Flood Warnings and Disaster Preparedness

The ability to safely evacuate residents during a disaster depends on strong disaster preparedness planning and requires the cooperation of all affected citizens.

During periods of heavy rainfall, the City of Rockport’s street drainage crew is on-call 24-hour and inspects roadways to monitor flooding. City crews use barricades to close roads that are inundated with water and to discourage traffic from driving through these areas. 

When a Hurricane threatens the City evacuating is the smartest thing to do, and the City and Aransas County will implement the Phased Evacuation Process through the Code Red Emergency Notification system. If you have already signed up through FirstCall, your information has already been transferred. Use  this link to sign up. 

Residents can choose to enter up to a combined total of five different phone numbers or email addresses.  Residents can contact Cmdr. Larry Sinclair at 361-790-1134 if they have questions or need assistance. NOAA Weather Radios also broadcast current local weather information, watches, warnings, and forecasts 24 hours a day, and can be monitored on 162.400 mhz.

Times of each phase will be adjusted based on storm speed and intensity. Periods between timelines may be shortened or lengthened depending on the storm.  The City receives information from NOAA Weather Station Radio broadcasts weather information 24 hours a day, and from the National Weather Service offices in Corpus Christi, Texas. The local contact number for the National Weather Service is 817-429-2631. Please call in reference to evacuation notices, procedures and shelters.

PHASE 1:

40 hours prior to the onset of 35 MPH winds (Tropical Conditions)

Description: Voluntary Evacuation of all special needs residents, nursing homes, home health care patients, tourists and vacationers in Aransas County.

Hazard: Category 1-5 hurricane

Evacuation Routes: SH 188 to IH 37. SH 35 north to FM 239 to US 77 or US 183.

PHASE 2

32 hours prior to the onset of 35 MPH winds (Tropical Conditions)

Description: Mandatory Evacuation of all special needs residents, nursing homes, home health care patients, tourists and vacationers in Aransas County. All residents living in mobile homes or along the water front/canals or low lying areas that normally flood with heavy rains or high tides.

Hazard: Category 1-5 hurricane

Evacuation Routes: SH 188 to IH 37. SH 35 north to FM 239 to US 77 or US 183

PHASE 3

24 hours prior to the onset of 35 MPH winds (Tropical Conditions)

Description: Mandatory Evacuation of all residents and those not deemed essential employees by business such as banks, food service, pharmacies, fuel supply, grocery/emergency supply stores and those in the oil, gas and chemical industry.

Hazard: Category 1-5 hurricane

Evacuation Routes: SH 188 to IH 37. SH 35 north to FM 239 to US 77 or US 183

PHASE 4

16 hours prior to the onset of 35 MPH winds (Tropical Conditions)

Description: Mandatory Evacuation of all remaining residents. Essential employees of businesses such as banks, food service, pharmacies, fuel supply, grocery/emergency supply stores and those in the oil, gas and chemical industry begin to reduce staff.

Hazard: Category 1-5 hurricane

Evacuation Routes: SH 188 to US 181 or IH 37. SH 35 north or south

PHASE 5

8 hours prior to the onset of 35 MPH winds

Description: Mandatory Evacuation of all residents, employees or volunteers left in Aransas County whether deemed essential or not that have planned to leave.

Hazard: Category 1-5 hurricane

Evacuation Routes: SH 188 to US 181 or IH 37. SH 35 north or south

PHASE 6

4 hours prior to the onset of 35 MPH winds

Description: Mandatory Evacuation of all residents, employees or volunteers left in Aransas County.

Hazard: Category 4 or 5 hurricane with possible 20 foot or higher tidal surge

Evacuation Routes: SH 188 to Sinton SH 35 north to FM 774 to Refugio

Mandatory Evacuation

An order by the County Judge and/or Mayor(s) that a state of local disaster exists or is imminent within their jurisdiction, to the extent that emergency services will not be able to respond to assist anyone who has chosen not to follow said order.