Hurricane evacuation planning: the decisions you need to make before a storm forms.

The worst time to plan your evacuation is when a watch is posted. Traffic is already building, gas stations are running out, hotels are sold out, and you're trying to make decisions under stress with incomplete information. The plan you make now — before the season, before any storm — is the plan that works.

Step 1: Find your evacuation zone

Your evacuation zone is the single most important piece of information for your hurricane safety. It determines whether you will receive an evacuation order, and at what point in the storm's approach that order will come. Find it now, before any storm exists.

Evacuation zones are set by your county or parish emergency management office based on storm surge vulnerability — not by your proximity to the water and not by FEMA flood zone designations (which exist for insurance purposes and use different flood scenarios). A home two miles from the beach can be in Zone A if it's in a low-lying area; a beachfront property on a bluff might be Zone C.

To find your zone: search "[your county] hurricane evacuation zone" or visit your county emergency management website. Most coastal counties have an online lookup tool where you enter your address and receive your zone designation. Write it down, tell everyone in your household, and check it again if you move.

Step 2: Decide where you're going

"North" is not an evacuation plan. You need a specific address — a destination you've confirmed is expecting you, or a hotel you've pre-booked with a refundable reservation.

Staying with family or friends inland is the best option. You have a known, reliable destination, no lodging cost, and a support network. "Inland" means far enough from the coast to be clear of surge (you're already moving away from that) and far enough to avoid catastrophic wind damage from the storm's core — typically 100+ miles for a major hurricane, depending on track. Confirm with your hosts before the season that this arrangement still stands.

Hotels: Major evacuation corridors (I-10, I-75, I-95, US-90, US-98) fill within hours of a hurricane watch. Properties 150–300 miles from the coast can sell out a full day before landfall. Book refundable reservations in the early season — not when a storm forms. Book at your destination city, confirm the cancellation policy, and cancel if the storm doesn't materialize. The cost of an unused refundable night is far lower than the cost of scrambling for shelter at 11 PM during a mass evacuation.

Public shelters are shelters of last resort — available to those who have no other option. They are typically crowded, offer basic amenities, and in most jurisdictions do not accept pets. They are a better option than sheltering in place in a surge zone, but a worse option than any planned, inland destination. If a public shelter is your plan, identify the nearest ones now and understand the intake process in your county.

Step 3: Plan your route

Your normal fastest route may be the wrong route during an evacuation. During a large-scale evacuation, major corridors operate under contraflow — both sides of the highway run outbound to increase capacity. Contraflow routes are predetermined and published by your state DOT. Look up your state's contraflow plan now and understand which roads are involved.

Choose a primary route and a backup. Major interstates fill quickly; US highways and state roads are often faster 12–24 hours into an evacuation when interstates are gridlocked. Download offline maps for both routes — cell networks degrade under load during mass evacuations, and you may lose data service at the worst moment.

Identify fuel stops off the primary route. Gas stations on major interstates run out during evacuations. Stations on parallel routes 5–10 miles off the main corridor often have supply when the highway stations are empty. Save their locations in your maps app now.

Step 4: When to leave

Leave when an evacuation order is issued for your zone. Not when you decide the storm looks serious. Not when your neighbors start leaving. When the order is issued.

Evacuation orders for Zone A (highest surge risk) are typically issued 48–72 hours before expected landfall. Zones B and C follow progressively. The order timing is set to give people enough time to leave before roads become compromised by surge flooding or pre-storm winds. Waiting to see how the storm develops erodes that window.

The most dangerous decision pattern in hurricane evacuations is waiting for certainty. Forecast tracks carry uncertainty — a storm aimed at Tampa could shift to hit Naples, or the track could hold steady. People who wait for certainty wait until the window has closed. The 5-day NHC forecast cone exists precisely because we know storms shift. Being in the cone means you are in the range of realistic possibilities — and that is a sufficient reason to follow your zone's order when it comes.

What to bring

Your evacuation bag should be pre-packed and located near your door. It takes 20 minutes to assemble it properly now and 30 seconds to grab it when you leave. The contents: medications for 7+ days; photo ID and insurance documents (or copies in a waterproof bag); phone chargers and a fully charged power bank; cash in small bills; a change of clothes; a basic first aid kit; and any irreplaceable items — hard drives, photos, family documents. If you have pets, add food, crates, vaccination records, and leashes. Most public shelters do not accept pets; shelters of last resort for pet owners are typically separate facilities.

When sheltering in place is appropriate

Sheltering in place is appropriate only for residents who: are outside all surge zone evacuation orders; are in a well-built, code-compliant structure; have adequate supplies; and can safely ride out wind damage. If you are in a mobile home, manufactured home, or any structure that predates modern wind codes in your area, sheltering in place is not a safe option regardless of zone.

If you shelter in place: stay away from windows, take shelter in an interior room on the lowest floor above surge risk (or the highest floor if surge is the primary risk), and do not go outside during any lull — the lull may be the eye passing, and the back wall of the storm will arrive within hours.