Hurricane Prep Checklist for Volusia County

Last checked: October 25, 2026. Rules, fees and dates change, so confirm on the official sites linked below before you go.

The short answer: Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30. Prepare before a storm is coming: know your evacuation zone, sign up for AlertVolusia, build a 7-day supply kit, review your insurance (flood coverage has a 30-day wait), and write your plan on paper. Then follow Volusia County Emergency Management’s instructions when a storm threatens.

This is general guidance. Always follow official orders.

1. Know your zone

Evacuation orders in Florida go out by zone, not by city. Look up your address with Florida’s Know Your Zone tool at floridadisaster.org/knowyourzone and write your zone down.

If you live in a mobile or manufactured home, check Volusia County Emergency Management’s guidance on when to leave. These homes are especially exposed to high winds.

2. Get official alerts

AlertVolusia: the county’s emergency notification system. Sign up at volusia.org/alertvolusia.
Volusia County Emergency Management: 386-254-1500 (office line).
Citizens Information Center: 866-345-0345. This hotline is active only during disasters and answers questions when a storm threatens.
National Hurricane Center: nhc.noaa.gov for official forecasts.

3. Make a plan

Decide where you’d go if you’re ordered to evacuate: a friend or relative outside the zone, a hotel inland, or a public shelter as a last resort. Volusia County announces which shelters are open for each storm.
Special needs: if you depend on electricity for medical equipment or need help evacuating, register with the Florida Special Needs Registry ahead of time. Emergency Management can help at 386-254-1500, and the county’s guidance mentions Votran evacuation transport for people who need it.
Pets: plan where your pets will go. Not every shelter accepts pets, so check Volusia County’s pet planning page and pack a pet kit.
Out-of-area contact: choose one person outside Florida whom everyone in the family checks in with.
Write it down. Phones die and the internet goes out, so keep a paper copy of your plan and key numbers.

4. Build a 7-day supply kit

Florida’s disaster supply checklist recommends a 7-day supply, including:

☐ Water: 1 gallon per person per day, for 7 days
☐ Non-perishable food and a manual can opener
☐ Medications, plus copies of prescriptions
☐ Flashlights, extra batteries and a battery-powered or hand-crank radio
☐ First aid kit
☐ Phone chargers and power banks
☐ Cash (ATMs and card readers may be down)
☐ Important documents in a waterproof bag
☐ Hygiene items and any baby or pet supplies

Medications tip: Florida law (s. 252.358, Florida Statutes) requires state-regulated insurers to allow early refills of at least a 30-day supply. It applies if you have refills left and your county is under a National Weather Service hurricane warning, a governor’s state of emergency, or an activated emergency operations center. Ask your pharmacist how it applies to your plan.

5. Protect your home and insurance

Review your policy before June. Know your hurricane deductible.
Flood isn’t usually covered by a standard homeowners policy. Flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program generally has a 30-day waiting period before it takes effect, so don’t wait for a storm to buy it.
Take photos or video of every room and your valuables for insurance.
Before a storm: bring in or tie down outdoor items, install shutters or panels, and fill your car’s gas tank.
Generator safety: never run a generator indoors or in a garage. The CDC says to keep it at least 20 feet from your home’s windows, doors and vents, and to use a battery-powered carbon monoxide detector.

6. After the storm

Wait for officials to say it’s safe before you return or travel.
Stay away from downed power lines and floodwater.
Report outages: FPL at 1-800-468-8243 or Duke Energy at 800-228-8485, depending on your provider.
Insurance help: the Florida Department of Financial Services’ insurance helpline is 1-877-693-5236.
Hire only licensed contractors. Check a license with the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) at myfloridalicense.com, and report unlicensed activity at 1-866-532-1440.

Keep it all in one binder

Our Hurricane & Home Binder (Large Print) ($9.99, 27-page printable PDF) has places to write down your zone and shelter plan, emergency contacts, medications, pet plan, supply checklists, home inventory and insurance details. It also includes an after-storm claim log. It’s printed in large, high-contrast type and still works when the power is out. Seniors and caregivers may also want the Volusia County Senior Resource Guide.

FAQ

When is hurricane season in Volusia County? June 1 through November 30, according to NOAA.

How do I find my evacuation zone in Volusia County? Use Florida’s Know Your Zone tool at floridadisaster.org/knowyourzone and enter your address.

How do I get emergency alerts in Volusia County? Sign up for AlertVolusia at volusia.org/alertvolusia, and follow Volusia County Emergency Management.

How much water do I need for a hurricane? Florida’s guidance is 1 gallon per person per day, for 7 days.

Is there a waiting period for flood insurance? Usually, yes. NFIP flood policies generally take effect after 30 days, so buy coverage well before a storm.

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General information only, not official emergency guidance. Always follow instructions from Volusia County Emergency Management and local officials. In an emergency, call 911.

Sources: NOAA / National Hurricane Center · Volusia County Emergency Management (hurricane hub, AlertVolusia, shelters, pet planning, disability guidance) · FloridaDisaster.org (Know Your Zone, supply checklist) · Florida Statutes 252.358 · FloodSmart.gov (NFIP) · CDC · Florida DFS · Florida DBPR · FPL · Duke Energy. Full links on our Sources page.