Use this order of priority: follow any current evacuation order immediately; if no order applies, compare your exact exposure to flooding and wind with the safety of the building, the time and route required to leave, and your ability to remain supplied during an outage. A forecast track or category alone cannot make the decision for every address. Local emergency management, National Weather Service alerts and the National Hurricane Center provide the time-sensitive instructions that control.
FEMA’s core instruction is direct: “If told to evacuate, do so immediately.” FEMA hurricane preparedness guidance also says people may need to move even without an order if their location is flood-prone or otherwise unsafe. Staying is not simply a wind decision: storm surge, inland flooding, flash flooding, falling trees, structural damage, utility loss and blocked roads can all change the safest choice.
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Make the first decision from official instructions
If authorities have ordered an evacuation
An evacuation order is the controlling immediate instruction for the affected area. Leave promptly, use the routes designated by local officials, and follow later route, shelter and reentry updates. Do not wait for a clearer view of the storm, a personal estimate of wind speed or a neighbor’s decision. Orders can differ by zone, municipality, building type or hazard, so verify that the notice applies to your address.
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- NOAA Weather Scan & Alert - This emergency weather alert radio features S.A.M.E localized programming and alert you to over 60 kinds of weather hazards and emergencies. NOAA Weather Scan will automatically alert you of events.
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If no evacuation order applies
No order does not mean every location is safe. Use current local hazard maps and statements to determine whether your home, workplace or planned shelter is exposed to coastal storm surge, river or inland flooding, flash flooding, high winds, falling trees or structural failure. The National Hurricane Center warns that dangerous effects can extend well away from the storm’s center, so a track line is not a boundary around risk. Its local-statement example shows why location-specific guidance matters.
If your present building is vulnerable, move to a safer destination before travel becomes dangerous. That may mean higher ground, a designated public shelter, a well-built home outside the flood area or another location identified by local emergency management. Make the move while roads, bridges and transportation are still usable.
If information is changing or unclear
Check the issuing authority, publication time, affected zones and expiration or update time of every alert. Use more than one official channel because a single phone, internet connection or power source can fail. Local emergency alerts, the Emergency Alert System, NOAA Weather Radio, National Weather Service products and the National Hurricane Center should be treated as complementary sources; local officials decide evacuation and shelter actions for their jurisdiction.
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Separate water risk from wind risk. A building can be strong enough for wind yet unsafe because floodwater reaches it, or it can sit above expected flooding while having a weak roof, large unprotected windows or another wind vulnerability. FEMA’s hurricane hazard information sheet emphasizes both hazards and warns against using a wind shelter that is itself exposed to flooding.
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| Question | What to check | How it affects the choice |
|---|---|---|
| Is the address in an evacuation or flood-prone area? | Current local evacuation zones, coastal surge maps, river and inland flood information, low-lying roads and nearby waterways. | Plan to leave for an ordered evacuation. Even without an order, flooding risk can justify moving to higher ground before water or roads become dangerous. |
| Can the structure withstand high winds? | Construction quality, roof and window protection, exposure to falling trees, and whether the building is a mobile or manufactured home. | A vulnerable structure is not an appropriate place to ride out severe winds; identify a sturdy alternative early. |
| Is the proposed shelter outside flood exposure? | Whether the room or building is in a surge, coastal, river, drainage or flash-flood area. | A wind-safe room on a low floor is not safe if floodwater can reach that floor. |
| Can you leave before routes deteriorate? | Distance, bridges, low crossings, traffic, transportation, disability access and the time needed to pack or assist others. | Late departure can be more dangerous than an earlier planned move. Do not wait until water or wind makes travel unsafe. |
| Can you remain isolated? | Power, water, communications, medical needs, food, sanitation, heating or cooling, and pet care. | If you cannot maintain basic needs for a prolonged outage or blocked roads, arrange a safer destination rather than relying on last-minute help. |
When leaving is the safer choice without an order
Move from flood exposure
FEMA advises considering evacuation from a flood-prone location even when officials have not issued an order for everyone. Water can enter a building, isolate it from emergency services and make roads impassable. Move to higher ground or an officially identified shelter before rainfall, surge or rising rivers cut off the route. Never drive through a flooded roadway; depth and current are difficult to judge, and the route may be damaged underneath.
Move from wind-vulnerable housing
Mobile and manufactured homes, lightly built structures and buildings with serious maintenance problems may not provide adequate protection from hurricane winds. Arrange a sturdy building, a FEMA safe room or an ICC 500 storm shelter if available and approved for your area. Do not assume that being outside the forecast cone makes the structure safe; wind and tornado-producing bands can affect areas far from the center.
Move when your support needs exceed the building’s capability
People who depend on powered medical equipment, refrigerated medicine, oxygen, mobility assistance, electricity for heating or cooling, or regular professional care need a specific continuity plan. The same applies to households with infants, older adults, animals or anyone who cannot travel quickly. Contact local emergency management and care providers before the storm to learn accessible transportation, shelter accommodations and power-support options.
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Choose the destination before departure becomes urgent
Identify a destination outside the expected hazard area, confirm that it accepts your household and pets, and check whether it remains accessible by an official route. Keep a primary and backup route because bridges, tunnels and low roads can close. Share the plan with an out-of-area contact, and set a departure trigger based on official instructions and route conditions rather than a personal guess about the storm’s final track.
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If you stay, select a shelter that handles both wind and water
For high winds
Use a FEMA safe room or an ICC 500 storm shelter when one is available. Otherwise, choose a small interior room without windows in a sturdy building, on the lowest floor that is not subject to flooding. Keep away from windows, exterior doors and rooms with large spans or weak roofs. Bring a battery-powered way to receive alerts, shoes, helmets or other head protection, medications, water and a charged phone if possible.
For flooding inside the building
If floodwater enters, move to the highest level you can reach safely. Do not enter a closed attic: rising water can trap you there. An attic or upper room is not a substitute for a wind-safe room during the strongest winds, so the plan must account for which hazard is more immediate and where water can reach. If officials direct evacuation, leave rather than attempting to improvise an indoor refuge.
For buildings with mixed risks
Map the building before the storm: mark the wind refuge, the route to a higher level, exits, utility shutoffs and any rooms below grade. Keep the route clear and do not use elevators if power loss or flooding could strand you. If no part of the building is both structurally suitable and outside expected flood exposure, the correct decision is to relocate before conditions worsen.
Build an evacuation plan step by step
- Identify your zone and authorities. Save your county or municipal emergency-management page, local alert-registration method, shelter directory and transportation contact. Confirm which agency issues orders for your address.
- List everyone and every animal. Include children, older adults, people with disabilities, medical equipment, medications, service animals and pets. Assign who provides transportation and assistance.
- Pick destinations. Choose a nearby option outside the hazard area and a farther backup. Confirm opening status, accessibility, pet rules and whether the destination can support medical or power needs.
- Map official routes. Mark primary and alternate routes, fuel or charging stops and places to meet if separated. Follow emergency traffic directions rather than navigation-app detours.
- Prepare a go kit. Pack prescriptions, medical information, identification, insurance and contact records, water, ready-to-eat food, infant or elder supplies, pet food, leashes or carriers, hygiene items, flashlights, batteries, chargers, protective clothing and cash.
- Set a communication plan. Write down contacts and meeting points in case phones are unavailable. Tell an out-of-area contact when you leave and when you arrive.
- Leave on the official trigger. Do not delay for a preferred traffic window after an order or clear local direction. Recheck route closures and shelter availability immediately before departure.
Prepare to shelter in place if the building is suitable
Staying safely requires preparation for more than the period of strongest wind. FEMA notes that power and water may fail and roads may remain impassable for days. Store enough safe drinking water and food for the household and pets, plus medication, first-aid items, sanitation supplies, flashlights, batteries, chargers and a manual can opener. Protect important documents from water and keep a fire extinguisher accessible.
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Plan for communications without mains power or internet. Keep a battery or hand-crank NOAA Weather Radio, spare batteries or a charged backup power source, and a phone configured to receive local alerts. A radio supports alert reception; it does not decide whether your address should evacuate or guarantee that a shelter is open.
Secure outdoor furniture, loose objects and generators according to manufacturer and local safety instructions before winds rise. Never operate a generator, grill or fuel-burning appliance inside a home, garage or other enclosed space because of carbon-monoxide risk. Arrange a safe location for pets and livestock, and never leave animals behind unless authorities specifically direct an arrangement that protects them.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Monitor official information throughout the storm
Use multiple channels and keep checking for updates. The National Hurricane Center organizes preparedness around knowing water and wind risk, preparing before hurricane season, understanding forecast information, moving when a storm threatens, staying protected during the storm and using caution afterward; its Hurricane Preparedness guidance is the reference point for those themes. FEMA also identifies local alerts, the Emergency Alert System and NOAA Weather Radio as alert sources.
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Read the full local statement rather than relying on a headline or map image. Look for the affected geography, hazards, timing, evacuation language, shelter information and instructions for people who need transportation or assistance. Forecasts evolve, and local authorities may change zones, routes, shelter operations or reentry rules.
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What to do during the storm
- Move to the selected wind refuge before conditions become dangerous; do not wait for visible damage.
- Stay away from windows and exterior doors, and keep shoes and essential medications with you.
- Continue receiving official alerts. A temporary lull does not prove the storm has ended; remain sheltered until authorities indicate that the threat has passed.
- If water enters, move upward to a safe level without entering a closed attic. Do not walk or drive through moving or unknown-depth water.
- Do not touch downed lines or use wet electrical equipment. Report hazards through official channels when it is safe to do so.
After the storm: reentry is another official decision
Do not return merely because winds have eased or a social-media post says a road is open. Wait for local officials to announce that reentry is allowed and identify usable routes. Floodwater may hide debris, contamination, unstable ground and live electrical hazards; damaged buildings can collapse after the storm.
Use caution around generators, chainsaws, gas lines and downed wires. If your home is damaged, leave and contact emergency management, utilities or trained professionals rather than entering an unstable area. Continue monitoring official updates because roads, shelters, water systems and communications may reopen at different times.
A quick decision worksheet
Write the answers for your address before the next alert. The worksheet is a way to organize facts, not a scoring system and not a replacement for an official order.
- Local direction: What agency covers the address, and is there a current evacuation order or shelter directive?
- Water: Could surge, coastal flooding, river flooding, flash flooding or drainage overflow reach the building or the route?
- Wind: Is the structure sturdy, and is there a small interior refuge without windows?
- Flood-safe refuge: Is that refuge outside the likely flood area, or would water force movement to a higher level?
- Travel: Can every household member leave safely while official routes remain open?
- Support: Can you maintain medication, power, water, food, sanitation, communications and pet care during an extended outage?
- Alternatives: Have you confirmed a destination, transportation and a backup route?
If any answer shows that the current location cannot protect the household from the relevant hazard or cannot support essential needs, arrange an earlier move to a safer, verified destination. If an authority orders evacuation, that instruction overrides personal risk estimates.
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