911 Emergency City of Houston
Life-threatening emergencies: rescue from rising water, medical emergency, fire, crime in progress, smell of gas with danger.
Tools
Critical Houston flood phones
Life threat: call 911. Every number below is from the official page linked on that row.
Home / Tools / Critical Houston flood phones
Numbers change.
Confirm on the official source before you rely on one in an emergency. Last checked 2026-09-22. No Houston OEM switchboard is in this list. City non-emergency is 311. County non-emergency is Harris County 311.
911 911 Emergency. Life threat 311 Houston 311. City of Houston 311 Harris County 311. Outside the city 713-207-2222 CenterPoint Energy: electric outage (Greater Houston). Power outage
Life safetyCity or county, not a rescueAlerts, not a hotlinePower, gas, and flood controlHealth, 211, Red CrossLicenses, scams, insurance complaintsFlood insurance and FEMACarrier claim lines
Life safety
Someone is hurt, trapped, or still in the water.
Houston Police: non-emergency City of Houston
Non-emergency police service inside City of Houston. Emergencies: 911.
Harris County Sheriff: non-emergency Harris County Sheriff
Non-emergency Sheriff's Office (unincorporated / HCSO jurisdiction). Emergencies: 911.
City or county, not a rescue
A flooded street, debris, or a service request. Houston 311 is not Harris County 311.
Houston 311 Houston 311
City of Houston non-emergency: flooded street/drainage reports, debris, shelters info after storms, city service requests. 24/7.
Houston 311 (direct) Houston 311
Same as Houston 311 when dialing from outside city or when short code fails.
Harris County 311 Harris County
Unincorporated Harris County / outside City of Houston jurisdiction: non-emergency county service requests (potholes, road issues, etc.). Available 24/7.
Harris County 311 (direct) Harris County
Direct line for Harris County 311 when short code is unavailable.
Alerts, not a hotline
Ready Harris does not publish a flood emergency number. Emergencies are 911. Other questions go to the email on their contact page.
Ready Harris / Harris County OHSEM (emergencies) Ready Harris
Emergencies only. Ready Harris does not publish a public flood emergency hotline; site directs emergencies to 9-1-1. General questions: email ask@oem.hctx.net.
Ready Harris alerts (SMS keyword) Ready Harris
Text READY to this number to subscribe to Ready Harris weather/emergency alerts (not for calling emergencies).
Also: hct.ahasalerts.com
Power, gas, and flood control
Outages and bayou office questions. If you smell gas and you are in danger, leave and call 911.
CenterPoint Energy: electric outage (Greater Houston) CenterPoint Energy
Report power outage; downed lines (stay 35+ ft away). Also 800-332-7143.
Also: CenterPoint Energy
CenterPoint Energy: electric outage toll-free CenterPoint Energy
Toll-free electric outage reporting for Greater Houston.
CenterPoint Energy: gas (Greater Houston) CenterPoint Energy
Gas service issues. Smell gas / immediate danger: leave area and call 911 first.
Harris County Flood Control District Harris County Flood Control
General inquiries / FWS gage questions; office hours typically 7:30am-4:30pm. For drainage problems along bayous/streams use HCFCD Service Request online (faster than phone form).
Health, 211, Red Cross
Poison, a referral, or disaster help after you are out of the water.
Poison Control (Texas / national Poison Help) Poison Control
Suspected poisoning, chemical exposure, carbon monoxide questions. 24/7. Do not email for treatment advice.
211 Texas / United Way HELPLINE United Way Houston
Food, housing, utility assistance, disaster info/referrals, STEAR registration help. 24/7. Menu: 1=local resources, 2=public benefits, 5=mental health/substance.
211 Texas (toll-free) United Way Houston
Same as 211 when short code unavailable.
American Red Cross: disaster help (national) American Red Cross
Disaster assistance after home fire/flood/other disaster. 24 hours (1-800-RED-CROSS).
American Red Cross: Disaster Services (Gulf Coast) American Red Cross
Regional disaster services contact listed on Houston chapter page.
American Red Cross Houston Chapter American Red Cross
Houston chapter main line / development / media as listed on chapter page.
Licenses, scams, insurance complaints
A contractor, price gouging, or a claim the company will not move. Most of these desks are weekday hours.
TDLR: Texas Dept. of Licensing & Regulation (consumer/complaints) TDLR
Contractor/licensing complaints (e.g., unlicensed remodelers post-flood). Hours typically 8am-5pm CT Mon-Fri.
Texas Attorney General: Consumer Protection Hotline Texas Attorney General
Consumer protection complaints (price gouging, scams) after disasters.
TDI: Texas Dept. of Insurance Consumer Help Line Texas Department of Insurance
Insurance claim problems, verify public adjuster license, file insurance complaints. 8am-5pm CT Mon-Fri.
TDI: main Texas Department of Insurance
Texas Department of Insurance main number.
Flood insurance and FEMA
Find the flood carrier, start an NFIP Direct claim, or apply for disaster aid after a declaration.
NFIP / FEMA Mapping and Insurance eXchange (FMIX) FloodSmart
Find flood insurer/agent, general NFIP questions, flood maps (also 877-FEMA-MAP).
NFIP Direct: start claim / customer care FloodSmart
If your flood policy is with NFIP Direct: start a claim / customer care (FloodSmart + NFIP Direct portal).
Also: NFIP Direct
NFIP Direct: Claims NFIP Direct
NFIP Direct claims line as listed on NFIP Direct policyholder portal.
FEMA Disaster Assistance Helpline DisasterAssistance.gov
Apply for FEMA Individual Assistance after a presidential disaster declaration; housing and other uninsured/underinsured losses. Helpline hours often 7am-10pm local; longer during high activity. TTY 800-462-7585.
Carrier claim lines
Published claim numbers only. The company on your declarations page wins if it is not one of these.
State Farm claims (incl. weather/catastrophe) State Farm
File vehicle/home/personal property claims 24/7 (800-SF-CLAIM).
Allstate flood claims (NFIP via Allstate agency) Allstate
Start flood claim if flood policy purchased through Allstate (1-800-54-STORM).
Farmers Insurance Claims Center Farmers
Report claims 24/7 via Farmers Claims Center.
USAA claims / member support USAA
File or check insurance claims (800-531-USAA).
Progressive: connect to property insurer Progressive
Progressive property claims often handled by partner companies; call to be connected. Have policy number ready.
Taurus Flood (Progressive partner flood) Progressive
Flood claims when Progressive property page lists Taurus Flood as the flood insurer for the policy.
Not a dispatch desk.
Harris County Flood Warning System is a gauge map. Questions about that map go to Flood Control, listed above.
Ready Harris general questions use the email on their contact page. That is not a rescue line.
Evacuation maps · Insurance claim help