Storm Surge Is the Biggest Hurricane Threat Here

Storm surge, not wind, is the deadliest part of most Gulf Coast hurricanes. When Hurricane Harvey made landfall on August 25, 2017, NOAA recorded storm tide around Port O'Connor in the 3-to-5-foot range and a South Texas maximum of 12.5 feet near San Antonio Bay in northeast Aransas County. Calhoun County also saw damage in Port Lavaca, Seadrift, and Port O'Connor.

Every property in Calhoun County has an official FEMA flood zone designation. You can look yours up at the FEMA Flood Map Service Center (msc.fema.gov) by address. Properties in high-risk zones (Zone A or AE) typically require flood insurance if financed with a federally backed mortgage.

The county website links to the TxDOT evacuation map and resources from the Texas Division of Emergency Management. The National Hurricane Center (nhc.noaa.gov) and National Weather Service are the official sources for storm tracks and surge watches. Make an evacuation plan before hurricane season each year, not the day a storm is named.