Marion County hurricane guide¶
In Marion County, Sheriff David Capps also serves as the Emergency Management Coordinator, and the County Judge declares local disasters. Before Hurricane Beryl in July 2024, the County Judge declared a local disaster because the storm threatened the waterways in and around the county, which include Big Cypress Creek and Caddo Lake. Sign up for Smart911 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 Marion County Emergency Management Coordinator. 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. |
| Sheriff's Office non-emergency | 903-665-7201 | For police matters that are not emergencies. The Sheriff is also the county's Emergency Management Coordinator. |
| County information line | 903-665-3261 | Marion County Courthouse and County Judge's office. Office line. Not for emergencies. |
Official alerts and information¶
- Smart911 (Marion County alerts): Free alerts by text, email, or phone. Sign up before a storm. Smart911 replaced CodeRED, and old CodeRED sign-ups did not carry over, so register again. You can add mobile, unlisted, and TDD/TTY numbers. Website.
- Marion County Emergency Management Coordinator: The county emergency management page, with burn ban orders. 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.
Marion County does not publish a hurricane shelter list. During a storm, check Smart911 alerts for any shelter that opens, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| KKYR-FM | 102.5 FM | English | Emergency Alert System primary station (LP1) |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| KWN32 | 162.425 MHz | Gilmer |
| WXJ97 | 162.400 MHz | Shreveport |
TV stations¶
| Station | Channel | Network | Language |
|---|---|---|---|
| KTBS-TV (KTBS 3) | 3 | ABC | English |
| KTAL-TV (NBC 6) | 6 | NBC | English |
| KSLA (KSLA News 12) | 12 | CBS | English |
| KMSS-TV (Fox 33) | 33 | Fox | English |
| KLTS-TV (LPB) | 24 | PBS | English |
Official forecasts¶
- National Weather Service Shreveport: Local forecasts, watches, and warnings. Phone: 318-631-3669. Website.
- National Hurricane Center: Official hurricane forecasts, watches, and warnings. Website.
Power, water and debris¶
- Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO): Report an outage online or by phone. Assume every downed line is live and stay far away. Phone: 888-218-3919. Website.
- Upshur Rural Electric Cooperative (URECC): Toll-free (866) 804-1674. Text OUT to (855) 939-3744 (single-meter accounts only). Phone: 903-680-2100. 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¶
- East Texas Food Bank: Regional food bank for 26 counties. It supplies local food pantries and meal sites. Tyler office. Call or use its website to find a food pantry near you. Phone: 903-597-3663. 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¶
- Lone Star Legal Aid: Free civil legal help for low-income residents of 72 counties in east and southeast Texas, including the Houston and Beaumont areas. Its Disaster Relief team helps with lost legal papers, home repair contracts, landlord problems, proof of home ownership, and FEMA appeals. Call to apply. Houston main office: 713-652-0077. You can also apply online. Phone: 800-733-8394. Website.
Emotional support¶
- Community Healthcore crisis line: The local mental health authority for Bowie, Cass, Gregg, Harrison, Marion, Panola, Red River, Rusk, and Upshur 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: 800-832-1009. Website.
- 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call or text, any time. Phone: 988.
Relief organizations¶
- American Red Cross East Texas Chapter: The Red Cross chapter for 28 counties in northeast Texas, part of the Red Cross North Texas Region. Shelter, emergency help, and disaster relief. Tyler office. Longview office: 903-753-2091. Texarkana office: 903-793-5602. Paris office: 903-737-4390. For disaster help at any hour, call 1-800-733-2767. Phone: 903-581-7981. 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.marion.tx.us/page/marion.Sheriff
- https://www.co.marion.tx.us/page/marion.County.Judge
- https://www.co.marion.tx.us/page/marion.EmergencyManagementCoordinator
- https://www.weather.gov/source/nwr/JS/CCL.js
- https://api.weather.gov/zones/county/TXC315
- https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/
- https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/api/service/facility/search/KKYR
- https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/api/service/facility/search/KTBS-TV
- https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/api/service/facility/search/KTAL-TV
- https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/api/service/facility/search/KSLA
- https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/api/service/facility/search/KMSS-TV
- https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/api/service/facility/search/KLTS-TV
- https://www.swepco.com/outages/report/
- https://urecc.coop/
- 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.lonestarlegal.org/offices/
- https://www.redcross.org/local/texas/north-texas/about-us/locations/east-texas.html