Bay County evacuates by storm surge zones A to D; find yours on the county map. Sign up at AlertBay.org. Emergency Operations Center: 850-248-6040.

Last checked Oct. 9, 2026. Hurricane season runs June 1 to Nov. 30. Sources: Bay County Emergency Management’s evacuation zones, emergency shelters and special needs pages, the City of Panama City’s Hurricane Information page and Hurricane Isaias update, and the Florida Department of Revenue.

Hurricane Isaias, Friday, Oct. 9: The National Weather Service has a hurricane warning and storm surge warning for coastal Bay County, with 4 to 7 feet of surge possible through Saturday morning. Bay County has issued a voluntary evacuation for zones A and B and for anyone in a mobile or manufactured home. The Deane Bozeman School shelter, 13410 Highway 77, opened at 3 p.m. Thursday. The city’s sandbag site closed at noon Friday. City Hall is closed until Monday. Stay off the roads and do not cross bridges in tropical storm-force winds. Follow the city’s storm page and AlertBay for updates.

Panama City is on the Gulf Coast, and Bay County plans evacuations around storm surge. Bay County Emergency Services orders evacuations and opens shelters for the whole county, including the city. Its advice: know your zone, leave early if you are told to go, and treat a public shelter as a last resort.

Who to call

  • Emergency: 911
  • Bay County Emergency Operations Center (non-emergency): 850-248-6040
  • Citizens Information Center (during storms): 850-248-6090
  • Special needs registration: Florida Department of Health in Bay County, 850-872-4455
  • Blocked storm drain in the city: 850-872-3112
  • Official pages: evacuation zone map, AlertBay

Know your zone

Bay County has four evacuation zones, A, B, C and D, marking where storm surge may reach. Zone A is along the water and is usually the first ordered out, followed by B, C and D, depending on the storm. Type your address into the county’s evacuation zone map to find yours.

Evacuation zones and flood zones are not the same thing, the city warns. Check your flood zone separately on the city’s flood data site.

If you do not live in an evacuation zone, the county recommends sheltering in place: secure loose items, close windows and doors, bring pets inside and ride out the storm in an interior room. For Hurricane Isaias, the county’s voluntary evacuation also covered mobile and manufactured homes anywhere in the county.

Shelters

Bay County runs its shelters with Bay District Schools and the Florida Department of Health. Not every shelter opens for every storm. The county’s list:

  • General population: Deer Point Elementary, 4800 County Road 2321; Merritt Brown Middle, 5044 Merritt Brown Way; Tommy Smith Elementary, 5044 Tommy Smith Drive (overflow for Merritt Brown); Rutherford High, 1000 School Ave.
  • Special needs: Deane Bozeman Learning Center, 13410 Highway 77 (primary); Northside Elementary, 2001 Northside Drive (alternate).
  • Recovery shelter after the storm: Bay County Fairgrounds, 2230 E. 15th St.
  • Overflow and extreme weather: A.D. Harris Learning Village, 819 E. 11th St.

What to bring: medications and medical supplies, pillows and blankets, extra clothes, hygiene items, infant formula and anything else you need. Space is limited, and shelters can be crowded and noisy. If you bring a pet, bring a carrier or crate, leash, food, water, medicine and vaccination records, and be ready to care for the animal yourself.

Special medical needs. People who rely on powered medical equipment, need nursing help or have serious medical conditions should register in advance with the Florida Special Needs Registry. For help, call the health department at 850-872-4455. The county urges registering before hurricane season starts.

Sandbags

The city hands out sand, bags and shovels when a storm threatens. For Hurricane Isaias it used a site just east of the retention pond at 3404 W. 19th St., near the Boys and Girls Club, with a limit of 10 bags per resident or business, and gave out more than 7,000 bags. Watch the city’s news page and AlertBay for future distribution sites.

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

Getting ready

From the city’s checklist:

  • Bring in or tie down outdoor furniture, decorations and trash cans.
  • Clear leaves and debris from storm drains, and bag yard clippings.
  • Charge phones and medical devices.
  • Stock at least three days of water, food, medicine, flashlights and batteries.
  • Plan where you will go, how you will get there and what you will take, including documents.
  • For windows, permanent shutters are best; 5/8-inch marine plywood, cut to fit, is the next option. Tape does not stop glass from breaking.

A hurricane watch means hurricane conditions are possible within 36 hours; a warning means they are expected within 24 hours.

Alerts and weather

What this means for you

  • Look up your zone now, and know whether you are in a flood zone too.
  • If you are in zone A or B, or a mobile home, and told to leave, go early.
  • Generators, batteries and tarps are tax-free all year.
  • Register for special needs sheltering before the season if anyone in your home qualifies.

Related: power outages, road construction and closures and trash and recycling for storm debris.

Frequently asked questions

How do I find my evacuation zone in Panama City?

Type your address into Bay County’s evacuation zone map at gis.baycountyfl.gov/evac.html. The county uses four storm surge zones, A through D; zone A, along the water, is usually ordered out first.

Where are the hurricane shelters in Bay County?

Bay County lists Deer Point Elementary, Merritt Brown Middle, Tommy Smith Elementary and Rutherford High as general shelters, and the Deane Bozeman Learning Center as the primary special needs shelter. Not every shelter opens for every storm.

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 do I get emergency alerts in Bay County?

Sign up for AlertBay at alertbay.org. The Bay County Emergency Operations Center’s non-emergency line is 850-248-6040, and the Citizens Information Center opens at 850-248-6090 during storms.

Where can I get sandbags in Panama City?

The city hands out sand, bags and shovels when a storm threatens. For Hurricane Isaias it used a site east of the retention pond at 3404 W. 19th St., near the Boys and Girls Club, with a limit of 10 bags.