A Hurricane Evacuation Guide To Keep You Safe for Less Money

Evacuating is the safest way to guarantee your safety when a hurricane threatens, but it can also be expensive.

And more than half of Americans can’t cover an emergency expense over $1,000, leaving millions of people stranded in the path of a hurricane when a mandatory evacuation order goes out.

How Much Does It Cost to Evacuate From a Hurricane?

Estimates vary for the cost of hurricane evacuation, but most Americans in coastal states will spend anywhere between $1,200 and $5,000 to evacuate during a hurricane. The largest reason for this discrepancy is lodging; evacuees who stay with friends and family spend less than those who ride the storm out in a hotel.

So why is it so expensive to evacuate from a hurricane or tropical storm?

• Hotel or Airbnb stays make up the largest expense, especially if you have to stay out of your city for several days.
• Gas prices surge during hurricanes, thanks to supply and demand. That’s a tough reality seeing how high prices are now.
• It’s always cheaper to eat at home than to eat out, but when you’re evacuating, you may eat three meals out each day.
• While salaried employees will likely continue to be paid when evacuating (and may even be able to work remotely), Americans who work hourly jobs requiring their physical presence will suffer from several days of lost wages. If their business temporarily stays closed in the aftermath due to damage, employees will face even more lost wages.

Regardless of how much it costs to evacuate from a hurricane, it is crucial that those in the path of the storm, especially those in high-risk areas for floods and storm surge, heed mandatory evacuation orders.

If you don’t have emergency savings to cover your expenses, it’s a good idea to have an emergency credit card only to cover these expenses when you and your family members are in danger.