Texas’s Worst Roads to Drive on During a Disaster
By a Well-Traveled Survivalist Who’s Seen the Best and the Worst of the Road
I’ve crisscrossed the American backroads more times than I can count, from snowbound Colorado passes to hurricane-ravaged Gulf shores. But let me tell you something—Texas is a different kind of beast. It’s big, it’s brash, and when disaster strikes, some of its roads become outright death traps. Whether you’re facing a flood, a wildfire, or another gridlocked evacuation, the road you choose may decide whether you make it out—or not.
Over the years, I’ve built up a set of survival driving skills that have saved my hide more than once, and I’m going to share them with you. But first, let’s talk about the roads in Texas you’ll want to avoid like a snake nest in a dry creek bed during a crisis.
Roads You Don’t Want to Be On When SHTF in Texas
1. Interstate 35 (I-35) – From Laredo to Dallas-Fort Worth
This artery is always congested, even on a good day. In a disaster, I-35 turns into a parking lot. You’re better off knowing every farm-to-market road that parallels it if you want to stay mobile.
2. Highway 290 – Austin to Houston
Flood-prone and often backed up, especially during hurricane evacuations. If water’s coming in fast or the storm’s already spun in, steer clear.
3. Interstate 10 (I-10) – Beaumont to San Antonio
When hurricanes hit, this corridor clogs up fast. It’s wide open in places, making it a wind tunnel in a storm or a frying pan in a fire.
4. Highway 6 – College Station to Houston
Tends to become a nightmare of stalled cars, especially during major storm evacuations. Low-lying sections are prone to flash flooding.
5. Loop 610 – Houston
In any kind of urban disaster, this loop can trap you like a hog in a snare. You’ll be surrounded, boxed in, and stressed to the limit.
6. Interstate 20 (I-20) – Dallas to Midland
Prone to pileups, and in a panic-driven escape, people drive like they’ve lost their minds. Visibility drops quick in West Texas dust storms.
7. US 59 – Laredo to Houston
A major route for trucking and border traffic—clogged with semis and trailers. Don’t get caught behind jackknifed rigs.
8. Farm to Market Road 1960 – North of Houston
Overbuilt, under-maintained, and a mess during any kind of storm or power outage.
9. Spaghetti Bowl – Dallas Interchange (I-30/I-35E/I-345)
Try navigating this complex tangle when the lights go out or the GPS is dead. Not a good place to be when you’re trying to keep moving.
10. State Highway 288 – Houston to Angleton
Floods fast, drains slow. There are some stretches where water lingers like bad company after a storm.
15 Survival Driving Skills That Could Save Your Life
When the pressure’s on and seconds count, driving becomes more than just a means of transport—it becomes a survival skill. Here are 15 techniques I swear by:
- Know Your Terrain: Study the backroads before the disaster strikes. Keep a paper map—GPS won’t always be there.
- Brake Control on Slopes: Learn how to pump or feather your brakes going downhill to avoid lock-up or skidding.
- Hydroplaning Recovery: Ease off the gas, steer straight. Do not brake hard or jerk the wheel.
- Driving Through Floodwater: Never if it’s over 6 inches deep—but if you must, go slow and steady. Keep engine revs up and don’t stop.
- Night Vision Driving: Use your low beams in fog or smoke, and keep your windshield spotless to reduce glare.
- Off-Road Evasion: Learn how to jump a curb or veer off-road without flipping your rig. Know your clearance and approach angles.
- Manual Gear Use (Even in Automatics): Downshifting can help with control in hilly terrain or when brakes are failing.
- Traffic Weaving: Keep a buffer zone and learn how to “thread the needle” when stalled traffic gives you only inches to work with.
- Engine Overheat Management: If you’re stuck crawling in heat, kill the A/C, idle in neutral, and blast the heat to draw off engine temp.
- Using Medians or Ditches: If blocked in, use grassy medians or shallow ditches as escape paths—know how your vehicle handles uneven ground.
- Fuel Efficiency Mode: Light throttle, early shifts, and coasting techniques to stretch every last drop of fuel.
- Aggressive Exit Maneuvers: Practice quick U-turns, reversing at speed, and J-turns if you’re in open space and need to evade.
- Flat Tire Management: Know how to drive 2–3 miles on a rim or flat if safety demands it. Destroying a wheel is better than losing your life.
- Mirror Discipline: Never stop checking your six. Rear-view awareness in chaos keeps you ahead of threats and opportunities.
- Team Convoy Tactics: If traveling with others, stagger formation, use radios, and assign lead/scout/cleanup roles for safety.
3 DIY Survival Driving Hacks When You Run Out of Gas
When that needle hits E and you’re nowhere near civilization, ingenuity is your best friend. These aren’t perfect, but they can give you the edge to get out alive:
1. Siphon From Abandoned Vehicles (Legally & Ethically)
Always carry a siphon kit. Even when power’s out, fuel sits in tanks. Make sure you know how to bypass anti-siphon valves. Target older vehicles for ease.
2. Alcohol-Based Emergency Burn Mix
In an absolute pinch, a high-proof alcohol mix (like Everclear) can serve as a limited substitute in older gasoline engines. It burns hotter and faster, so use cautiously and only short term. Test before relying on it.
3. Gravity Drain From Fuel Line
If you have access to a vehicle with a punctured fuel system, you can gravity-drain fuel by disconnecting the line beneath the tank (ideally while wearing gloves and using a container). Dangerous, yes, but useful.
Final Thoughts
Texas is a land of beauty, pride, and wide horizons. But it’s also a place where a lack of planning can get you stranded in a flooded bayou, trapped in bumper-to-bumper traffic, or worse. Don’t count on authorities to save you—they’ll be busy. Your best shot at survival is knowledge, practice, and readiness.
When the sky darkens and the roads jam up, you want to be the one who’s already moving. Not the one looking at taillights and rising water.
Stay sharp. Stay mobile. Stay alive.
TheDailyChristian 