Homeowner Handbook › Owning a home › Hurricane season prep
Part 1 · Owning a home in Manatee County
Hurricane Season Prep for Manatee County Homeowners
By Linda Reynolds · Last reviewed October 2026
In this chapter
Know your zone · Before the season · When a storm is coming · After the storm
The short version
Hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30. The calmest way through it is to do most of the work early: know your evacuation zone, sign up for county alerts, and get your home and paperwork ready before anything is in the forecast.
Know your zone
Manatee County uses evacuation zones A through E. Zone A is the most vulnerable to storm surge and is usually evacuated first. Your zone is based on surge risk, not on whether your street floods in heavy rain, so look it up even if you live inland.
- Find your zone: use the county’s resident information tool and enter your address.
- Get alerts: sign up for Manatee County emergency alerts, or text MANATEEREADY to 888777.
- Plan where you’d go: a friend’s home outside your zone is often more comfortable than a shelter. Decide ahead of time, and include your pets in the plan.
Before the season
Your home
- Test shutters or confirm impact windows and hardware are in good shape
- Trim trees and remove dead limbs
- Clean gutters and downspouts
- Photograph or video every room for insurance records
Your supplies
- Water and non-perishable food for several days
- Medications, first aid, and pet supplies
- Flashlights, batteries, and phone power banks
- Some cash, in case card systems are down
Your paperwork
- Insurance policies and your agent’s phone number
- Mortgage, deed, and IDs in a waterproof bag
- Digital copies saved somewhere you can reach from any phone
- Your hurricane and flood deductible amounts, written down
When a storm is coming
- Follow official guidance. If your zone is ordered to evacuate, go. Often you only need to travel tens of miles, not hundreds.
- Bring in or tie down outdoor items. Patio furniture, grills, and potted plants become hazards in high wind.
- Put up shutters and close all interior doors.
- Fill your car’s gas tank and charge your phones.
- Move valuables and papers off the floor if you’re in an area that could flood.
After the storm
- Stay safe first. Avoid downed power lines and standing water, and never run a generator indoors or in a garage.
- Document the damage with photos and video before you clean up.
- Prevent further damage where it’s safe, such as covering a roof opening with a tarp, and keep the receipts.
- Call your insurance company to start your claim as soon as you can.
- Be careful with door-to-door contractors. Verify any contractor’s license at MyFloridaLicense.com, and read anything carefully before you sign it.
Storm damage changed your plans?
After a storm, some homeowners decide to repair and stay, and others decide it’s time to move on. Either choice is reasonable. If you’re unsure which is right for you, let’s look at the options together.
Keep reading
Equal Housing Opportunity. This handbook offers general information. During an emergency, always follow instructions from Manatee County Emergency Management and local officials.