Do You Have an Emergency Evacuation Plan?

For hurricanes, wildfires, and other natural disasters.

Published May 5, 2026

In Texas, emergencies can take many forms, from hurricanes and wildfires to flash floods and tornadoes. When they arrive, there’s rarely enough time to gather what you need or figure out where to go. Preparing ahead can bring some order to the chaos, helping you and your family face a crisis with more confidence.

Here are a few ways to prepare, including building go bags, creating communication plans, protecting important documents, and mapping evacuation routes.

Person putting together emergency go bag.

Pack Your Go Bag

Use the TexasReady disaster supply kit checklist as your starting point. Here are some of the most critical essentials:

Cash (at least $500 is recommended) and cards. Add digital copies of cards to your phone’s wallet app.
A week’s worth of prescriptions and over-the-counter medications
Maps and lists of important phone numbers
A charged phone and a portable charger
A first-aid kit, toiletries, and hygiene items
Jumper cables, a battery-powered radio, and a flashlight with extra batteries
Three days’ worth of food and bottled water for each family member and pet
Important documents (more on that below)

Safeguard Important Documents

Natural disasters can damage more than your home. They can also wipe out the records you need to file insurance claims, prove your identity, or rebuild after an evacuation. Protect important documents by storing originals in a waterproof, fire-resistant container inside your go bag and keep copies in a secure digital folder. Focus on essentials, such as:

IDs (driver’s licenses, birth certificates, Social Security cards, marriage certificates, passports, etc.)
Prescriptions or medication lists and vaccination records
Financial documents (wills, deeds)
Insurance policies
Pet records

Decide on a Communication Strategy

In an emergency, family members can get separated quickly. Make a plan ahead of time so everyone knows how to reconnect. Fill out a TexasReady Family Emergency Plan for each family member and keep copies in your go bag, wallets, and backpacks, as well as a digital copy that’s backed up.

Make sure everyone knows how to check in by text, phone, or social media. (For example, use Facebook’s Safety Check feature.) In some cases, text messages may go through when a phone call may not.

Regarding some of the vulnerable family members: Ask your child’s daycare or school for a copy of their emergency evacuation, parent communication, and family reunification plans. Also, microchip your pets and keep the registration information up to date.

Plan an Evacuation Route

The Texas Department of Transportation provides hurricane evacuation routes by region on its website, along with a statewide evacuation map.

Start there, but do not stop there. It’s smart to map out a few backup routes, too, in case flooding, severe weather, or traffic make your primary route difficult to use. And if there’s a chance you may need to leave, fill up your gas tank early.

When an emergency unfolds, trustworthy information matters. Stay on top of local alerts, weather updates, and trusted community resources so you can make quick, informed decisions:

Ensure emergency notifications are enabled on your phone.
Check Drive Texas for road closures and traffic conditions.
Use 2-1-1 Texas to find emergency food and shelter. You can visit online, dial 2.1.1 or call 877.541.7905.
Track outages in your area with poweroutage.com.
Keep tabs on current weather watches, warnings, and advisories on weather.gov.
Keep an eye on local air quality, especially after fires or severe weather.