How Do I Find Out What Evacuation Zone I’m In for Hurricanes in Florida?

You can find out what hurricane evacuation zone you’re in by entering your home address into your county’s emergency management website or the statewide lookup tool at FloridaDisaster.org.

It only takes a few seconds but the zone you see isn’t just a label. It tells emergency officials when you should evacuate during a hurricane based on your risk of storm surge flooding.

Many Florida homeowners, especially new residents, don’t realize that evacuation zones aren’t based on rainfall or wind. They’re based on how far ocean water is expected to travel inland when a powerful storm hits. Zones range from A to E, and they vary from county to county, so your evacuation zone might be different from your neighbor’s, even if you live across the street.

In the sections below, we’ll explain what those letters actually mean, why they matter, and how to check your zone with confidence, especially now that many maps have changed after recent storms like Hurricane Ian.

What exactly is an evacuation zone in Florida and what does it tell me?

An evacuation zone is a geographic area defined by your county’s emergency management office to help determine who needs to evacuate first when a hurricane is approaching. These zones are ranked by storm surge vulnerability, not by wind or flood insurance requirements, and are typically labeled Zone A through Zone E.

If you’re in Zone A, you’re considered at the highest risk for life-threatening surge, and you’ll usually be among the first told to leave. Zone B follows, then C, and so on, though not all counties in Florida use the full A-E range.

What your evacuation zone tells you is simple but critical:

• How early you might be ordered to evacuate during a hurricane
• That your location is within a modeled surge pathway, even if it seems elevated or inland
• That you should have a plan in place before an evacuation order is issued

What it doesn’t tell you:

• Whether your home is likely to flood from rainfall
• Whether you need flood insurance
• Whether your property is structurally protected against wind or debris

That confusion is common and dangerous. Many people assume that being outside a FEMA flood zone means they’re safe. But FEMA’s maps assess long-term flood risk to structures, while evacuation zones are about saving lives during a specific storm event. The two systems often don’t overlap, and they’re not supposed to.

Why does my evacuation zone matter and when would I be ordered to evacuate?

Your evacuation zone matters because it tells emergency officials how exposed your area is to storm surge, and how early they’ll need to get people out before a hurricane hits.

These orders aren’t just about convenience or traffic, they’re about giving families enough time to escape a fast-rising, fast-moving wall of seawater that can make roads impassable and homes unreachable.

When a major storm is approaching Florida, local emergency managers and the National Hurricane Center work together to model surge scenarios. Based on the storm’s projected path and intensity, they’ll decide which zones need to evacuate, often starting with Zone A, then expanding to Zone B, C, and beyond as conditions change.

This doesn’t happen with every storm. But when it does, it happens fast. During Hurricane Irma in 2017, over 6 million Floridians were ordered to evacuate. Many of those orders came with less than 48 hours’ notice. And in Hurricane Ian, storm surge destroyed entire coastal neighborhoods that weren’t technically in high-risk flood insurance zones.

Being in an evacuation zone doesn’t mean your house will definitely flood but it does mean you’re in an area where staying could be life-threatening. That’s why these zones are issued by emergency management, not insurance companies.

Bottom line: If your county issues an evacuation order and your zone is named, go. You don’t want to be there when the roads are underwater, and help can’t get in.

Where can I check my evacuation zone and is it accurate?

You can check your official evacuation zone by visiting your county’s emergency management website or using the statewide lookup tool at FloridaDisaster.org/KnowYourZone. Both tools let you search by street address and will show whether your property falls in Zone A, B, C, D, or E or if you’re currently outside any evacuation zone.

It’s fast and free, but here’s the part most homeowners don’t realize that evacuation zones aren’t static. They can and do change after major hurricanes.

Following storms like Irma and Ian, many Florida counties updated their storm surge modeling based on new data. That means the zone you were in prior years might not be the same this year, even if your home hasn’t moved an inch. Some areas that were previously unzoned are now inside Zone A or B. Others have shifted down based on improved surge barriers or road access.

If you’re comparing your zone to a neighbor’s and wondering why it doesn’t match, you’re not imagining things. Surge zones are modeled using:

• Elevation data
• Distance to open water
• Local topography
• Evacuation route capacity

That’s why it’s entirely possible for two homes on the same street to fall into different zones.

Tip: Make it a habit to check your evacuation zone every hurricane season, not just once when you buy your home. And if you’re unsure what it means or what to do next, we can help you make sense of it.

Why is my evacuation zone different than my neighbor’s even though we live on the same street?

Your evacuation zone is different than your neighbor’s evacuation zone because evacuation zones are based on storm surge modeling, not property lines, and even small differences in elevation or geography can place neighboring homes in different zones.

It feels counterintuitive, but it’s not a mistake. Your zone assignment depends on how water is expected to move through your area during a major storm. Local emergency planners use detailed data like:

• Ground elevation – a difference of just one or two feet can change surge exposure
• Proximity to inlets, canals, or low-lying terrain
• Drainage flow patterns and how water pools or escapes
• Road access and how quickly an area can be cleared if an evacuation is needed

So, while your home and your neighbor’s may look identical from the sidewalk, their risk profile, when viewed through the lens of a surge model, may be meaningfully different.

Bottom line: It’s not about fairness, it’s about function. Emergency managers have to draw boundaries based on how storm surge behaves, not how neighborhoods are laid out.

What should I do if I’m in Zone A, B, or C?

If you’re in Evacuation Zone A, B, or C, it means your home is in an area where storm surge could pose a serious threat to your safety during a hurricane. You may not be ordered to evacuate every storm season, but when you are, it will happen quickly — and you’ll need to act fast. Here’s how to prepare smart:

1. Make an evacuation plan now — before a storm is named.

• Know where you’ll go: friend, family, hotel, or local shelter
• Plan your route and backup route
• Pack a basic “go bag” with essentials (medications, IDs, chargers, etc.)

You don’t want to be making decisions in gridlock or panic.

2. Protect your home before you leave.

Evacuation zones are about saving people, not property. But what happens to your home while you’re gone depends on what you’ve put in place before the storm arrives.

High winds and flying debris are responsible for much of the damage, even in areas that don’t fully flood. That’s where Storm Smart can help:

• Storm Catcher® Screens: block wind pressure, deflect flying objects, and keep debris out,  even across wide openings like patios or lanais
• Impact-Resistant Windows & Doors: engineered to hold strong against projectiles and pressure changes
• Aluminum Shutters: fast-deploying, permanently installed protection for glass and entry points

All of our systems meet and exceed Florida Building Code and HVHZ requirements, and we’ll help you match the right solution to your zone, home layout, and budget.

If you’re in Zone A, you may have to leave before other neighbors, and you may come back to the worst of the damage. Having structural protection in place before hurricane season starts can make all the difference.

Want help understanding your zone and how to protect your home?

If you’re still unsure what your evacuation zone means or what to do with that information, you’re not alone. Zones can be confusing, and the risk isn’t always obvious just by looking at a map. That’s why we’re here.

At Storm Smart, we’ve helped tens of thousands of Florida homeowners figure out what kind of protection makes sense for their exact location, not just their zip code. Whether you’re in Zone A, B, or C, or you just want to be ready no matter what comes this season, we’ll walk you through the options.

Want to see the products in person?

Scroll down to find the Storm Smart showroom nearest you. Our product specialists are local, knowledgeable, and ready to show you how our systems work – from Storm Catcher® Screens to impact windows and aluminum roll down shutters.

Prefer to talk it through?

Give us a call at (888) 546-5708. We’ll answer your questions, explain how your zone affects your protection needs, and help you take the next step with clarity, not pressure.

When it comes to hurricanes, the best time to prepare is before your zone is called. Let’s get you ready, together.

Evacuation orders come quickly, and zone maps change often. The countdown helps you stay ahead, so you’re not caught off guard or left unprotected when it’s time to go.