Cameron County hurricane guide¶
Cameron County Emergency Management Services, in Brownsville, plans for hurricanes for the southernmost county on the Texas coast, including South Padre Island, Port Isabel, Brownsville, and Harlingen. The eastern part of the county, along the Laguna Madre and the barrier island, lies in hurricane evacuation zones, and storms can also bring flooding and damage to mobile homes. Know whether you live in an evacuation zone, sign up for CodeRED alerts, and wait for local officials before returning after a storm.
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 Cameron County Emergency Management Services. In a life threatening emergency, call 911.
What to know in Cameron County¶
- If you live in a hurricane evacuation zone and will need help getting out before a hurricane, the county asks you to dial 2-1-1 now to register for a ride. The county says the 2-1-1 line is disconnected 72 hours before hurricane winds arrive, so register early.
- Much of the county's emergency management page is in English and Spanish, and the county offers a bilingual hurricane brochure and preparedness videos in English, Spanish, and American Sign Language.
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 | 956-547-7000 | Cameron County Emergency Management Services, 964 E. Harrison St., Brownsville. Office line. Not for emergencies. |
| County information line | 956-544-0830 | Cameron County Judge's office. Office line. Not for emergencies. |
| Sheriff's Office non-emergency | 956-554-6700 | Cameron County Sheriff's Office main line. For police matters that are not emergencies. |
Official alerts and information¶
- CodeRED (Cameron County): Free alerts by text, email, or phone. Sign up before a storm. Run by the Cameron County Emergency Communications District for evacuation notices, weather advisories, and other emergencies. Alert calls come from 1-206-536-3695; save it as a contact named CodeRED. Website.
- Cameron County Emergency Management: The county's official hurricane information page, with evacuation maps, STEAR registration, and preparedness guides. Also in Spanish. Website.
Evacuation zones¶
Cameron County publishes a hurricane evacuation zone map and an interactive zone map. The zones cover the eastern part of the county, from South Padre Island and the Laguna Madre shore inland toward Brownsville, San Benito, and Harlingen. Open the interactive map to see whether your home is in a zone, and follow CodeRED alerts and local officials for evacuation orders. The county also publishes a hurricane evacuation route map. Do not try to return as soon as the storm passes. Wait for local officials to say when you may return, and if your community has a storm re-entry program, register for it before a storm.
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.
Cameron County does not post a standing list of hurricane shelters. If shelters open for a storm, local officials announce them, so follow CodeRED alerts and the county emergency management page. Before a storm, plan where you will go, with alternate routes and places to stay, and arrange care for pets if your shelter will not accept them.
Help to evacuate¶
- State of Texas Emergency Assistance Registry (STEAR): If you have a disability or health need, cannot drive, or have no vehicle and no one to help you evacuate, the county asks you to register with STEAR by dialing 2-1-1 or online. Registration is free, voluntary, and confidential, but does not guarantee a specific service. The 2-1-1 line is disconnected 72 hours before hurricane winds arrive. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFRQ | 94.5 FM | English | Emergency Alert System primary station (LP1) |
| KURV | 710 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 |
|---|---|---|
| WWG34 | 162.550 MHz | Brownsville |
| WZ2541 | 162.475 MHz | Pharr Spanish (Spanish) |
| KHB33 | 162.400 MHz | Pharr |
| WZ2542 | 162.450 MHz | Santa Maria Spanish (Spanish) |
TV stations¶
| Station | Channel | Network | Language |
|---|---|---|---|
| KRGV-TV (KRGV Channel 5 News) | 5 | ABC | English |
| KVEO-TV (KVEO NBC 23) | 23 | NBC | English |
| KFXV (FOX Rio Grande Valley) | 60 | Fox | English |
| KNVO (Noticias 48 KNVO) | 48 | Univision | Spanish |
| KTLM (Telemundo 40) | 40 | Telemundo | Spanish |
Official forecasts¶
- National Weather Service Brownsville/Rio Grande Valley: Local forecasts, watches, and warnings. Phone: 956-504-1432. Website.
- National Hurricane Center: Official hurricane forecasts, watches, and warnings. Website.
Power, water and debris¶
- AEP Texas: In the ERCOT competitive market you may buy power from a retail electric provider, but AEP Texas owns the lines and restores outages: report outages to AEP Texas, not to your retail provider. Phone: 866-223-8508. Website.
- Magic Valley Electric Cooperative: Report an outage online or by phone. Assume every downed line is live and stay far away. Phone: 866-225-5683. Website.
- City of Brownsville - Brownsville Public Utilities Board (BPUB): 24/7 emergencies: (956) 983-6300. Phone: 956-983-6121. 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¶
- Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley: Regional food bank for 3 counties. It supplies local food pantries and meal sites. Pharr office, Monday to Friday. Call or use its website to find a food pantry near you. Phone: 956-682-8101. 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¶
- Tropical Texas Behavioral Health crisis line: The local mental health authority for Cameron, Hidalgo, and Willacy counties, under contract with the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. Answered at any hour, for a mental health or substance use crisis. You can also call or text 988. Phone: 877-289-7199. Website.
- 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call or text, any time. Phone: 988.
Relief organizations¶
- American Red Cross of South Texas: The Red Cross chapter for 7 counties in the Rio Grande Valley and deep south Texas, part of the Red Cross Texas Gulf Coast Region. Shelter, emergency help, and disaster relief. Harlingen office. For disaster help at any hour, call 1-800-733-2767. Phone: 956-423-0523. 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.
- Town of Bayview
- City of Brownsville
- City of Combes
- City of Harlingen
- Town of Indian Lake
- City of La Feria
- Town of Laguna Vista
- City of Los Fresnos
- Town of Los Indios
- City of Palm Valley
- City of Port Isabel
- City of Primera
- Town of Rancho Viejo
- Village of Rangerville
- City of Rio Hondo
- City of San Benito
- City of Santa Rosa
- City of South Padre Island
- City of Starbase
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.cameroncountytx.gov/emergency-management/
- https://www.cameroncountytx.gov/directory/
- https://cameroncounty911.com/911-facts/codered-emergency-notification-system/
- https://cameroncountytx.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/2015_Hurricane_Preparedness_Brochure_Side_by_Side_Bilingual.pdf
- https://www.weather.gov/source/nwr/JS/CCL.js
- https://api.weather.gov/zones/county/TXC061
- https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/
- https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/api/service/facility/search/KFRQ
- https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/api/service/facility/search/KURV
- https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/api/service/facility/search/KRGV-TV
- https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/api/service/facility/search/KVEO-TV
- https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/api/service/facility/search/KFXV
- https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/api/service/facility/search/KNVO
- https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/api/service/facility/search/KTLM
- https://www.aeptexas.com/
- https://www.magicvalley.coop/contact/
- https://www.bpub.com/emergency-response/rotating-outages
- 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/gulf-coast/about-us/locations/south-texas.html