Hurricane prep for Wesley Chapel: look up your Pasco evacuation zone, sign up for Alert Pasco and register special needs. Emergency Management: 727-847-8137.

Last checked Oct. 10, 2026. Facts on this page come from Pasco County Emergency Management, its 2026 Disaster Guide, and the Florida Department of Revenue. Hurricane season runs through Nov. 30.

Wesley Chapel is inland, but Pasco County is a Gulf coast county, and the county’s disaster guide covers wind, tornadoes and flooding rain as well as storm surge. Pasco County Emergency Management runs evacuations, shelters and alerts for Wesley Chapel. Call 727-847-8137, and for anything else about county services, 727-847-2411.

Do these now

  • Find your evacuation zone: Pasco evacuation zone finder
  • Get alerts: sign up for Alert Pasco and download the MyPasco app
  • Special needs: register every year at 727-847-8137
  • Emergencies: 911; Pasco Sheriff’s Office non-emergency, 727-847-8102, option 7

Know your zone

The county’s guide says your evacuation zone is different from your flood zone. Evacuation zones are about storm surge from the Gulf, and residents of Pasco’s coastline and tidal rivers are most at risk. Flood zones are about rain flooding and insurance. Check both:

If county officials order an evacuation for your area, leave. Emergency crews may not be able to reach you during the storm, and 911 may not work if communications are damaged, the county warns. If you are not ordered out, the county’s guide covers how to shelter in place, and suggests inviting friends or family who must leave to stay with you if you are in a safe area.

Shelters

Pasco County opens shelters only when a storm threatens, and announces which ones through Alert Pasco, the MyPasco app and local media. Go to a shelter only after the county says it is open.

  • Special needs shelters provide medical monitoring, not hands-on care, so bring a caregiver. Register in advance with Emergency Management, one application per person, renewed every year. Applications close five days before a hurricane or tropical storm. The county can arrange transportation if you say so on the form; calls to registered residents start 72 hours or more before bad weather.
  • Pets: the county guide says many shelters accept pets. Bring a crate, supplies and proof of vaccinations from the past 12 months.

Sandbags

When a storm threatens, Pasco County announces sandbag sites through local media and its alerts. The county’s guide says to fill bags about halfway, roughly 30 pounds, lay plastic sheeting first, stack the bags over it like bricks, then pull the plastic over the top and tuck it under the top row.

No more sales tax holiday

Florida no longer holds a hurricane sales tax holiday. Since Aug. 1, 2025, these are always tax-free, under the Department of Revenue’s tax notice:

  • AA, AAA, C, D, 6-volt and 9-volt batteries
  • portable generators of 10,000 running watts or less
  • portable gas or diesel cans of 5 gallons or less
  • waterproof tarps of 1,000 square feet or less
  • ground anchor systems and tie-down kits
  • smoke detectors, carbon monoxide alarms and fire extinguishers
  • life jackets, insect repellent and sunscreen

Watch the weather

After the storm

  • Report outages to your power company; see our power outages guide.
  • Storm debris: bundle yard waste into 4-foot sections for your hauler, or take it to the East Pasco Transfer Station, 9626 Handcart Road, Dade City. See our trash guide.
  • Repairs: hire a licensed contractor (check at MyFloridaLicense.com) and pull permits; see our permits guide.

What this means for you

  • Look up your evacuation zone today and write it down.
  • Sign up for Alert Pasco so the county can reach you.
  • Stock batteries and a tarp now; there is no tax to wait out.

Frequently asked questions

What evacuation zone is Wesley Chapel in?

Look up your exact address on Pasco County’s evacuation zone finder at pascogis.pascocountyfl.net/evaczone/finder.html. The county says your evacuation zone is different from your flood zone.

How do I get emergency alerts in Pasco County?

Sign up for Alert Pasco, the county’s mass notification service, at mypas.co/AlertPasco, and download the MyPasco app for push alerts.

Is there a hurricane sales tax holiday in Florida?

Not anymore. Since Aug. 1, 2025, portable generators of 10,000 running watts or less, common batteries, tarps, gas cans of 5 gallons or less, and smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are tax-free all year.

How do I register for a special needs shelter in Pasco County?

Fill out Pasco County Emergency Management’s special needs application, one form per person, every year. Call 727-847-8137 for help. Applications stop five days before a storm.

Where are sandbags in Pasco County?

Pasco County announces sandbag locations through local media and its alerts when a storm threatens. Its guide says to fill bags about halfway, roughly 30 pounds, and lay them over plastic sheeting like bricks.