergencies. Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. |
| County information line | 210-335-2011 | Bexar County Courthouse. Office line. Not for emergencies. |
| Sheriff's Office non-emergency | 210-335-6000 | Sheriff's Office Dispatch, for areas outside city limits. TTY available. Inside San Antonio, call the San Antonio Police non-emergency line at 210-207-7273. |
| Animal services | 210-335-9000 | Bexar County Animal Control, for areas outside city limits. Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. After hours, call the Sheriff's Office at 210-335-6000. |
Official alerts and information¶
- Regional Emergency Alert Network (REAN): Free alerts by text, email, or phone. Sign up before a storm. Include your address or you will not get alerts for your area. If you already signed up for the City of San Antonio's AlertSA, you do not need to sign up again; they are the same system. Website.
- Bexar County Hurricanes: The county's official hurricane information page. Website.
- BexarFlood: Road conditions and low water crossings across Bexar County. Website.
- ReadySouthTexas App: Preparedness app linked from the county 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.
Bexar County does not publish a standing list of shelters. If shelters open, watch REAN alerts and the county and your city for announcements, and do not go to a shelter until it is announced as open. After a storm, if you cannot return home, the county says you can text SHELTER and your ZIP code to 43362 (4FEMA) to find the nearest open shelter.
Help to evacuate¶
- State of Texas Emergency Assistance Registry (STEAR): The county emergency management page links STEAR registration. Register before a storm if you will need help to evacuate or a special needs shelter. The county notes that medical shelters are only for people with acute health care needs who would normally be admitted to a hospital. Website.
- Bexar County Animal Control: Loose and stray animals in unincorporated Bexar County. For loose livestock, call the Sheriff's Office at 210-335-6000 and press 1. Phone: 210-335-9000. Website.
Radio, TV and weather¶
Keep a battery or hand crank radio. When power and cell service fail, radio is often the only way to hear official updates.
Radio stations¶
| Station | Frequency | Language | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| WOAI | 1200 AM | English | Emergency Alert System primary station (SR, LP1) |
| KKYX | 680 AM | English | Emergency Alert System primary station (LP2) |
Emergency Alert System roles come from the Texas Emergency Alert System Plan, approved in December 2017 and updated in January 2026, published by the Texas Association of Broadcasters.
NOAA Weather Radio¶
A weather radio turns itself on for warnings, even in the middle of the night. Set it to this frequency.
| Station | Frequency | Transmitter |
|---|---|---|
| WXK67 | 162.550 MHz | San Antonio |
TV stations¶
| Station | Channel | Network | Language |
|---|---|---|---|
| WOAI-TV (News 4 San Antonio) | 4 | NBC | English |
| KENS (KENS 5) | 5 | CBS | English |
| KSAT-TV (KSAT 12) | 12 | ABC | English |
| KABB (Fox San Antonio, KABB Fox News 29) | 29 | Fox | English |
| KLRN | 9 | PBS | English |
| KWEX-DT (N+ Univision San Antonio) | 41 | Univision | Spanish |
| KVDA (Telemundo 60 San Antonio) | 60 | Telemundo | Spanish |
Official forecasts¶
- National Weather Service Austin/San Antonio: Local forecasts, watches, and warnings. Phone: 830-629-0130. Website.
- National Hurricane Center: Official hurricane forecasts, watches, and warnings. Website.
Power, water and debris¶
- Bandera Electric Cooperative: Report an outage online or by phone. Assume every downed line is live and stay far away. Phone: 866-226-3372. Website.
- Guadalupe Valley Electric Cooperative (GVEC): Report an outage online or by phone. Assume every downed line is live and stay far away. Phone: 800-223-4832. Website.
- Karnes Electric Cooperative: Report an outage online or by phone. Assume every downed line is live and stay far away. Phone: 888-807-3952. Website.
- Pedernales Electric Cooperative (PEC): Text OUTAGE to 25022. Phone: 888-883-3379. Website.
- City of San Antonio - CPS Energy: Rural areas toll-free: (800) 870-1006. Phone: 210-353-4357. Website.
After the storm: help for displaced residents¶
If your home is damaged or you cannot go back, these organizations help with shelter, food, money, and paperwork. Many programs open only after a disaster declaration, so check their pages for current status.
Where to start¶
- 2-1-1 Texas: The free 211 helpline for all of Texas, a program of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, answered by 25 Area Information Centers. Help finding food, housing, child care, crisis counseling, and disaster services, day or night. Dial 211 at any hour. If 211 does not connect, call 877-541-7905. Choose your language, then option 1 for local services or option 4 to register for STEAR. Phone: 211. Website.
Housing and shelter¶
- FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers: After a federal declaration, these centers help you apply for aid in person. Use the locator to find the nearest one. Phone: 1-800-621-3362. Website.
Food¶
- San Antonio Food Bank: Regional food bank for 29 counties. It supplies local food pantries and meal sites. San Antonio office. Call or use its website to find a food pantry near you. Phone: 210-337-3663. Website.
Money, work and insurance¶
- DisasterAssistance.gov: Apply for FEMA aid after a federal declaration. Phone: 1-800-621-3362. Website.
- SBA disaster loans: Low interest loans for homeowners, renters, and businesses after a declared disaster. Phone: 800-659-2955. Website.
Legal help¶
- Texas RioGrande Legal Aid: Free civil legal help for low-income residents of 68 counties in central, south, and southwest Texas, including the Coastal Bend, the Rio Grande Valley, San Antonio, and Austin. Call to apply, weekdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Time. Local number: 956-996-8752. Help in English and Spanish. Phone: 833-329-8752. Website.
Emotional support¶
- The Center for Health Care Services crisis line: The local mental health authority for Bexar County, under contract with the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. Answered at any hour, for a mental health or substance use crisis. Also 210-223-7233. You can also call or text 988. Phone: 800-316-9241. Website.
- 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call or text, any time. Phone: 988.
Relief organizations¶
- American Red Cross Greater San Antonio Chapter: The Red Cross chapter for 13 counties in and around San Antonio and Laredo, part of the Red Cross Central and South Texas Region. Shelter, emergency help, and disaster relief. San Antonio office. Laredo office: 956-286-8776. New Braunfels office: 830-608-9876. For disaster help at any hour, call 1-800-733-2767. Phone: 210-224-5151. 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.
- City of Alamo Heights
- City of Balcones Heights
- City of Castle Hills
- City of China Grove
- City of Cibolo
- City of Converse
- City of Elmendorf
- City of Fair Oaks Ranch
- City of Grey Forest
- City of Helotes
- City of Hill Country Village
- Town of Hollywood Park
- City of Kirby
- City of Leon Valley
- City of Live Oak
- City of Lytle
- City of Olmos Park
- City of San Antonio
- City of Sandy Oaks
- City of Schertz
- City of Selma
- City of Shavano Park
- City of Somerset
- City of St. Hedwig
- City of Terrell Hills
- City of Universal City
- City of Von Ormy
- City of Windcrest
Related guides¶
- Should I evacuate?
- What to expect at a hurricane shelter
- Hurricane supply list
- After a hurricane: the first 24 hours
- Insurance claims and disaster aid
Sources¶
Checked on October 3, 2026. If a number or address here is wrong, please tell us at Keith@KMyers.me.
- https://www.bexar.org/822/Hurricanes
- https://www.bexar.org/672/Emergency-Management
- https://www.bexar.org/228/Safety-Emergency-Information
- https://www.bexar.org/1850
- https://www.bexar.org/2090/Get-Emergency-Notifications
- https://www.weather.gov/source/nwr/JS/CCL.js
- https://api.weather.gov/zones/county/TXC029
- https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/
- https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/api/service/facility/search/WOAI
- https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/api/service/facility/search/KKYX
- https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/api/service/facility/search/WOAI-TV
- https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/api/service/facility/search/KENS
- https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/api/service/facility/search/KSAT-TV
- https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/api/service/facility/search/KABB
- https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/api/service/facility/search/KLRN
- https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/api/service/facility/search/KWEX-DT
- https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/api/service/facility/search/KVDA
- https://www.banderaelectric.com/
- https://www.gvec.org/electric/report-an-outage/
- https://www.karnesec.org/safety/outages/
- https://mypec.com/contact/
- https://www.cpsenergy.com/content/corporate/en/customer-support/contact-us.html
- https://egateway.fema.gov/ESF6/DRCLocator
- https://www.disasterassistance.gov/
- https://www.sba.gov/disaster/
- https://www.hhs.texas.gov/services/mental-health-substance-use/mental-health-substance-use-resources/find-your-local-mental-health-or-behavioral-health-authority
- https://www.211texas.org/about-2-1-1/
- https://www.feedingtexas.org/food-banks/
- https://www.trla.org/offices
- https://www.redcross.org/local/texas/central-and-south-texas/about-us/locations/greater-san-antonio.html