Hurricane Evacuation Zone Checker
Type your street address to see your Escambia County or Santa Rosa County evacuation zone and the closest designated hurricane shelter sites. Evacuation orders in Pensacola are issued by zone — this is the one number every household should know.
Find my zone
What each evacuation zone means
| Zone | Usually evacuates for | Typical areas around Pensacola |
|---|---|---|
| A | All hurricanes, and some strong tropical storms | Pensacola Beach, Perdido Key, Navarre Beach, the lowest bayfront and soundfront property |
| B | Category 1 and stronger | Low ground along Pensacola Bay, Escambia Bay, Big Lagoon, Bayou Grande, Bayou Chico and Santa Rosa Sound |
| C | Category 2 and stronger | Next ring inland: parts of Warrington, Gulf Breeze, Myrtle Grove and the Escambia River delta |
| D | Category 3 and stronger | Higher ground near the bays and rivers |
| E | Category 4 and 5 only | Areas that flood only in the most extreme surge scenarios |
Category triggers follow the counties' published planning guidance; the actual order for any storm depends on its size, track and forecast surge, and may include zones beyond those listed. Mobile and manufactured homes should evacuate for every hurricane, no matter which zone they are in.
Evacuation basics for Pensacola
“Run from water, hide from wind”
Zones are drawn around storm-surge risk, because water causes most hurricane deaths. If you are not in an evacuation zone and live in a well-built home, sheltering in place is usually the safest choice — it keeps the roads open for the people who must leave. You only need to travel tens of miles, not hundreds: inland Escambia and Santa Rosa (north of I-10) is outside the surge zone.
Leave early from the islands
The Pensacola Bay Bridge, the Bob Sikes Bridge, the Theo Baars Bridge to Perdido Key and the Navarre Beach bridge are typically closed once sustained winds reach about 40 mph. After that, no one leaves the island and emergency crews cannot reach you. If you are in Zone A, leave as soon as the order is issued.
Primary evacuation routes
- From Pensacola Beach and Gulf Breeze: US-98 west across the Pensacola Bay Bridge, then north on I-110 or US-29; or US-98 east to SR-87 north through Navarre and Milton.
- From Perdido Key and the Southwest: SR-292/Sorrento Rd. or Blue Angel Parkway (SR-173) north to US-90/I-10, then US-29 north.
- From Navarre: SR-87 north to I-10 and Milton, or US-98 east/west.
- From Milton, Pace and inland Santa Rosa: SR-87 or SR-89 north toward Jay and Alabama.
Check live road and bridge status on our shelters & roads page or FL511 before you go.
Special needs, pets and transportation
Escambia and Santa Rosa counties each run a special-needs shelter registry for residents who need medical support or help getting to a shelter. Register before a storm through your county emergency management office. Many public shelters accept pets in designated areas — bring a crate, food and vaccination records.