A practical preparedness guide for North Padre Island residents. Print this. Save the numbers. Share with neighbors.
A strong storm with high winds is heading toward the Coastal Bend. Whatever its final path and intensity, North Padre Island residents need to take this seriously. We sit on a barrier island. The JFK Causeway is our only way home — and our only way out. Wind events here behave differently than they do inland, and preparing now is far easier than scrambling later.
Here is what to do this week, the emergency numbers to save, and the closest hospitals if anything goes wrong.
Emergency Numbers — Save These to Your Phone Now
Before anything else, take 90 seconds and add these to your phone contacts. When the wind is howling and the power is out, you will not have time to search for them.
- 911 — Life-threatening emergencies, fire, medical, police
- 361-826-CITY (2489) — City of Corpus Christi Customer Call Center (non-emergency)
- 361-886-2600 — Corpus Christi Police Department (non-emergency)
- 361-826-1100 — Nueces County Office of Emergency Management
- 1-877-373-4858 — AEP Texas (report downed power lines and outages)
- 361-885-6900 — Corpus Christi Water Department (water emergencies)
- 211 — Texas 2-1-1 (general assistance, shelter information, resources)
- 361-548-6804 — Island Democrats (we will help connect neighbors and share information)
Sign up for Reverse Alert at corpuschristitx.gov. This is the City of Corpus Christi and Nueces County emergency notification system. It sends alerts by text, mobile phone, business phone, and email. Free. Takes two minutes to register.
Closest Hospitals and Emergency Rooms
Knowing where to go before you need to go matters. Here are the closest emergency facilities to North Padre Island, ranked by distance.
On the Island Itself
Surepoint Emergency Center — Padre Island
14433 S Padre Island Drive, Corpus Christi, TX 78418
(361) 949-1900
24/7 freestanding emergency room. The closest emergency facility on the Island itself. Good for most emergencies including injuries, breathing issues, chest pain, and severe wounds. They can stabilize patients and transfer to a full-service hospital if needed.
Across the JFK Causeway in Corpus Christi
Corpus Christi Medical Center — Bay Area
7101 S Padre Island Drive, Corpus Christi, TX 78412
(361) 761-1400
Full-service hospital, designated Level II Trauma Center — the most serious trauma facility in the area. About 15-20 minutes from the Island in normal traffic. Houses the Women’s Center with Level III NICU.
Corpus Christi Medical Center — Doctors Regional
3315 S Alameda Street, Corpus Christi, TX 78411
(361) 761-1000
Full-service acute care hospital with 24-hour emergency department, cardiac catheterization, orthopedics, and inpatient rehabilitation.
CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital — Shoreline
600 Elizabeth Street, Corpus Christi, TX 78404
(361) 881-3000
Full-service hospital with 24-hour emergency department and Level II Trauma Center designation.
CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital — South
5950 Saratoga Boulevard, Corpus Christi, TX 78414
(361) 985-5000
Full-service hospital with 24-hour emergency department. Closer to Flour Bluff than the other Spohn facilities.
Important note on the Causeway: If high winds reach 39 mph sustained or higher, the JFK Causeway may be closed to high-profile vehicles, then to all traffic. If you have a medical emergency and the Causeway is closed, call 911 first — Surepoint on the Island can stabilize most emergencies until the bridge reopens.
What to Do Before the Storm Arrives
High winds on a barrier island are different from high winds inland. Wind speed at the Island is often 10-20 mph higher than what’s reported at the airport. Debris travels farther. Storm surge can flood low-lying areas even from storms that don’t make direct landfall. Plan for the worst case.
Right Now (Today)
- Fill your gas tank. Gas stations run out quickly before storms. With Texas gas already at $3.98/gallon, also keep cash on hand — credit card systems can crash during outages.
- Stock 7 days of water — one gallon per person per day, minimum. Bottled water disappears from Coastal Bend HEBs and Stripes within hours of a storm warning.
- Charge everything. Phones, laptops, battery packs, power tools. If you have a Powerwall or backup battery, verify it’s fully charged.
- Refill prescriptions. Pharmacies close during major storms. Aim for at least a 14-day supply of all medications.
- Photograph your home, inside and out. Every room. Every appliance. Every wall. Insurance claims after a storm depend on documentation, and photos taken in advance are evidence later.
- Stock non-perishable food — enough for 7 days. Don’t forget a non-electric can opener.
- Sign up for Reverse Alert if you haven’t already — corpuschristitx.gov.
Before the Wind Picks Up
- Secure or bring inside everything in your yard. Patio furniture, plants, grills, planters, garden hoses, garbage cans, beach toys, kayaks. In high winds, any of these become projectiles that can break windows or damage vehicles.
- Trim or remove dead branches from trees near your home. Dead wood breaks first in high winds.
- Secure or remove anything on your roof — solar panels, satellite dishes, decorations. If you can’t secure them, document them with photos.
- Close and lock all windows and exterior doors. If you have storm shutters or plywood, install them now. Don’t wait for the warning to upgrade to a watch.
- Fill your bathtub. This water can be used for flushing toilets and washing during a water outage. Stage 3 restrictions allow filling for emergency purposes.
- Move vehicles to safer ground. Park away from large trees, signs, fences, and anything else that could fall. If you have a garage, use it.
- Locate important documents. Insurance cards, passports, birth certificates, deed/title to your home, medication lists. Put them in a waterproof bag or container together.
- Check on neighbors. Especially elderly residents, those who live alone, anyone with mobility limitations or medical conditions. Make a plan to check in during the storm if cell service stays up.
During the Storm — Stay Inside and Stay Low
- Stay away from windows. Wind-driven debris causes most storm injuries on the Island. Move to an interior room — bathroom, hallway, walk-in closet — without exterior windows if possible.
- Do not go outside during the eye of the storm. If the wind suddenly stops, you may be in the eye. The back side of the storm will hit with winds from the opposite direction, often more intense.
- Stay off the roads. Standing water can be deeper than it looks. The JFK Causeway will likely be closed before peak winds.
- Turn off propane tanks if you have outdoor propane (grills, generators). Reduces fire risk if tanks are damaged.
- If you smell gas, hear hissing, or hear a transformer explode — leave the area immediately and call 911. Do not light matches, candles, or any flame.
- Generators must be outside — at least 20 feet from any window, door, or vent. Generator carbon monoxide poisoning kills more people after storms than the storms themselves.
- Stay on the lowest floor of your home if you can — the safest place during high winds is usually a ground-floor interior room.
After the Storm Passes
- Wait for the all-clear before going outside. The wind can still be dangerous even after the worst of the storm passes.
- Stay away from downed power lines. Assume every downed line is live. Report to AEP Texas at 1-877-373-4858.
- Check on neighbors before checking on your own damage. Especially elderly residents and people living alone.
- Photograph all damage before you touch anything. Insurance companies need before-and-after documentation. Get photos of every damaged room, every damaged item, every damaged exterior surface.
- Do not drink tap water until the boil water notice is lifted. Use stored water or bottled water for drinking, cooking, brushing teeth, and giving to pets.
- Do not use candles for light. Use flashlights or battery-powered lanterns. Fire risk is high after storms when smoke detectors may not be working and emergency response is delayed.
- Watch for wildlife. Snakes, alligators, and other animals get displaced by flooding. Be careful in tall grass and standing water.
- File insurance claims as quickly as possible. Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA) and your homeowner’s policy may have separate filing windows. Call your agent first.
If You Decide to Evacuate
The JFK Causeway is the only way off North Padre Island. If you’re going to leave, leave early — well before any evacuation order. Once an order is issued, traffic backs up severely.
Bring with you:
- 14 days of prescription medications
- Important documents in waterproof bag (insurance, ID, deed/title, birth certificates)
- Cash in small bills
- Phone chargers, battery packs
- Change of clothes for at least 3 days
- Pet food, leashes, carriers, vaccination records
- Important photographs (digital backup or physical)
- Children’s comfort items if you have kids in the house
Tell at least two people outside the area where you are going. If cell service is out, family members will know you’re safe.
A Final Word
The Coastal Bend has been through worse than this storm will likely bring. We know how to take care of each other when the wind comes. But preparation makes the difference between a few uncomfortable days and a genuine crisis.
Today is the day to fill the tank, stock the water, charge the phone, check on the neighbor. Tomorrow may be too late. Take this storm seriously even if forecasters downgrade it — Island wind is always worse than the airport reading suggests.
If you need help with preparation, transportation, or checking on a neighbor, call us at 361-548-6804. We are here.
Stay safe, Islanders. Be smart. Help each other.
This page will be updated as the storm develops. Please share it with neighbors, family, and anyone on the Island who needs the information.
More from islanddemocrats.com: 2026 Hurricane Preparedness Guide for the Coastal Bend
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