Whether your organization operates in Tampa Bay, St. Petersburg, Sarasota, Orlando, or anywhere else in Florida, it's important to know your evacuation zone well before hurricane season reaches its peak.
Florida’s evacuation zones are based primarily on the risk of storm surge, not simply how close you are to the coast. Evacuation zones are designated by local emergency management officials and are used to determine which areas should evacuate first during a hurricane. They are not the same as FEMA flood zones.
Take a few minutes to: Determine your evacuation zone – Review local evacuation routes – Identify alternate travel routes – Know here employees should report during an emergency – Confirm emergency contact information is current.
Florida Resources
The Florida Division of Emergency Management offers several excellent tools to help residents and businesses prepare before severe weather arrives. Click on the links below for more info:
- Know Your Zone Map – Search your address to identify your hurricane evacuation zone.
- Florida Disaster Preparedness Maps – View county evacuation routes, storm surge maps, and preparedness resources.
- Florida Emergency Information Center – Current emergency information, evacuation orders, shelters, and preparedness planning.
- Ready.gov Hurricane Preparedness – FEMA guidance for preparing before, during, and after hurricanes.
Neighbors Helping Neighbors!
👉️ Help needed assembling Disaster Resilience Kits! As the 2026 hurricane season nears, United Way Suncoast has received another Disaster Resilience Grant from Verizon, following a reward in 2025. The funding comes through a United Way Worldwide initiative to continue ensuring their service area is better prepared for emergencies, building more resilient, stronger communities in the face of future disasters.
This summer, they are looking for volunteers to assemble 6,000 disaster kits containing vital supplies through partnerships with Feeding Tampa Bay (Hillsborough) and All Faiths Food Bank (Sarasota).
Recovery Begins Before the Disaster
Preparedness doesn’t end when an emergency passes Organizations should also have recovery procedures in place before disaster strikes. Planning ahead can significantly reduce downtime and help teams return to normal operations more efficiently.
Consider these questions before an emergency occurs:
- How will employees communicate after the event?
- How will damage be documented for insurance purposes?
- Who is responsible for securing the property after the storm?
- How will critical operations continue if facilities are temporarily inaccessible?
- What vendors or contractors should be contacted first?
Organizations that answer these questions in advance are often able to recover faster and minimize operational disruptions.
Ready to Strengthen Your Emergency Preparedness?
Security Plays a Critical Role
Professional security extends far beyond responding during an emergency.
Security professionals can assist organizations by helping develop emergency response plans, securing facilities before severe weather, protecting vacant properties after an event, controlling site access during recovery, and supporting business continuity efforts.
Preparation today can reduce risk tomorrow.
Contact Covenant Security Solutions today!
Whether you manage a commercial property, healthcare facility, residential community, cultural institution, or corporate campus, Covenant Security Solutions can help your organization develop a stronger emergency preparedness strategy through customized security consulting and planning.