12:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 24
Get out of Port Aransas by 9 p.m. tonight, ordered mayor Charles Bujan, who is calling for an evacuation after learning that Hurricane Harvey is expected to become a major Category 3 hurricane by landfall Friday. Winds from a Cat 3 hurricane range from 111-129 mph.
Devastating flooding is expected to be a major byproduct of the coming storm along with storm surges of up to 10 feet above land. Seven ferries are currently operating and expected to continue until 6 a.m. Friday. At that time, three of them will move to Port Corpus Christi for safety. Ferries will continue to operate until the captain says it is unsafe to dock.
The Downtown Management District is making preparations for the heaving flooding anticipated downtown. Sandbags will be distributed to downtown businesses for free.
Many businesses and attractions are closing today, including the USS Lexington, the South Texas Botanical Gardens & Nature Center and the Texas State Aquarium.
Port Aransas schools have cancelled classes today, effective at 12:20 p.m., though parents are encouraged to check their children out sooner. School is canceled for Friday as well.
Schools closing today are:

  • Texas A&M-CC
  • Texas A&M-Kingsville
  • Del Mar College
  • Flour Bluff ISD
  • Coastal Bend College
  • Port Aransas ISD

Schools closing Friday — along with all of the above — are: 

  • Agua Dulce ISD
  • Aransas County ISD
  • Beeville ISD
  • Calallen ISD
  • All Catholic schools in the Corpus Christi Diocese
  • London ISD
  • Port Aransas ISD
  • Ricardo ISD
  • Santa Gertrudis ISD
  • Tuloso-Midway ISDz