Jackson County hurricane guide¶
Jackson County Emergency Management, at the courthouse in Edna, plans for disasters and sends CodeRED alerts. The county's evacuation plan names flood prone areas, the area below the Lake Texana spillway, and rural land along the Navidad River among the places that may need to evacuate. The county does not publish ZIP code evacuation zones, so sign up for CodeRED and follow the county's orders during 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 Jackson County Emergency Management. In a life threatening emergency, call 911.
What to know in Jackson County¶
- After an evacuation, Jackson County issues re-entry permits. To ask for one, email the Emergency Operations Center at jceoc@co.jackson.tx.us.
- CodeRED text alerts come from 24639, and voice alerts come from the Sheriff's Office number, 361-782-3541. Save both in your contacts. CodeRED replaced the old Jackson County app.
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 | 361-703-4607 | Jackson County Emergency Management Coordinator, 115 W. Main, Room 104, Edna. Office line. Not for emergencies. |
| County information line | 361-782-2352 | Jackson County Judge's office. Office line. Not for emergencies. |
| Sheriff's Office non-emergency | 361-782-3541 | Jackson County Sheriff's Office dispatch. For police matters that are not emergencies. |
Official alerts and information¶
- Jackson County CodeRED: Free alerts by text, email, or phone. Sign up before a storm. To get text alerts without an account, text JACKSONALERTS to 24639. There is also a CodeRED mobile app. CodeRED can call most landlines in the county in a major emergency, but the county still asks you to sign up. Website.
- Jackson County Emergency Management: The county's emergency management page, with alert signup, re-entry permits, and the emergency plan. The county also posts updates on its EOC Facebook 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.
Jackson County does not publish a standing list of hurricane shelters. Watch CodeRED alerts and the county's Facebook page for evacuation orders and shelter information during a storm, and do not go to a shelter until it is announced as open.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| KIXS | 107.9 FM | English | Emergency Alert System primary station (LP1) |
| KVNN | 1340 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 |
|---|---|---|
| KJY78 | 162.450 MHz | New Taiton |
| WXL26 | 162.475 MHz | Port O'Connor |
| WXK34 | 162.400 MHz | Victoria |
TV stations¶
| Station | Channel | Network | Language |
|---|---|---|---|
| KPRC-TV (KPRC 2) | 2 | NBC | English |
| KHOU (KHOU 11) | 11 | CBS | English |
| KTRK-TV (ABC13) | 13 | ABC | English |
| KRIV (FOX 26 Houston) | 26 | Fox | English |
| KUHT (Houston Public Media, TV 8) | 8 | PBS | English |
| KXLN-DT (N+ Univision Houston) | 45 | Univision | Spanish |
| KTMD (Telemundo Houston) | 47 | Telemundo | Spanish |
Official forecasts¶
- National Weather Service Houston/Galveston: Local forecasts, watches, and warnings. Phone: 281-337-5074. 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.
- 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.
- Jackson Electric Cooperative: Matagorda County area: (979) 245-3029. Phone: 361-771-4400. Website.
- Victoria Electric Cooperative: Outage updates: (361) 582-5555. Phone: 361-573-2428. Website.
- Wharton County Electric Cooperative: Toll-free: 1-800-460-6271. Phone: 979-543-6271. 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 Golden Crescent: Regional food bank for 11 counties. It supplies local food pantries and meal sites. Victoria office. Call or use its website to find a food pantry near you. Phone: 361-578-0591. 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¶
- Gulf Bend Center crisis line: The local mental health authority for Calhoun, DeWitt, Goliad, Jackson, Lavaca, Refugio, and Victoria 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: 877-723-3422. Website.
- 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call or text, any time. Phone: 988.
Relief organizations¶
- American Red Cross of Coastal Bend: The Red Cross chapter for 19 counties along the middle Texas coast, part of the Red Cross Texas Gulf Coast Region. Shelter, emergency help, and disaster relief. Corpus Christi office. Victoria office: 361-573-2671. For disaster help at any hour, call 1-800-733-2767. Phone: 361-887-9991. 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.
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.co.jackson.tx.us/page/Emergency
- https://www.co.jackson.tx.us/
- https://www.co.jackson.tx.us/page/Sheriff
- https://www.weather.gov/source/nwr/JS/CCL.js
- https://api.weather.gov/zones/county/TXC239
- https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/
- https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/api/service/facility/search/KIXS
- https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/api/service/facility/search/KVNN
- https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/api/service/facility/search/KPRC-TV
- https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/api/service/facility/search/KHOU
- https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/api/service/facility/search/KTRK-TV
- https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/api/service/facility/search/KRIV
- https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/api/service/facility/search/KUHT
- https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/api/service/facility/search/KXLN-DT
- https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/api/service/facility/search/KTMD
- https://www.aeptexas.com/
- https://www.gvec.org/electric/report-an-outage/
- https://www.jecec.com/
- https://victoriaelectric.coop/content/outage
- https://www.mywcec.coop/outagecenter
- 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/coastal-bend.html