Florida evacuation zones vs. flood zones: find your zone and plan where to go

Pick your county: find your zone, read orders, check shelters

County links come from FDEM's county emergency management list and shelter information index. Where FDEM's shelter link no longer worked on November 7, 2026, the picker sends you to the county's main emergency management page.

Evacuation zone vs. flood zone: not the same map

How evacuation zones work

• Zone A first: FDEM says Zone A is generally the most vulnerable and most likely to be evacuated first.
• Not every zone, every storm: not all evacuation zones are always ordered.
• Find it now: FDEM urges residents to look up their zone before a storm, using the Know Your Zone map. If the map asks you to log in or won't load, FDEM says to try again later.
• Zones aren't the only trigger. Volusia County says people in manufactured or mobile homes, low-lying areas, or flood-prone basins may be advised to evacuate regardless of zone.
• Start early: Volusia County advises confirming your zone 72 or more hours before landfall, once a storm is in the five-day cone.

How FEMA flood zones work

• Flood insurance is separate. Most homeowners and renters policies don't cover flood damage.
• Buy it early. FDEM says many policies take about 30 days after purchase to take effect.
• Mobile homes too: insurance for manufactured homes doesn't automatically cover flood damage.

Go or stay?

FDEM's guidance, in short:

• Go if you're in an ordered evacuation zone, a low-lying flood-prone area, a mobile home, or an unsafe structure. Follow all evacuation orders.
• Maybe stay if you're none of those. FDEM says it may be safer to stay in your home, as long as you know your home can handle strong wind and heavy rain.
• Know your home: FDEM says homes built after 2002 generally include features that make them more resilient to hurricanes.
• Always: heed the advice and orders of local officials. The greatest threat to life from a hurricane is storm surge flooding.

Where to go

1. Friends or family first. FDEM says your safest and easiest option may be staying with friends or family outside the evacuation zone or in a stronger house.
2. Have several options. FDEM recommends several places in different directions, even out of state, in case the storm turns.
3. Public shelters are a last resort. FDEM says the best place to shelter is with family or friends, in a safe structure, outside the evacuation area.
4. Know your routes. Volusia County advises knowing the fastest route out plus two alternates, and filling your gas tank early.

Mobile and manufactured homes

• Follow orders: FDEM says people in mobile homes should follow all evacuation orders.
• Regardless of zone: Volusia County says mobile and manufactured home residents may be advised to evacuate regardless of zone.
• Check tie-downs before the season: FDEM says anchoring systems wear out over time. Tie-down rules are in Florida Administrative Code 15C-1, and your local building department can answer questions.
• Turn things off: shut off water, gas, and power before the storm.
• Check flood coverage: manufactured home insurance doesn't automatically cover flooding.

Campers, RVs, and hotel visitors

• Follow local orders. FDEM's rule for everyone: heed the advice and orders of local officials. Use the county picker above for the county you're staying in, not your home county.
• Get local alerts. Sign up with that county's emergency management office, and see FDEM's AlertFlorida.
• Have a way out. FDEM advises planning several evacuation options, including out of state.
• Hotel costs: Volusia County says FEMA may reimburse hotel stays only if you're eligible for temporary housing assistance and approved through FEMA's Individual Assistance program. Save receipts.

The FDEM and FEMA pages checked for this guide don't have separate evacuation rules for campers, RV owners, or hotel guests. Ask your campground or hotel about its storm plan, and follow county orders.

Transportation help

• Arrange it early. FDEM says if you can't drive yourself, arrange transportation well before a disaster.
• Register with your county. FDEM says registering with your local emergency management office may qualify you for special sheltering or transportation programs. Each county has its own forms. Update them every year.
• Ask yourself: could you leave if the elevator stopped or your mobility aid failed? If not, call your county about the special needs registry.

Pets and pet-friendly shelters

• Most shelters don't take pets. FDEM says most public shelters do not permit pets, but they do permit service animals.
• Research pet-friendly shelters ahead. There may be pet-friendly shelters in your area, but you need to find out in advance. Check your county emergency management page.
• Take them with you when possible if you evacuate.
• What a pet-friendly shelter may require: in Volusia County, leashes, crates for cats and small dogs, food, and medicine. Pets are kept separate from people's sleeping areas, with round-the-clock access.
• No pet-friendly option nearby? FDEM says to identify other shelter options that work for you and your pets.

Special needs registration and shelters

• Statewide registry: the Florida Special Needs Registry is run by the Florida Department of Health. FDEM says the information is used only for emergency planning and services, and is exempt from public records requests to FDEM.
• Not an automatic shelter spot. Registering doesn't automatically qualify you for a special needs shelter. Your county will explain your options.
• Who special needs shelters are for: people who need sheltering help because of a physical, mental, cognitive, or sensory impairment, whose care goes beyond basic first aid, and whose condition is medically stable.
• A disability alone doesn't mean you need a special needs shelter. Many people can be safely accommodated in a general shelter.
• Last resort: FDEM calls special needs shelters a shelter of last resort, for when there's no other option.

Shelters: what to know

• Two kinds: general population shelters and special needs shelters. Some counties also open pet-friendly shelters.
• Bring supplies: bed linens or blankets, clothing, toiletries, and medications. Volusia adds government ID for adults, chargers, snacks, and comfort items for kids.
• Ask first: resources vary by shelter, so contact your county emergency management office about your needs.

All 67 counties

Emergency management and shelter links from FDEM's county list and shelter index. Zone lookup for every county: FDEM's Know Your Zone map.

County links come from FDEM's lists, checked November 7, 2026. Putnam County's links on both FDEM lists didn't work, so Putnam points to FDEM's county list. Some county websites don't respond to automated checks.

Where sources differ

Related on this site

• Hurricane prep
• Hurricane costs
• King tides
• Flood cleanup
• Checklists
• Moving to Florida
• Emergency contacts

Questions people ask

What evacuation zone am I in?

Type your address into the Florida Division of Emergency Management's Know Your Zone map. Your county emergency management office also has zone information, and it decides when each zone is ordered to leave.

Is my evacuation zone the same as my flood zone?

No. Volusia County says evacuation zones are not the same as flood zones. Evacuation zones are based on storm surge risk and tell you when to leave. FEMA flood zones are drawn for flood insurance and show flood risk.

I'm in Flood Zone X. Do I still need to evacuate?

Possibly. Flood Zone X is FEMA's moderate- to low-risk insurance designation. It doesn't tell you your evacuation zone. If your evacuation zone is ordered to leave, follow the order, whatever your flood zone.

I'm in Evacuation Zone A. What does that mean?

FDEM says Zone A is typically the most vulnerable and most likely to be evacuated first. Being in Zone A doesn't mean you must leave every storm. Leave when local officials order your zone to evacuate.

Do mobile homes have to evacuate?

FDEM says it is never safe to stay in a mobile home during a high-wind event like a tropical storm or hurricane, and that people in mobile homes should follow all evacuation orders. Volusia County says mobile and manufactured home residents may be advised to evacuate regardless of zone.

Where are pet-friendly shelters?

Check your county emergency management office. FDEM says most public shelters do not allow pets, though they do allow service animals, and that you need to research pet-friendly shelters in advance. Counties announce which shelters open for each storm.

Is a shelter open just because it's on the county list?

No. A shelter list shows possible locations. Counties open shelters based on the storm, and Volusia County, for example, announces locations before a storm. Only the county's current announcements tell you what's open.

What is a special needs shelter?

FDEM says it's for people who need help during an evacuation because of a physical, mental, cognitive, or sensory impairment, whose care goes beyond basic first aid, and whose condition is medically stable. It's a shelter of last resort.

How do I register for special needs help?

Sign up for the Florida Special Needs Registry run by the Florida Department of Health, and contact your county emergency management office. FDEM says registering doesn't automatically qualify you for a special needs shelter.

What if I can't drive myself to evacuate?

Arrange transportation well before a disaster, FDEM says. Registering with your county emergency management office may qualify you for special sheltering or transportation programs.

Where should I go if I evacuate?

FDEM says your safest and easiest option may be friends or family outside the evacuation zone, in a stronger house. Public shelters are a last resort, and you should bring your own supplies.

What if my zone isn't ordered to evacuate?

FDEM says not all zones are always ordered. If you're not in an ordered zone, a low-lying flood-prone area, a mobile home, or an unsafe structure, it may be safer to stay home.

How do I find my FEMA flood zone?

Use FEMA's Flood Map Service Center. FEMA's FloodSmart site explains the zones: A and V zones are high risk, B and X (shaded) are moderate, and C and X (unshaded) are lower risk.

Does flood insurance start right away?

Usually not. FDEM says many policies take about 30 days after purchase to take effect, so don't wait until a storm is coming.

How do I get emergency alerts?

Sign up through your county emergency management office, and see FDEM's AlertFlorida page.

I'm visiting Florida. What do I do if an evacuation is ordered?

Follow local officials' orders where you're staying, just like residents. Use the county picker on this page to find that county's emergency management page.

Sources

• Florida Division of Emergency Management: Know Your Zone, Know Your Home, Know Your Zone map, county emergency management, shelter information index, important shelter information, sheltering with your pet, evacuation considerations, registration with your local EOC, Special Needs Registry, manufactured homes, flood insurance, AlertFlorida
• Florida Department of Health: Florida Special Needs Registry
• FEMA: Flood Map Service Center, FloodSmart flood zones and flood risk
• Volusia County: evacuation and safety information, disaster preparedness FAQ

This page is general information. During an emergency, follow your county emergency management office and call 911 for life-threatening emergencies.