Local section · San Antonio, TX
War: the plan for San Antonio
In this section (4)
What the war plan (general chapter) leaves blank, filled in for San Antonio.
Why San Antonio isn't a neutral city
San Antonio is home to major military bases: Joint Base San Antonio (JBSA), which includes Lackland, Fort Sam Houston, Randolph and Camp Bullis. In a major war, that makes it a possible target. And in the race of the first 2 hours, you're competing with 1.5 million people for cash, gas and the pharmacy.
Official sources and communication
- Alerts: the phone's WEA, AlertSA and Bexar County alerts, the FEMA app and NOAA radio.
- San Antonio NOAA radio: 162.550 MHz (confirm at weather.gov/nwr).
- Offline maps of Texas and, if Mexico is a destination, of Nuevo León, Coahuila and Tamaulipas.
- Out-of-area contact: family in another state or in Mexico. A power and phone grid separate from Texas is an advantage.
Local triggers
On top of the general triggers: go if there's an attack or credible threat against JBSA (Lackland, Fort Sam Houston, Randolph or Camp Bullis).
Routes and destinations from San Antonio
| Destination | Route | When |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Hill Country (Boerne, Kerrville, Fredericksburg, Bandera) | I-10 west, TX-16 or US-281 north | The default choice: close, small towns, far from targets |
| 2. West and southwest (Hondo, Uvalde, Del Rio) | US-90 west | If I-10 is jammed; opens the exit through Eagle Pass |
| 3. Tamaulipas, with family (Ciudad Victoria) | Route A: I-35 south → Colombia Bridge → Monterrey → Cd. Victoria. Alternates B, C and D: see Evacuation route to Mexico | Only with all four passports current, dogs with current rabies and a microchip, daytime travel. Upside: you leave the theater of operations and reach a support network |
- Avoid I-35 north (Austin) and I-10 east (Houston): more people, more targets (port, refineries) and fewer exits.
- Wind: in San Antonio it usually blows from the south or southeast, so contamination would go north or northwest, right toward the Hill Country. It shifts with cold fronts: check it that day.
