Find your zone before a storm threatens. When officials order your zone to evacuate, follow the order and leave. We do not decide who should evacuate; your local emergency management does.
| Question | What the official source says |
|---|---|
| Who sets zones | Local government and emergency management. NWS says to contact them to find out whether you live in an evacuation area. |
| Florida labels | Zones are lettered A through F and described as flood zones. Typically Zone A is the most vulnerable and most likely to evacuate first. |
| Not every zone is ordered | Florida notes that not all zones are always ordered to evacuate. If no order is issued for your area you may consider sheltering in place. |
| Leave even without an order | Florida advises evacuating if you live in a mobile home or a low-lying, flood-prone area, and your home must be sturdy enough to shelter in place. |
Why zones exist
Storm surge has historically been the leading cause of hurricane-related deaths in the U.S., and surge can travel several miles inland along bays, rivers and estuaries (NWS). Evacuation zones let emergency managers ask people in the most exposed areas to leave first.
How to find your zone
The NWS advises contacting your local government or emergency management office to find out whether you live in a hurricane evacuation area. In Florida, the state's Know Your Zone map shows your zone when you enter an address; the page notes the map may require a login or be temporarily unavailable. In other states, use your county or state emergency management website.
What an evacuation order means
Listen to your local officials. If your zone is ordered to evacuate, follow the order. NWS says to leave immediately if ordered to evacuate, and to allow time to pack and tell friends and family if you live in a storm surge risk area.
If you are not ordered to leave
Florida says you may consider sheltering in place if no order is issued for your area, but evacuate if you live in a mobile home or a low-lying, flood-prone area even without an order. See our guide on what to do in a hurricane warning for sheltering safely.
What we do not do
We do not tell you whether to evacuate and we do not list shelters or their open status. Those change by the hour and come from your local emergency management. Use the official links on this page and your local alerts.
What to bring if you evacuate: evacuation packing list
The American Red Cross suggests bringing a go kit with three days of supplies you can carry, backup batteries and chargers for devices such as phones, CPAP machines and wheelchairs, a one-month supply of medication in a child-proof container, and your personal, financial and medical records kept safe.
Before you leave
Know where you will go, how you will get there and where you will stay. Plan well ahead if you need help leaving or will use public transportation. Check with local officials for shelter locations. Do not plan to shelter in a mobile home, manufactured home, trailer or RV, because these cannot protect you from tropical storm or hurricane-force winds.
A hurricane's category does not tell you your zone or your risk from water. Your zone comes from your local emergency management.
Check your own location
See current official alerts and the impact for your ZIP code.
Common questions
What is a hurricane evacuation zone?
An evacuation zone is an area your local emergency management may order to leave before a storm. Zones are set locally.
How do I find my evacuation zone?
Contact your local government or emergency management office. In Florida, enter your address on the Know Your Zone map to see your zone, labeled with a letter from A to F.
What should I do if my zone is ordered to evacuate?
Leave immediately if local officials order an evacuation.
How do I make a hurricane evacuation plan?
The NWS says to first check whether you live in an evacuation zone. If you do, decide now where you would go and how you would get there, and have more than one option. A friend or relative outside the zone is one choice, and you do not need to travel hundreds of miles. Pack a go bag and plan for your pets. Our hurricane evacuation plan guide walks through each step.
Where is my hurricane evacuation route?
Your local emergency management office decides which roads are used when your area is told to leave, so ask them or check their website. The NWS advice is to plan how you will get to your destination and to have more than one way to get there.
Sources
- NWS: Hurricane plan
- NWS: Hurricane action
- NWS: Hurricane hazards
- Florida Division of Emergency Management: Know Your Zone
- NWS: Develop an Evacuation Plan (Hurricane Preparedness)
- American Red Cross: Hurricane safety
Reviewed by the Storm Incoming editorial team on October 26, 2026. Follow local emergency officials if their instructions differ.