Peninsula State — Atlantic & Gulf Exposure
Florida faces hurricane threats from both the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico, making it the most hurricane-exposed state in the continental U.S. From Pensacola to the Keys, no part of Florida's 1,350-mile coastline is immune. With 21 million residents and millions of tourists during storm season, evacuation planning is critical.
⚠ Storm Surge Warning
Florida's flat terrain makes storm surge especially dangerous. Southwest Florida (Fort Myers, Naples, Cape Coral) is particularly vulnerable — Hurricane Ian's surge exceeded 12–15 feet in some areas. Know your county's surge zone before any storm.
Storm History
Major storms affecting Florida include Hurricane Andrew (1992, Category 5), Hurricane Charley (2004), Hurricane Ivan (2004), Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne (2004), Hurricane Wilma (2005), Hurricane Irma (2017, Category 4 statewide impacts), Hurricane Michael (2018, Category 5), and Hurricane Ian (2022, Category 4 with catastrophic surge in southwest Florida). Ian caused over $110 billion in damage.
Official Resources
Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM)
Florida Division of Emergency Management →Official zone lookup — check before the season, not when a storm is named.
Florida Know Your Zone →Florida-Specific
Current Atlantic Activity
Images from NOAA NHC (nhc.noaa.gov). Not affiliated with NHC. Full Storm Center →
Take Action Now
Water, food, power, first aid, medications, documents, pets — everything to stock before the storm.
Go-bag contents, when to leave, how to secure your home, zone lookup links.
Generator safety (never indoors), food safety, heat safety, communications.
FAQ