What’s the Difference Between a Flood Zone and an Evacuation Zone in Florida?

A flood zone is used to determine your property’s risk of water damage and whether you’re required to carry flood insurance, while an evacuation zone is used to decide whether you need to leave your home during a hurricane. They’re not the same and confusing them could leave you unprotected when it matters most.

Flood zones are created by FEMA and used by insurance companies and mortgage lenders. They focus on long-term statistical risk of flooding due to rainfall, overflowing canals, or coastal surge. Being in a FEMA flood zone like AE or VE may mean you’re legally required to carry flood insurance.

Evacuation zones, on the other hand, are defined by your county’s emergency management office and are based on storm surge modeling, not rainfall. These zones (labeled A, B, C, etc.) tell officials which areas are most at risk of life-threatening water movement during a hurricane. When a major storm is approaching, evacuation orders are issued based on these zones not based on flood insurance maps.

The problem? Many people rely on flood zones to judge their personal safety. But you can be outside a FEMA flood zone and still be in Evacuation Zone A, the first group ordered to leave. And during hurricanes like Ian and Irma, thousands of homes that were “low risk” on paper ended up flooded or cut off by surge.

In the sections that follow, we’ll break down the real questions behind this confusion: Why do the zones use different labels? Why would you be ordered to leave when your insurance company says you’re safe? And what kind of protection should you actually have in place?

What Do These Flood Zone Labels Mean – AE, VE, X, A, B, C?

If you’ve ever looked up your address and been hit with a jumble of letters – AE, VE, Zone A, Zone X, Zone C, you’re not alone. The labels are confusing because they come from two completely different systems, and most people aren’t told which one applies to what.
Let’s break it down:

FEMA Flood Zones Explained: AE, VE, and X Risk Categories

These zones are part of FEMA’s Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) and relate to property flood risk:

• Zone AE: High flood risk. This means your property has a 1% annual chance of flooding (a so-called “100-year flood”). Flood insurance is usually required by lenders.
• Zone VE: Also high risk, but specifically in coastal areas vulnerable to storm surge with breaking waves. Stricter building codes apply here.
• Zone X: Moderate to minimal risk. Insurance may be optional, but not necessarily unwise. Many flooded homes after Hurricane Ian were in Zone X.

These zones are about financial risk and whether your property may experience rising water. They don’t tell you anything about whether you’ll be told to evacuate.

Florida Evacuation Zones Decoded: A, B, C and What They Mean

These zones are set by county emergency managers, and they’re based on storm surge modeling, not insurance data.

• Zone A: First to evacuate. Includes areas most vulnerable to storm surge, even if they seem elevated or inland.
• Zone B/C/D: Evacuated later, based on storm strength and surge projections. The farther down the alphabet, the lower the priority, generally.

If you’re in Zone A, you could be ordered to evacuate even if your home is not in a FEMA flood zone. And that’s where the confusion often begins.

The key difference: FEMA flood zones use technical risk models for insurance and construction. Evacuation zones use storm behavior models for human safety. They don’t line up and they’re not meant to.

How to Check Your Flood and Evacuation Zones in Florida

To find out what flood zone and evacuation zone you’re in, you need to check two different official tools – one from FEMA and one from your county or the state of Florida. They measure different types of risk, and they don’t overlap, so it’s important to check both.

Step-by-Step: How to Check Your FEMA Flood Zone for Insurance and Water Damage Risk

Use FEMA’s Flood Map Service Center:

1. 1. Go to msc.fema.gov/portal/search
   2. Enter your full address
   3. View or download your Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM)
   4. Look for your zone designation – usually AE, VE, or X

* Zone AE and VE mean high flood risk and may require flood insurance.
** Zone X typically means lower risk, but it doesn’t mean “no risk” – many homes in Zone X flooded during Hurricane Ian.

How to check your evacuation zone (for storm surge and safety orders):

Use your county’s emergency management website, or Florida’s statewide lookup tool:

• Go to floridadisaster.org/knowyourzone
• Enter your address or click your county
• Find your evacuation zone label: Zone A, B, C, etc.

These zones are based on storm surge, not rainfall or elevation. If your area is in Zone A, you’re likely among the first to be ordered to evacuate during a hurricane.

Knowing both zones gives you the full picture – one tells you what kind of damage your house might suffer, and the other tells you whether it’s safe to stay there when a storm is coming. If you’re not sure how to interpret what you find, reach out and we’ll help you understand exactly what it means for your home.

Flood Zone? Evacuation Zone? Here’s What Florida Homeowners Should Do

If your home is in a flood zone, an evacuation zone, or both, it means you face a real risk during Florida’s hurricane season. That doesn’t mean you should panic. It means you should prepare.

Let’s break it down:

If you’re in a flood zone (AE, VE, or even X):

• Talk to your insurance provider about your flood coverage – even if it’s not required. Standard homeowners’ insurance doesn’t cover flood damage.
• Understand your elevation and your home’s vulnerabilities (e.g. ground-level doors, crawl spaces, low-lying landscaping).
• Consider flood vents or property elevation if your home is especially at risk.
• Know that storm surge and rainfall can still flood homes in “low-risk” zones – especially as rainfall intensity increases.

If you’re in an evacuation zone (Zone A, B, etc.):

• Make a hurricane plan ahead of time: where you’ll go, what you’ll bring, and how you’ll secure your home.
• Never assume you’ll be safe just because you’ve stayed before. Each storm behaves differently, and surge can travel fast.

• Most important: Protect your windows and doors. Flying debris and pressure changes are what destroy homes when hurricanes hit.

If you’re in both zones or just want to be proactive:

This is where Storm Smart comes in. We help Florida homeowners protect what matters most with products engineered for hurricane-force wind, debris impact, and water intrusion:

• Impact-rated windows and doors
• Storm Catcher® screens that stop wind-driven rain
• Aluminum shutters that secure your openings fast
• All tested to meet Florida Building Code and HVHZ standards

Whether you’re required to evacuate or stay behind, having the right physical protection in place can make the difference between minor cleanup and major damage.

If you’re unsure what kind of protection makes sense for your zone, just ask. Our team lives and works in Florida too and we’ll help you build a plan that fits your home, your risk level, and your peace of mind.

Next Step: Know Find Your Zone and Protect Your Florida Home

Once you know your flood zone and evacuation zone, the next question is: What’s the right protection for my home? Every property, and every storm risk, is different. That’s why we offer a full range of Florida-tested solutions, from Storm Catcher® screens to impact-resistant windows, aluminum shutters, and more.

Scroll down to find the Storm Smart showroom closest to you. You can stop by to see the products in person, speak with an experienced product specialist, and learn exactly how these systems work to keep your home safe during a hurricane.

Not sure where to start? Give us a call at (888) 546-5708. We’ll help you make sense of your zones and recommend the protection that makes the most sense for your location, your home, and your peace of mind.

The clock is ticking, and once hurricane season begins, demand for storm protection surges. Checking the countdown helps you stay ahead of the rush and gives you time to secure your home, before the next storm is on the radar.