Evacuation zones in Texas: why San Antonio receives evacuees

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On the Texas coast, hurricane evacuations are organized by zones defined by ZIP code, the so-called "zip-zones." In the Houston-Galveston area, for example, the regional council (H-GAC) defines the Coastal, A, B, and C zones, from the one closest to the Gulf to the one farthest inland; each zone has its assigned route, and orders are given zone by zone. Corpus Christi uses its own zones (A1, A2, A3, B, and C). H-GAC's rule is clear: if you don't live in a storm surge zone and aren't ordered to leave, get ready to shelter at home for several days.

Bexar County has no hurricane evacuation zones: San Antonio is more than 100 miles (160 km) from the coast. Instead, it is the city that receives the evacuees (chapter 10). For you, that means:

I-37 northbound: with a mandatory evacuation in Corpus Christi, TxDOT can activate contraflow: the southbound lanes carry northbound traffic up to near Pleasanton (SH 97 and FM 3006).
I-10 from Houston: TxDOT's contraflow plan runs from Brookshire to Loop 1604 in San Antonio. If it is activated, the eastbound lanes of I-10 are used for westbound traffic: you won't be able to leave east on I-10.
Heavy traffic on I-37, I-10 east, and US-281 south; hotels full; gas and water scarce throughout the area. Do your shopping and fill your tanks before they arrive.

The most likely reasons for you to evacuate San Antonio are local: flash flooding, a grass fire, a chemical or hazardous materials accident, severe tornado damage, or a prolonged blackout during extreme heat.