How do you know if you live in an evacuation zone? We explain how to find your zone
The 2023 Atlantic hurricane season is officially underway, and a system in the Gulf of Mexico has an increasing chance of developing into a short-lived tropical depression or storm.
Officials regularly warn residents to be prepared for a hurricane, before a storm is on its way. Buy supplies. Check your yard and home. Update your insurance. Inspect your shutters. Establish an evacuation plan.
But should you evacuate and how do you know if you live in an evacuation zone?
Here are answers to your questions.
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What you should know if you live in Florida when it comes to hurricanes
Do you live in an evacuation zone?
Do you live in a low-lying, flood-prone area?
Do you live in a mobile home?
Do you live on the barrier island?
If you answered yes to any of those questions, then officials may ask you to evacuate ahead of a storm.
Know your home. Generally, homes built after 2002 include features to make them more structurally sound during a hurricane. See more details in the Florida Building Code.
If you live in a home only accessible by bridge, be aware emergency officials generally close those bridges to traffic after winds reach a certain speed.
Residents of mobile home communities are asked to evacuate their homes for safer locations based on the threat of an approaching hurricane.
How do you find out if you live in an evacuation zone?
The Florida Division of Emergency Management has a website to determine whether you live in an evacuation zone and what zone it is.
Go to the website and enter your address.
If your home is in one of the colored areas, these are flood zones where you may be asked to evacuate by local officials.
What are the different evacuation zone colors on the map?
Typically, Zone A is the most vulnerable and the most likely to be asked to evacuate first. Zone F is most likely to evacuate last.
Greatest threat from hurricanes is storm surge
The greatest threat to life comes from storm surge, not winds, according to officials with the National Hurricane Center and Emergency Management.
If you live in an evacuation zone, flood-prone area or mobile home and local officials issue an evacuation order, plan to leave your home.
When is hurricane season?
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30.
How do you prepare for a hurricane? What supplies are needed?
Florida has two sales tax holidays in 2023 to help residents purchase supplies. The first period runs from May 27 through June 9. The second from Aug. 26 through Sept 8. The peak of hurricane season, the period when the most storms develop, runs from August through October.
Sales tax holiday: Save on hurricane supplies. Purchase needed items during sales tax holiday
Hurricane preparation: What supplies do you need for a storm? Here's a list
The basic supplies to have on hand include:
Nonperishable food for last two weeks.
One gallon of drinking water per person per day, for one-week minimum.
Canned vegetables and fruits.
Dried fruits
Prepared foods
Snacks
Snack spreads
Cereals.
Flashlights
Batteries
Cellphone chargers
Battery-operated radio
NOAA emergency weather radio
Garbage bags
Fire extinguisher
Battery-operated lanterns
This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Florida flood zones: How to find your zone based on address
