Check your zone, choose more than one place to go and more than one way to get there, plan for your pets, and keep a go bag ready so you can leave immediately if ordered to.
Start with your zone
Find out whether you live in a hurricane evacuation zone. If you do not, you may not be asked to leave. If you do, the rest of the plan is about where you would go and how you would get there. Our evacuation zones guide shows how to look yours up.
Decide where you would go
You do not need to drive hundreds of miles. You do need more than one option, in case the first one is not reachable or is also affected. A friend or relative who lives outside an evacuation zone is a common choice.
Decide how you would get there
The National Weather Service asks for multiple options on how to get to your destination as well as where to go. Think through a second route and what you would do if you had no car.
Include your pets
The National Weather Service says to include pets in the plan. Decide before the storm where they will go with you.
Know who will tell you to leave
NOAA says to know who issues evacuation orders for your area, and to identify trusted sources for receiving them. Your local emergency management office is the place to start.
Keep a go bag and your papers together
Keep a go bag of supplies ready. NOAA also lists a contact list, critical documents kept together for quick access, and at least one contact outside the area that could be hit.
Write it down and share it
NOAA says to write the plan down before hurricane season, when there is time and no pressure, and to share it with the people it affects.
If you are not in a zone
The National Weather Service says that if you live in a well-built home outside the evacuation zone, staying home may be the safest choice. Local officials may still change what they advise, so follow their latest guidance.
Check your own location
See current official alerts and the impact for your ZIP code.
Common questions
Where should I go if I have to evacuate for a hurricane?
The National Weather Service says you do not need to travel hundreds of miles, but you should have more than one option. A destination could be a friend or relative who lives outside an evacuation zone.
Do I have to leave if I do not live in an evacuation zone?
Not necessarily. The National Weather Service says that if you live in a well-built home outside the evacuation zone, staying home may be the safest choice. Follow any order from your local officials.
What should be in a hurricane evacuation plan?
Trusted sources for evacuation orders, more than one place to go and more than one way to get there, a go bag of supplies, a plan for pets, and a readiness to leave immediately if ordered to. NOAA also lists a contact list, critical documents kept together, at least one contact outside the impact area, and sharing the plan.
Sources
- NWS: Develop an Evacuation Plan (Hurricane Preparedness)
- NOAA: Complete a Written Plan (Hurricane Preparedness)
Reviewed by the Storm Incoming editorial team on October 27, 2026. Follow local emergency officials if their instructions differ.