Lee County evacuates by zones A to E; check yours at LeeEOC.com. All county shelters take pets. Fort Myers Emergency Management: 239-321-7311.

Last checked Oct. 8, 2026. Hurricane season runs June 1 to Nov. 30. Sources: Lee County Emergency Management’s 2026 All Hazards Guide (PDF), its evacuation page and alerts page, the City of Fort Myers Emergency Management page and the Florida Department of Revenue.

Fort Myers sits on the tidal Caloosahatchee River, and Lee County plans its evacuations around storm surge. Lee County Emergency Management orders evacuations and opens shelters for the whole county, including the city. Its first piece of advice: know your zone, and plan to stay with family or friends if you have to leave. Public shelters are a last resort.

Who to call

  • Emergency: 911
  • Lee County Emergency Information Hotline: 239-433-2000 (or 211 during an emergency)
  • Fort Myers Emergency Management: 239-321-7311
  • Lee County Public Safety (EMS and Emergency Management): 239-533-3911
  • Special Medical Needs Program: 239-533-0640
  • Official pages: LeeEOC.com for zones and open shelters, AlertLee.com for alerts

Know your zone

Lee County evacuates by storm surge zones A, B, C, D and E, not by hurricane category. Zones are ordered out in phases, so zone A may be told to leave before the weather turns. To find yours:

  • Enter your address in the county’s Know Your Zone tool, also reached from LeeEOC.com.
  • Use the county’s free LeePrepares app, which shows active evacuation areas and open shelters.
  • See the county’s evacuation zone map (PDF).

Leave early. The county’s evacuation page calls Southwest Florida the hardest place in the country to evacuate: moving people within Lee County can take up to 41 hours, and getting out of Southwest Florida up to 89 hours.

Shelters

  • Not every shelter opens for every storm; only those safe from that storm’s surge and wind. Check LeeEOC.com, local news and the county’s social media for openings.
  • Bring a photo ID, a five-day supply of food and water, medicine, clothes, a sleeping bag and pet supplies. Cots are not provided.
  • All county shelters are pet friendly for cats, dogs and other non-venomous domesticated pets, the 2026 All Hazards Guide says. You are responsible for your animal. Service animals are allowed everywhere.
  • Smoking, alcohol, illegal drugs and firearms are banned in shelters.

Special medical needs. Residents whose health could quickly worsen in a regular shelter can register, free, with the county’s Special Medical Needs Program. Update the application every year at 239-533-0640. The county stops processing applications once Lee County enters the seven-day forecast cone of a storm, so apply early in the season.

No ride? During a mandatory evacuation, LeeTran waives fares and runs shuttles from designated transfer stations to open shelters. It will carry dogs and cats on a leash or in a crate or carrier. Tell the driver you need a shelter.

Sandbags

Neither the city’s emergency page nor the county’s 2026 All Hazards Guide lists standing sandbag sites. When a storm threatens, watch AlertLee, the LeePrepares app and the city’s news page for where and when bags are handed out.

Tax-free hurricane supplies

Florida no longer holds hurricane sales tax holidays. Since Aug. 1, 2025, these items are always exempt, according to the Department of Revenue’s Tax Information Publication 25A01-05 (PDF):

  • Portable generators producing 10,000 running watts or less
  • Batteries: AA, AAA, C, D, 6-volt and 9-volt
  • Waterproof tarps and sheeting of 1,000 square feet or less
  • Portable gas or diesel cans of 5 gallons or less
  • Ground anchor systems and tie-down kits
  • Smoke detectors, carbon monoxide alarms and fire extinguishers
  • Coast Guard-approved life jackets, insect repellent and sunscreen

Alerts and weather

  • AlertLee sends calls, texts and emails about evacuations, severe weather and boil-water notices. Sign up at AlertLee.com.
  • NOAA Weather Radio: Fort Myers is channel 4, 162.475 MHz; the code for Lee County is 012071.
  • National Weather Service Tampa Bay issues forecasts and warnings for Lee County: weather.gov/tbw, 813-645-2323.
  • The county’s hurricane videos are at leegov.com/hurricane.

Generators

The county’s guide says to run a generator outdoors only, never in a home or garage, and never to plug it into a household outlet or breaker panel. Generator exhaust contains carbon monoxide, which can kill.

What this means for you

  • Look up your zone now, before a storm has a name.
  • If you are ordered out, go early; the roads here clear slowly.
  • Generators, batteries and tarps are tax-free all year.
  • Sign up for AlertLee and register for the Special Medical Needs Program if you qualify.

Related: power outages, road construction and closures and who to call at City Hall.

Frequently asked questions

How do I find my evacuation zone in Fort Myers?

Enter your address at LeeEOC.com or in Lee County’s free LeePrepares app. Lee County evacuates by storm surge zones A, B, C, D and E, not by hurricane category.

Are Lee County hurricane shelters pet friendly?

Yes. Lee County’s 2026 All Hazards Guide says all its shelters are pet friendly for cats, dogs and other non-venomous domesticated pets. You care for your own animal.

Is there a hurricane sales tax holiday in Florida?

Florida replaced the holidays with a permanent exemption on Aug. 1, 2025. Portable generators of 10,000 running watts or less, AA to D and 6- and 9-volt batteries, and tarps up to 1,000 square feet are always tax-free.

How long does it take to evacuate Lee County?

Lee County Emergency Management says moving people within the county can take up to 41 hours, and up to 89 hours to get out of Southwest Florida, so it asks residents to leave early.

How do I get hurricane alerts in Lee County?

Sign up for AlertLee at AlertLee.com for calls, texts and emails, and download the LeePrepares app. The Lee County Emergency Information Hotline is 239-433-2000.