If you have lived in Apollo Beach for a while, you probably remember your evacuation zone the way you remember your zip code. This year it is worth looking again. In May 2026, Hillsborough County updated its hurricane evacuation zones, and some Apollo Beach neighborhoods landed in a different zone than they were in before. Do you know which zone your home is in today?
What changed in Hillsborough County evacuation zones?
The county redrew its zones using updated storm surge modeling from NOAA, announced in May 2026. Local coverage from FOX 13 named Apollo Beach among the areas where Zone A expanded, and inland parts of Apollo Beach south of Big Bend Road were added to Zone E. The update came from new surge data, not from damage in any single storm, and the county has not published a count of how many homes changed zones. The only way to know about your home is to look up your address.
How do you know what evacuation zone you are in?
Go to HCFL.gov/HEAT, the Hurricane Evacuation Assessment Tool, and type in your address. It shows your zone and the nearest shelters. While you are there, sign up for county alerts at HCFL.gov/Alert so evacuation orders come straight to your phone. Then write your zone on the storm card in my free Hurricane Prep Kit so everyone in your house knows it.
What is the difference between an evacuation zone and a flood zone?
They answer two different questions. Your evacuation zone tells you when the county may ask you to leave because of storm surge. Your FEMA flood zone is used for flood insurance and building rules. A home can be in Zone A for evacuation and still have a moderate risk flood zone, or the other way around. My page Is Apollo Beach in a Flood Zone? explains how to read your flood map.
Where are hurricane shelters near Apollo Beach?
Shelters open only when the county announces them, and the list changes with each storm. During Hurricane Milton in October 2024, Shields Middle School in Ruskin opened as a pet friendly shelter, along with others around the county. Check county alerts for which shelters are open before you head out, and plan for a friend or family member’s home outside the surge zone as your first choice.
Does a zone change affect buying or selling a home?
It is one more thing buyers ask about, especially folks relocating from out of state. A zone change does not change the house, but it may change your plan for storm season. When I work with buyers, we look up the evacuation zone and the flood zone together so there are no surprises. For the full checklist, see my Apollo Beach Hurricane Prep Kit and the 2026 Hurricane Preparedness Guide.
If you have questions about your home, your dock or your flood picture, call or text me at 509-294-6818 or email shawna@27northrealty.com. I am Shawna Calvert with 27North Realty, the #1 agent in Apollo Beach by total sales volume in Stellar MLS from January 2025 through August 2026.
This is general information, not insurance, legal or emergency management advice. Always follow official orders from Hillsborough County and the National Hurricane Center.