Emergency Management

Keeping Caldwell County Prepared, Protected, and Resilient

Life-threatening emergency? Call 911 immediately.This page provides preparedness information only. For emergencies, do not delay — call 911.

WarnCentralTexas.org is the official emergency notification system for Caldwell County and surrounding Central Texas communities. Registration is free and takes under two minutes.

• Severe weather & tornado warnings
• Flash flooding events
• Wildfires & burn restrictions
• Road closures & traffic hazards
• Public safety emergencies
• Evacuation notices

Sign Up Now →

Free for all Caldwell County residents. You can choose to receive alerts by text, email, or phone call.

Caldwell County uses TextMyGov to send text-based government notifications. If you are already registered on the main county site, your emergency text alerts are active.

Your cell phone automatically receives Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) from the federal system for imminent threats. Registering with WarnCentralTexas provides additional, more localized notifications beyond what WEA delivers.

The State of Texas Emergency Assistance Registry (STEAR) is a free program that helps local emergency planners and first responders identify and prioritize outreach to residents who may need extra assistance during evacuations or other emergencies.

If you or a family member has a physical, medical, or access-and-functional-needs condition that could make it difficult to evacuate or shelter safely, registering with STEAR helps ensure that responders know you may need assistance.

• Individuals with physical disabilities or mobility limitations
• People who depend on electricity for medical equipment
• Residents without personal transportation
• Elderly individuals living alone
• People with visual, hearing, or cognitive impairments
• Caregivers registering on behalf of a family member

Register at stear.tdem.texas.gov

Questions? (512) 398-1822

Pre-register vulnerable family members before an emergency occurs so first responders are already aware of your needs.

The County Judge's signed burn-ban orders — and the orders lifting them — are published on the Public Notices page as they are adopted. Call (512) 398-1822 to confirm the current status before burning.

Caldwell County may issue burn bans during periods of dry or windy conditions to reduce the risk of wildfires. Burn bans are declared by the County Judge based on the Keetch–Byram Drought Index (KBDI) and current weather conditions.

Violations of a burn ban are a Class C misdemeanor under Texas law. When a burn ban is in effect, open burning of any material outdoors is prohibited unless an exception applies.

Fire Departments

Municipal Departments

• Lockhart Fire Department (City)
• Luling Fire Department (City)

Volunteer Fire Departments

• Prairie Lea Volunteer Fire Department
• Martindale Volunteer Fire Department
• McMahan Volunteer Fire Department
• Fentress Volunteer Fire Department
• Maxwell Volunteer Fire Department

Volunteer fire departments serve the unincorporated areas of Caldwell County. Their dedication protects rural residents throughout the county.

EMS Services

Emergency Medical Services are provided by different agencies depending on your location in Caldwell County:

Medical emergency? Call 911 — do not call individual EMS agencies directly.

Deputy Coordinator Joann Garza-Mayberry — joann.mayberry@co.caldwell.tx.us

Phone (512) 398-1822

Coordinator email hector.rangel@co.caldwell.tx.us

Location This office does not have a published walk-in address — call (512) 398-1822 before visiting. For a life-threatening emergency, call 911.

Being prepared before a disaster strikes can save lives. Caldwell County Emergency Management encourages all residents to take the following steps now, before an emergency occurs.

Build a 72-Hour Emergency Kit

Your kit should sustain each member of your household for at least 72 hours.

Water (1 gal/day/person)

Non-perishable food

Medications & prescriptions

Flashlight & batteries

Battery/hand-crank radio

First aid kit

Important documents

Cash (small bills)

Extra keys

Pet supplies

‍‍‍ Make a Family Communication Plan

Disasters can separate families. A plan ensures everyone knows what to do and where to meet.

• Designate an out-of-area contact everyone can reach
• Agree on a meeting place near your home
• Agree on a second meeting place farther from your neighborhood
• Make sure all family members know the plan, including children
• Write contacts on a card everyone carries

Know Your Evacuation Routes

Know multiple routes out of your neighborhood and the county before you need them.

• Identify primary and alternate routes from your home
• Know the location of the nearest shelter — watch WarnCentralTexas and local media during events
• Pre-register family members who may need assistance in the STEAR Registry
• Keep your vehicle's fuel tank at least half full during severe weather season
• Have a destination in mind if you must leave the county

Shelter locations are announced during events via WarnCentralTexas notifications and local media.

Official Preparedness Resources

ready.gov U.S. Department of Homeland Security — comprehensive disaster preparedness guides ↗ tdem.texas.gov Texas Division of Emergency Management — state-level resources, STEAR, and disaster declarations ↗ fema.gov Federal Emergency Management Agency — disaster declarations, individual assistance, and flood resources ↗ warncentraltexas.org Sign up for Caldwell County emergency notifications — severe weather, flooding, wildfires, and more ↗

The rules themselves. Texas A&M AgriLife publishes Texas Open Burning Rules and Regulations (PDF) — what state law allows and prohibits when no county burn ban is in force. A county burn ban is more restrictive than the state rules; when one is in effect, it governs.