The Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30 each year. For households in Pensacola and Escambia County, Escambia County Emergency Management and the Florida Division of Emergency Management recommend beginning storm preparations well before the season's peak window of August through October.
Gulf Islands National Seashore. Photo: Aaron Burden / Unsplash.
This guide draws from official guidance published by Escambia County Emergency Management, the Florida Division of Emergency Management, and the National Hurricane Center. Everything below is verified and specific to the Pensacola region.
Know Your Evacuation Zone
Escambia County uses a lettered zone system, A through E, based on storm surge risk. Zone A is highest risk and evacuates first. Zone E is lowest. Your zone is based on your address, not your gut feeling about how close to the water you are.
Look up your zone now at myescambia.com before you need it. Write it down. Tell every adult in your household. If a mandatory evacuation is ordered for your zone, leave. The Sheriff's Office has been direct about this for years: rescue operations halt when winds become dangerous. Residents who stay in mandatory evacuation zones during major storms do so on their own.
Build a 7-Day Supply Kit
Florida's Division of Emergency Management recommends a minimum 7-day supply of the following, in a portable waterproof container:
Water: One gallon per person per day. Do not assume tap water will be safe after a major storm. Pensacola's water infrastructure took weeks to fully restore after Hurricane Sally in 2020.
Food: Non-perishable, no cooking required. Account for dietary restrictions, infant formula, and pet food. Include a manual can opener.
Medications: At least a 30-day supply of all prescriptions. Request early refills before June 1, pharmacies close during evacuations and may not reopen quickly after a storm passes.
Documents: Copies of insurance policies, IDs, bank account info, and medical records in a waterproof bag or stored in cloud backup accessible from any device.
Cash: Several hundred dollars in small bills. ATMs and card readers go dark when power is out.
Fuel: Keep your tank above half during peak season, August through October. Gas stations run out fast during pre-storm evacuations.
Register for Special Needs Evacuation Assistance
Escambia County maintains a Special Needs Registry for residents who need help evacuating, medical conditions, mobility limitations, no vehicle. Registration is free and must be renewed annually. Register at myescambia.com or call Escambia County Emergency Management at (850) 471-6400. The registry closes when evacuations are ordered, so do not wait.
Sign Up for Emergency Alerts
Escambia County uses Smart911 for targeted emergency notifications based on your registered address. Sign up at smart911.com. The National Hurricane Center issues watches and warnings at nhc.noaa.gov. Know the difference: a hurricane watch means conditions are possible within 48 hours. A warning means they are expected within 36 hours. By the time a warning is issued, your preparation window is closing fast.
What Hurricane Sally Taught This City
Hurricane Sally made landfall near Gulf Shores, Alabama on September 16, 2020 as a Category 2 storm moving roughly 2 mph, an exceptionally slow forward speed that allowed it to drop more than 30 inches of rain on parts of the Pensacola area in 24 hours. The Three Mile Bridge and Escambia Bay Bridge were both severely damaged. Thousands of residents lost power for weeks. Total damage across the region ran to approximately $7.3 billion.
Many of the hardest-hit areas were not in the obvious high-risk zones. Flooding came from rainfall accumulation and surge in combination, not just coastal proximity. Storm category alone does not determine impact. A household with a real plan, supplies, and zone knowledge is substantially better positioned than one that waits until the week a storm forms to figure it out.