Know your zone, sign up for ReadyNHC alerts (text READYNHC to 24639) and know the five planned shelters. Hurricane season runs to Nov. 30.
Last checked Oct. 11, 2026. Facts on this page come from New Hanover County Emergency Management and its Evacuation and Shelters page. Hurricane season runs June 1 to Nov. 30.
New Hanover County sits on the coast between the Cape Fear River and the Atlantic, and Wilmington has been hit hard before. When a storm threatens, New Hanover County Emergency Management decides on evacuation orders and opens shelters, working with the city and the state. No county shelters are open now. The time to plan is before the next storm has a name.
Who to call
- Emergencies: 911
- County emergency alerts: text READYNHC to 24639, or sign up on the Emergency Alerts page
- County government: 910-798-7311
- Forecasts: National Weather Service Wilmington and the National Hurricane Center
- Evacuation routes: NCDOT evacuation route maps; traffic on 511
1. Know your zone
North Carolina Emergency Management’s Know Your Zone program covers 20 eastern counties, including New Hanover. Each address has a zone based on its risk of storm surge flooding. When officials order an evacuation, they name the zones that must leave. Look up your zone now and write it down; the county says it is one of many tools it uses to decide on evacuations.
2. Sign up for alerts
The county’s alerts are the fastest way to hear about evacuation and shelter orders.
- Text READYNHC to 24639.
- Or register on the county’s alerts sign-up page.
- For emergency news by email, subscribe to the county’s emergency updates.
Residents who would need help evacuating because of a disability or medical need can join the county’s Access and Functional Needs Registry.
3. Know the shelters, and treat them as a last resort
The county lists these schools as planned emergency shelters. They do not all open, and they do not open or close at the same time. Check county alerts, TV and radio before you go.
| Planned shelter | Address |
|---|---|
| Blair Elementary School | 6510 Market St. |
| Codington Elementary School | 4321 Carolina Beach Road |
| Eaton Elementary School | 6701 Gordon Road |
| Johnson Pre-K School | 1100 McRae St. |
| Trask Middle School | 2900 N. College Road |
If more space is needed, the county works with the state to open shelters farther inland.
The county calls public shelters “shelters of last resort,” with basic provisions and limited meals. Bring your supply kit. Alcohol and weapons are not allowed, and smoking is restricted.
Pets: at least one shelter is set up as a pet co-location shelter. Only cats and dogs are accepted, owners must stay at the shelter, pets are housed in a separate area, and you need vaccination records and five to seven days of food.
4. Build a kit and a plan
The county’s Build an Emergency Supply Kit page lists what to pack, and its pet safety page covers animals. Plan for both choices: leaving, and staying put. Decide now where you would go if your zone is ordered out, whether that is family inland, a hotel or a shelter.
Sandbags and the sales tax question
- Sandbags: we found no standing city or county sandbag program on their websites. If either opens sandbag sites before a storm, they will be announced through county alerts; we will add them here.
- Sales tax holiday: North Carolina has none for hurricane supplies. The state repealed its sales tax holidays effective July 1, 2014, according to the N.C. Department of Revenue.
After the storm
- Report power outages to Duke Energy; see our power outages page.
- Stay off flooded roads; check road closures and 511.
- Storm debris pickup rules are announced by the city after each storm; regular rules are on our trash and recycling page.
Frequently asked questions
What hurricane evacuation zone am I in in New Hanover County? Look up your address on North Carolina Emergency Management’s Know Your Zone map. New Hanover County is one of 20 eastern counties in the program, and officials order evacuations by zone.
Where are the hurricane shelters in Wilmington, NC? The county’s planned shelters are Blair Elementary, Codington Elementary, Eaton Elementary, Johnson Pre-K and Trask Middle. They open only when officials announce it, and not all at once.
How do I get emergency alerts in New Hanover County? Text READYNHC to 24639, or sign up on the county’s emergency alerts page.
Does North Carolina have a hurricane sales tax holiday? No. North Carolina repealed its sales tax holidays effective July 1, 2014, and has no hurricane supply holiday.
Can I bring my pet to a hurricane shelter in New Hanover County? At least one county shelter is set up as a pet co-location shelter for cats and dogs. Owners must stay with their pets and bring vaccination records and five to seven days of food.
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