City emergency managers brief Corpus Christi on above‑normal hurricane season, sandbag distribution and evacuation plans

Corpus Christi emergency management staff told the City Council on June 10 that the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season is expected to be above‑normal and described the city’s preparedness steps, sandbag distribution schedule and evacuation and reentry plans.

Mayor Paulette Guajardo and City Manager Peter Zanoni introduced the briefing. Emergency Management Coordinator Jace Johnson told council members the 2025 season runs June 1–Nov. 30 and National Weather Service and NOAA forecasts project 13–19 named storms this year, with 6–10 becoming hurricanes and 3–5 potentially becoming major hurricanes. Johnson said the city plans on preparing “one above” the forecast and emphasized the city’s EOC at the Old Frost Building, department operation centers and the roles of police, fire, water, health, public works and solid waste in an activation.

Johnson described the scope of preparations: exercises and drills (WebEOC, reverse alert drills and an annual full‑scale evacuation at the natatorium); partner coordination with Nueces County, the National Weather Service, Texas Division of Emergency Management, Coastal Bend Council of Governments and entities including Red Cross, AEP and the Regional Transportation Authority; and outreach efforts such as 100,000 hurricane preparedness brochures sent with utility bills and social media saturation. He also said the city brought three neighboring counties (Aransas, Refugio, San Patricio) onto its Everbridge emergency notification account for redundancy and regional messaging.

Council members pressed staff on details. Johnson and City Manager Zanoni said the city will operate fixed reception/transfer locations and the RTA will provide free transportation to the natatorium for residents without transport; pets may travel with owners (dogs on leashes, cats in crates). Reentry will be phased (first responders, restoration of essential services, then businesses and residents) and the mayor’s signature will be required for prior‑approved reentry credentials. Sandbag distribution dates were announced: two Saturdays at Cabiness Field, with a full‑service operation where staff will load made sandbags into vehicles.

Council members also asked about construction site barricade security and utility infrastructure resilience. Johnson said public works and engineering coordinate with contracted firms and developers to secure construction sites and barricades prior to high‑wind events, and the city notifies contractors to secure sites; if winds are predicted to be severe, removal processes can be activated. On electrical reliability, Zanoni said utility infrastructure is owned by power companies (AEP Texas) and that the city will pursue meetings with AEP leadership to discuss vulnerable circuits and possible upgrades.

Johnson and staff asked the public to sign up for the state’s emergency assistance registry and for dialysis, nursing homes and other institutions to keep plans updated; Johnson said nursing home plans are reviewed but not approved by the city. He closed by encouraging residents to review evacuation routes, prepare “like an air flight” with documentation and medications, and to attend the natatorium evacuation exercise Friday, which will include volunteers and role‑players.

The City Council received the briefing and asked staff for additional memos about sandbag distribution logistics and for follow‑up meetings with utilities on vulnerability and possible upgrades.