Live in a hurricane zone? The good news is that the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season (which spans June 1 to November 30) is anticipated to be milder than usual. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts a 55% chance of below-normal activity, a 35% chance for a near-normal year, and a 70% probability of one to three major hurricanes.
But don’t let that create a false sense of security. Let’s not forget the devastation from Hurricane Helene, which struck the Southeast two years ago and caused 252 deaths and $78.7 billion in damages, proving to be the deadliest mainland hurricane to hit the U.S. since Katrina and one that caught many local residents by surprise.
If you own a home in a high-risk area, it’s natural to feel anxious or uncertain as hurricane season nears its peak. Thankfully, there are measures you can take to protect your loved ones and property. Read on for recommended steps from TheZebra.com to help you feel empowered and informed.
Know Your Risk
Determine if you’re in an area susceptible to tropical storms by doing some quick online research or checking your local weather sites. This is particularly important if you’ve moved to a new house in a different neighborhood, as even nearby locations can have different hurricane and flood risks based on various factors.
“Coastal zones have the highest risks of hurricane impacts from damaging winds and storm surges. Counties determine their own hurricane evacuation zones based on storm surge vulnerability mapping,” explains Mark Friedlander, senior director of media relations for the Insurance Information Institute. “While the boundaries are modeled using data provided by the National Hurricane Center, each county’s local emergency management office designates the specific zones and issues evacuation orders for those areas when warranted.”
Follow these tips:
- Learn if you’re in what’s considered a hurricane evacuation area by visiting your state or county’s official emergency management website and using their interactive “Know Your Zone” map to look up your particular street address. These zones are numbered or lettered based on your property’s susceptibility to a storm surge.
- Visit the National Hurricane Center Storm Surge Risk Maps site, which depicts storm surge flooding vulnerability based on location.
- Check out the NOAA’s updated Flood Inundation Mapping tool, which will cover nearly 100% of the U.S. population by late September of this year.
- Once you know your zone, monitor local news, register for county text alerts, or check platforms like Read more