The National Office of Disaster Services (NODS) has formally published its complete inventory of emergency hurricane shelters scheduled to operate during the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, a move aimed at boosting community preparedness ahead of what forecasters warn could be another active period of tropical weather.
The release of the shelter list months in advance of the typical June-to-November hurricane season marks a shift toward earlier public outreach, allowing local governments, non-profit organizations and at-risk communities to plan evacuation routes, coordinate support for vulnerable populations and address facility maintenance needs long before a storm forms in the Atlantic basin.
Each entry on NODS’ published roster includes key details for residents: the exact physical address of the shelter, maximum occupancy capacity, accessibility accommodations for people with mobility impairments and chronic medical conditions, and whether the facility will offer pet-friendly housing for households that cannot leave their animals behind during an evacuation.
Officials from NODS noted that the 2026 list includes several updates from previous years, including the addition of 12 new facilities in coastal counties that have seen rapid population growth over the past five years, and the removal of eight older locations that failed recent structural safety inspections or were repurposed for other community uses.
In a statement accompanying the release, NODS leadership emphasized that pre-season publication of the shelter network is designed to reduce last-minute confusion during emergency events. “Hurricanes do not announce their arrival weeks in advance for most communities, so having this information available now gives families the time they need to build their own emergency plans and know where they can go if ordered to evacuate,” the statement read.
Local emergency management coordinators have welcomed the early release, noting that it allows them to conduct pre-season outreach to low-income neighborhoods, elderly residents, and non-English speaking communities that often face disproportionate barriers to accessing emergency information. Many coordinators plan to host community preparedness workshops over the coming months to walk residents through shelter locations and requirements for entry, including what personal items evacuees should bring when seeking refuge.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) already projects that the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season will see a near- to above-average number of named storms, making advance preparation critical for coastal and inland communities alike that can face storm surge, extreme wind, and widespread flooding even hundreds of miles from the coast.