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BradentonNow / Hurricane Season

June 1 – Nov 30 Manatee County, FL Official sources linked

Your Car Is Your Hurricane Plan

Your car is your evacuation plan. How to get it storm-ready, what flood water does to a vehicle, how to spot a flood car after the storm, and where Manatee County posts evacuation orders.

Car prep Find my evacuation level

In an emergency, follow Manatee County evacuation orders and the National Hurricane Center. This page gathers official guidance for drivers; it doesn’t replace those orders.

Gas tankHalf full all seasonEVs: 50–80% charged
Flood water12 inchescan carry away most cars
Evacuation levelsA through ELook yours up: mymanatee.org/level
AlertsText ManateeReadyto 888-777
Your car first

Get your vehicle storm-ready

Your car is your evacuation plan. Do these before a storm is on the map.

Keep it half full

Florida’s Division of Emergency Management asks drivers to keep the tank at least half full all hurricane season, so you can leave without waiting in gas lines. EVs: keep the battery 50–80% charged, per your manual. (FDEM)

Service it now

Manatee County’s disaster guide: check oil, fluids and tires before a storm, and remember gas pumps don’t work when the power’s out. (Manatee County)

Stock a car kit

  • Jumper cables and a spare tire
  • Flashlight with batteries, reflective triangles
  • First aid kit and phone chargers
  • Blankets and rain ponchos

List from FDEM and Ready.gov.

During the storm

Turn around, don’t drown

The National Weather Service’s numbers are worth memorizing.

12″water
Carries away most carsJust 12 inches of rushing water. (NWS)
2 ftwater
Carries away SUVs and trucks“It is NEVER safe to drive or walk into flood waters.” (NWS)

Over half of all flood-related drownings happen when a vehicle is driven into hazardous flood water, per the National Weather Service.

After the storm

Flood-car checks

After every big storm, flood-damaged cars show up for sale, sometimes from other states with clean titles. Check before you buy.

Before you buy a used car

4 checks for flood damage

  1. Run the VIN on NICB VINCheck (free)Shows whether insurers reported the car as salvage or flood-damaged. Up to 5 searches a day. nicb.org/vincheck
  2. Check the Florida title for a brandInsurers brand flooded Florida cars and report them to FLHSMV. Use FLHSMV’s motor vehicle information check with the VIN or title number. (FLHSMV)
  3. Check the national title historyNot every state brands flooded cars, so an out-of-state car can arrive with a clean title. vehiclehistory.gov searches title records nationwide.
  4. Use your nose and a flashlightA musty smell (or heavy air freshener hiding one), mud or waterlines in the trunk and glove box, and unusual rust underneath. (NHTSA, FLHSMV)

If your own car flooded

Comprehensive coverage pays for flood damage, but liability alone doesn’t (Florida CFO). If salt water reached the inside floorboards, the state’s storm FAQ says your insurer will more than likely total it. Take photos and keep receipts. (Florida CFO)

Flooded EV or hybrid?

Don’t park a flood-damaged vehicle with a lithium-ion battery in a garage or within 50 feet of a building. (NHTSA)

Manatee County

Know your level and get alerts

Your evacuation level

Manatee County uses levels A–E; Level A evacuates first. Look yours up at mymanatee.org/level. Everyone in a mobile home, manufactured home, RV or travel trailer must leave when Level A is ordered. (Manatee County)

AlertManatee

Get evacuation, weather and road alerts: sign up online or text ManateeReady to 888-777. County info line: 311 or (941) 748-4501. (Emergency Management)

Shelters & sandbags

Public shelters open only when needed and are meant as a last option. Check which are pet-friendly (shelters). Self-serve sandbag sites and the storm dashboard are at mymanatee.org/storm.

Leaving town

FL511 shows traffic on evacuation routes, road and bridge closures, and toll suspensions, which are ordered storm by storm. Set up routes ahead of time in a My Florida 511 account. (FL511)

Supplies are always tax-free

Since Aug. 1, 2025, Florida permanently exempts disaster supplies from sales tax, including portable gas cans (5 gallons or less), portable generators, batteries and tarps. (Florida Dept. of Revenue)

Tracking storms

Where to watch the tropics

Hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30.

National Hurricane Center

The official forecasts, cones, watches and warnings. When it comes to deciding whether to leave, go by NHC and Manatee County orders. nhc.noaa.gov

Mike’s Weather Page

A popular independent tropics-tracking site, best known for its spaghetti-model plots. It’s handy for seeing where the computer models are leaning. It isn’t an official forecast. spaghettimodels.com

Guide sponsor · Firkins Automotive

Storm-ready starts in the service bay.

Tires, battery, wipers and fluids: Firkins’ service department on US-41 can check them before the next storm. And if you’re replacing a flooded car, start with inventory you can trust.

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Offers and inventory are set by Firkins Automotive and change often. See firkins.com or the dealership for current details.

Questions

Hurricane season FAQ

How full should I keep my gas tank during hurricane season?

At least half full all season, per the Florida Division of Emergency Management. EV drivers should keep the battery 50–80% charged, depending on the manual.

How much water does it take to float a car?

The National Weather Service says 12 inches of rushing water can carry away most cars, and 2 feet can carry away SUVs and trucks.

How do I check if a used car was in a flood?

Run the VIN through NICB VINCheck (free), check a Florida title for a flood brand with FLHSMV’s motor vehicle information check, search vehiclehistory.gov, and look for a musty smell, mud or waterlines and unusual rust.

Does car insurance cover flood damage in Florida?

Only if you carry comprehensive coverage. Liability-only policies don’t cover flood damage to your own car.

How do I find my evacuation level in Manatee County?

Use the county’s lookup at mymanatee.org/level. Levels run A to E, and Level A evacuates first.

How do I get emergency alerts in Manatee County?

Sign up for AlertManatee on the county website, or text ManateeReady to 888-777.

Is there a hurricane sales tax holiday in Florida?

Not anymore. Since Aug. 1, 2025, many disaster supplies, including portable gas cans, generators, batteries and tarps, are permanently exempt from Florida sales tax.

Official sources

Go straight to the source

Last updated October 12, 2026. Details change, and the offices above have the final word.