Find your zone,
before the storm finds you.

The southeastern United States carries the highest concentration of hurricane risk in North America. From the Florida Keys north along the Atlantic coast to the Chesapeake Bay, and west across the Gulf of Mexico to the Louisiana wetlands, more than 60 million people live within reach of a major Atlantic hurricane each season. Florida, Georgia, Virginia, and Louisiana — the four states this evacuation atlas currently covers — each face a slightly different mix of storm surge, hurricane-force wind, and inland flooding hazards. Knowing your hurricane evacuation zone is the single fastest preparedness step you can take, and using a reliable hurricane evacuation zone lookup before the season begins gives you minutes you cannot buy back when a watch is posted.

Why the southeast is uniquely exposed to hurricanes

The Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30, with peak activity in late August and September. Warm Gulf and Atlantic waters fuel rapid intensification — a Category 1 storm 36 hours offshore can be a Category 4 at landfall, leaving little time to evacuate. Florida's peninsula geometry and the Gulf of Mexico's shallow continental shelf concentrate storm surge into bays like Tampa Bay, Apalachicola Bay, and Pensacola Bay. Georgia's marsh-front coast — particularly around Savannah and Brunswick — sits at uniformly low elevation. Virginia's tidewater region around Hampton Roads and Norfolk is one of the most surge-vulnerable urban areas on the East Coast. Louisiana's bayou geography makes inland flooding a primary hurricane preparedness concern even in storms whose centers strike well east or west of the state.

Hurricane evacuation zones, and why they matter

Every coastal state in the southeast publishes hurricane evacuation zones — geographic areas drawn from National Hurricane Center SLOSH (Sea, Lake, and Overland Surges from Hurricanes) modeling, plus local elevation and historical flood data. Zone A floods first; Zone E or F floods only in the worst storms. When officials issue a hurricane evacuation order, they typically lift it by zone — Zone A first, then B, then C — so the most vulnerable residents get out first while highways and evacuation routes are still passable. Knowing your zone is what lets you move when the order comes instead of trying to look it up in the chaos before a tropical storm or hurricane makes landfall.

Florida hurricane evacuation

Florida is the most surge-vulnerable U.S. state, with 1,350 miles of coastline and most of the peninsula under 100 feet of elevation. The Florida Division of Emergency Management coordinates hurricane preparedness with all 67 counties, but each county draws its own evacuation zones. Residents in Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, Pinellas, Hillsborough, Lee, and Collier counties should know their hurricane evacuation zone before June 1 each year. Cross-check with the official "Know Your Zone" tool linked from every result page on this site, and verify against your county's emergency management office for the most current boundaries.

Georgia hurricane evacuation

Georgia hurricane evacuation zones cover Bryan, Camden, Chatham, Glynn, Liberty, and McIntosh counties on the Atlantic coast. The Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) coordinates evacuation along the I-16 corridor, which can be reversed (contraflow) during a major hurricane to speed inland departure from Savannah and Brunswick. Inland Georgia — Atlanta, Macon, Augusta — is the most common hurricane evacuation destination for coastal residents and is generally well outside the surge zone. Georgia coastal residents should sign up for AlertGeorgia notifications before each season.

Virginia hurricane evacuation

Virginia hurricane evacuation zones cover the tidewater region from the Eastern Shore through Hampton Roads, the Northern Neck, and the Middle Peninsula. The Virginia Department of Emergency Management runs a four-zone system (A through D). Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Hampton, Newport News, and Chesapeake all carry significant Zone A populations. Virginia's primary hurricane evacuation route is I-64 west toward Richmond, with secondary routes north along the Eastern Shore via US-13.

Storm surge: the deadliest hurricane hazard

Roughly half of Atlantic hurricane fatalities since 1963 are attributable to storm surge. Surge is the abnormal rise of seawater above predicted tide, driven by hurricane winds and low atmospheric pressure pushing water against the coast. A Category 3 hurricane can produce 9 to 12 feet of surge; a Category 5 can produce 20 feet or more. Storm surge can travel 25 miles inland over flat terrain, and arrives in minutes, not hours. Hurricane wind damage is often recoverable; storm surge damage usually means total loss. This is why hurricane evacuation orders are issued primarily on the basis of surge zones, not wind speed.

Build a 3-day hurricane go-kit before season starts

Every household in the southeast should keep a hurricane go-kit assembled by June 1: one gallon of water per person per day for three days, non-perishable food, a manual can opener, a NOAA weather radio, a flashlight per person, prescription medications for two weeks, a first-aid kit, important documents in waterproof bags (passports, insurance policies, deeds, medical records), at least $300 in small-bill cash, and pet supplies if applicable. Refresh stored water and check medication expiration dates once a year as part of your annual hurricane preparedness review.

Make a family hurricane communication plan

Designate an out-of-state contact who everyone in the household can call during and after a hurricane. Local cell networks frequently fail in the southeast during major storms; long-distance lines often work. Agree in advance on a meeting location if you are separated, a destination shelter or hotel for hurricane evacuation, and a return plan for after the all-clear. Sign up for your county's emergency alerts (CodeRED, AlertGeorgia, HCFL Alert, VDEM Alerts) so the hurricane evacuation order reaches you the moment it's issued.

The week of the hurricane

Once a hurricane watch is posted (48 hours out), top off vehicle fuel, refill prescriptions, withdraw cash, and finalize hurricane evacuation logistics. When a hurricane warning is posted (36 hours out), evacuation orders typically follow within hours. If your zone is called, leave early — bridges, causeways, and barrier-island roads close once sustained winds reach 39 mph, and once they close you are sheltering in place. After the hurricane, do not return until officials lift the evacuation order. Watch for downed power lines, contaminated water, structural damage, and standing water (snake and electrical hazards). Document property damage with photos before any cleanup; most homeowner insurance policies require notification within 30 days.

Use this hurricane evacuation atlas year-round

Bookmark your address page and check it the first week of June. Verify your hurricane evacuation zone hasn't changed — boundaries occasionally shift between seasons as new flood-model output arrives or coastlines erode. Cross-link to the official state map for the authoritative answer when a hurricane watch is posted. Hurricane preparedness is a year-round responsibility — the work you do in February and March makes the difference in September and October when the next Atlantic hurricane threatens the southeast coast. Always verify the information on this site against official state and federal data sources, including the National Hurricane Center, your state's Division of Emergency Management, and your county's emergency operations center.