Is my flood zone the same as my evacuation zone?

No. Your FEMA flood zone sets building and flood insurance rules. Your evacuation zone is set by county emergency management and tells you when to leave before a storm. Look up both for your address.

When is hurricane season in Southwest Florida?

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30, according to the Florida Division of Emergency Management.

What is the difference between a hurricane watch and a hurricane warning?

A hurricane watch means hurricane conditions are possible, issued 48 hours before tropical-storm-force winds are expected. A warning means they are expected, issued 36 hours ahead, so preparations should be finished.

Storm & Flood - Southwest Florida hurricane and flood readiness

To get ready for a hurricane in Southwest Florida, look up two things for your address: your evacuation zone (it tells you when to leave) and your FEMA flood zone (it drives building rules and flood insurance). Then make a plan, build a kit with at least 7 days of supplies, and follow your county's orders. Storm surge, not wind, killed most people in Hurricane Ian.

The Storm & Flood section of SWFL.now gathers what Lee, Collier and Charlotte county residents need to get ready for storms and floods, in plain English, with links to the official tools that hold the live data. Maps, shelters and programs change, so we point you to the source instead of copying it.

Start here: two lookups for your address

Find your evacuation zoneLee, Collier and Charlotte zone lookups, alerts and what the letters mean. Find your flood zoneWhat AE, VE and X mean, and how to look up your address on the FEMA map.

What to do before, during and after a storm

Before (now, and when a storm forms)

Know your evacuation zone and where you would go.
Sign up for county alerts.
Build a kit with at least 7 days of supplies.
Check your flood insurance now: new NFIP policies usually take 30 days to start.
Protect openings and move valuables up.

During

Leave when your zone is ordered to evacuate.
If you stay, shelter in an interior room away from windows.
Run generators outside only, at least 20 feet from doors, windows and vents.
Stay off flooded roads.

After

Return only when officials say it is safe.
Avoid floodwater and downed lines.
Photograph damage before cleanup and call your insurer.
Get permits for repairs; large repairs can trigger the 50% rule.

The full list, with sources, is in the hurricane preparedness checklist. Watch and warning timing comes from the National Weather Service; the 7-day supply guidance and season dates come from the Florida Division of Emergency Management; generator distance from the CDC.

Why storm surge decides who evacuates

Hurricane Ian made landfall on Cayo Costa on September 28, 2022 as a Category 4 hurricane with estimated 150 mph winds. The National Hurricane Center estimated surge inundation of 10 to 15 feet on Fort Myers Beach, 9 to 13 feet on eastern Sanibel, 6 to 9 feet in Cape Coral, Pine Island and Naples, and 5 to 8 feet in Fort Myers up the Caloosahatchee. Of the 41 U.S. storm surge deaths in Ian, 36 were in Lee County (NHC Ian report).

That is why county evacuation zones are based on storm surge risk, not on the storm's category. Lee County names its zones A to E by surge risk (Lee County), and Charlotte County notes that "storm surge does not correlate with the category of the storm" (Charlotte County).

Guides

Hurricane preparedness checklistPlan, kit, home and paperwork, step by step for SWFL. Lee County flood zone mapLookups, FIRM letters and elevation certificates. Collier County flood zone mapThe 2024 coastal maps and how to check your address. Cape Coral flood zoneCity lookup tools and the 25% flood insurance discount. Naples flood zoneCity of Naples map tool and who to call. My Safe Florida HomeFree wind inspections and grants up to $10,000: who qualifies. Flood insurance in FloridaNFIP vs private, what drives cost and the 50% rule. Generators for hurricanesCarbon monoxide safety and sizing basics. Protect your home from floodingFlood vents, barriers and raising equipment: what works where.

Protecting your home and finding help

Once you know your zones, the next steps are physical: raising equipment, flood vents, and in some cases flood panels or barriers. Our guide to protecting your home from flooding explains what works where, and the home services directory lists local roofers, storm-shutter and flood protection companies, HVAC, plumbing and electrical contractors. Each city page links to that city's official flood tools and county emergency management office.

Official sources first. When a storm threatens, your county emergency management office, the National Hurricane Center and the Florida shelter status page are the authorities. SWFL.now is a guide, not an alert service.

Frequently asked questions

Is my flood zone the same as my evacuation zone?: No. Your FEMA flood zone sets building and flood insurance rules. Your evacuation zone is set by county emergency management and tells you when to leave before a storm. Look up both for your address.
When is hurricane season in Southwest Florida?: The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30, according to the Florida Division of Emergency Management.
How much storm surge did Hurricane Ian bring to Fort Myers?: The National Hurricane Center estimated 10 to 15 feet of inundation on Fort Myers Beach, 9 to 13 feet on eastern Sanibel, 6 to 9 feet in Cape Coral, Pine Island and Naples, and 5 to 8 feet in Fort Myers along the Caloosahatchee.
What is the difference between a hurricane watch and a hurricane warning?: A hurricane watch means hurricane conditions are possible, issued 48 hours before tropical-storm-force winds are expected. A warning means they are expected, issued 36 hours ahead, so preparations should be finished.