Hurricane Season in Lake Nona: What New Residents Need to Know

Lake Nona is inland, so storm surge is not the issue. Rain, wind, power and paperwork are.

By David Myers, Broker Associate · NonaOrlandoProperties.com · Last updated October 2026

Lake Nona sits inland in southeast Orange County, so it does not deal with storm surge, but hurricanes that cross the peninsula still bring heavy rain, wind, tornadoes and power outages. Hurricane Ian in September 2022 dropped 13.20 inches of rain at Orlando International Airport, next door to Lake Nona. The season runs June 1 through November 30. Orange County's OCFL Alert app and 311 line carry shelter and evacuation information, storm supplies such as portable generators and tarps are tax-free in Florida year-round, and a wind mitigation inspection on Florida's OIR-B1-1802 form can lower a homeowner's insurance premium.

The first hurricane question we hear from buyers moving from out of state is whether Lake Nona gets hit. It does. It just gets hit differently than the coast.

Here is what a hurricane looks like this far inland, where to get official information, and what to check on a house before you buy it.

Do hurricanes hit Lake Nona?

Yes. Lake Nona is inland, so storm surge is not a factor, but storms that cross Florida bring heavy rain, damaging wind and tornadoes to southeast Orlando.

Orange County's own hurricane guide puts it plainly: the county is in Central Florida but is not shielded from these storms, and the hazards run "from high winds to tornadoes and flooding." Most storms weaken as they move over land, so wind here is usually lower than at landfall. Rain does not weaken the same way, and that is where inland damage tends to come from.

Lake Nona is also a lake district. The neighborhoods sit around Lake Nona, Lake Hart, Lake Mary Jane and a network of retention ponds. After a big rain, lake levels and street drainage are what residents watch.

What did Hurricane Ian do to the Lake Nona area?

Hurricane Ian brought 10 to 20 inches of rain to Central Florida in September 2022, including 13.20 inches at Orlando International Airport, next to Lake Nona.

Ian made landfall in southwest Florida on September 28, 2022 as a Category 4 storm. The National Hurricane Center's report says it "steadily weakened as it moved northeastward across the Florida peninsula" and was a tropical storm by the morning of September 29. The rain was the story. The Hurricane Center lists Orange County among the counties hit by major flooding and describes "widespread historic freshwater flooding" across central and eastern Florida, with more than 250 water rescues.

The National Weather Service in Melbourne, which covers Orange County, notes that not every gauge on its list is an official observing station. The airport reading is.

When is hurricane season in Lake Nona?

The Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30.

That window matters for buyers in two ways. A closing scheduled while a storm is approaching can be delayed: insurers can suspend new policies in a threatened area until the storm passes, and lenders will not fund without a policy in place. And a home bought in the spring has a few weeks to get ready before the season opens. We plan around both.

How do Lake Nona residents get official storm alerts?

Orange County's free OCFL Alert app and the county's 311 line are the official sources for shelters, evacuations and distribution sites.

• OCFL Alert lists open shelters, water and ice distribution centers and evacuation routes, sends severe weather and boil water alerts, and can show emergency phone numbers when the power is out. It is on the Apple and Google app stores.
• Orange County 311 answers storm questions by dialing 311 or 407-836-3111, with Spanish-speaking operators available.
• The Orange County Office of Emergency Management can be reached at 407-836-9140.

Much of Lake Nona is inside the City of Orlando, and some neighborhoods are in unincorporated Orange County. Your property tax bill shows which. City residents get garbage, debris and sandbag information from the City of Orlando, so it is worth following both.

Where would Lake Nona residents go if they had to leave?

Orange County opens public shelters for each storm, and the open list is posted through OCFL Alert and 311 at that time, not in advance.

The county's shelter page covers three kinds of shelter:

• General public shelters, where pets are not allowed except service animals.
• Pet-friendly shelters, which the county "anticipates opening" during an emergency. Bring a carrier, vaccination records, food, water and medications for the animal.
• Special needs shelters for residents who need medical support. Registration is through 311, and caregivers can stay with the person.

Orange County Fire Rescue also runs a Functional Needs Registry so first responders have key information about a resident's needs. Entries expire after one year unless renewed.

Before Hurricane Irma in 2017, Orange County issued a mandatory evacuation notice for all residents of mobile homes. Whatever kind of home you own, follow the order that officials issue for that storm; the county posts it through OCFL Alert and 311.

What should a Lake Nona home have on hand?

Orange County recommends at least 72 hours of supplies, including one gallon of water per person per day.

The county's kit list adds a three-day supply of non-perishable food, a flashlight and extra batteries, a first aid kit, a battery or hand-crank radio, prescriptions, documents in a waterproof container, phone chargers and pet supplies.

Since August 1, 2025, Florida has exempted a list of storm items from sales tax year-round. The Department of Revenue's list includes:

• Portable generators producing 10,000 running watts or less
• AA, AAA, C, D, 6-volt and 9-volt batteries
• Waterproof tarps of 1,000 square feet or less
• Gas or diesel cans of 5 gallons or less
• Ground anchor systems and tie-down kits
• Smoke detectors, carbon monoxide alarms and fire extinguishers

Flashlights, candles and coolers are not on the permanent list. If you buy a generator, Orange County's guidance on generator safety applies: run it outdoors, away from windows and doors.

What happens to trash and storm debris in Lake Nona?

In the City of Orlando, garbage pickup continues until it is unsafe for crews, and storm debris must go at the curb, sorted into yard waste and construction debris.

The City's Solid Waste rules are specific. Debris between the sidewalk and the house is not picked up. Keep tree limbs separate from shingles, fencing and drywall. Do not pile debris against trees, poles, hydrants, mailboxes or storm drains. And do not put yard waste at the curb before a storm, because it can wash into drains and cause street flooding. Questions go to Solid Waste at 407-246-2314.

The City has handed out free sandbags before past seasons at its Streets and Stormwater yard at 1010 Woods Avenue, with a limit of 10 per vehicle in 2025. Dates change each year, so check the City's announcements in late spring.

What should buyers check on a Lake Nona house before hurricane season?

Ask for a wind mitigation inspection, check the roof's age and condition, and look up the flood zone before you are under contract.

Florida's Uniform Mitigation Verification Inspection Form, OIR-B1-1802, records a home's roof shape, roof-to-wall connections and opening protection such as impact windows or shutters. Insurers use it to apply wind mitigation discounts. The form is valid for up to five years if the structure does not change, and since April 1, 2026 inspections must use the revised version. Licensed home inspectors, contractors, engineers and architects can complete it. Many sellers already have one, so ask.

Do not assume a newer house automatically earns the discounts. The insurer prices what the form shows, so get the form before you compare quotes.

For the cost side of owning here, see our guides to CDD fees and utilities and community contacts, including who to call for a power outage at a given address.

What the Neighbors Know

Inland storms here are mostly a rain, power and cleanup event, which is why the useful work happens before June 1. We look at drainage, roof age and the wind mitigation form on every house, whether it is in Laureate Park, Eagle Creek or any other Lake Nona neighborhood.

Official Sources

• Orange County — Hurricane Safety Guide
• Orange County — Shelters
• Orange County Fire Rescue — Functional Needs Registry
• Orange County — OCFL Alert app
• Orange County — Build Your Hurricane Emergency Kit (June 2026)
• City of Orlando — Hurricane Preparedness and Debris
• NWS Melbourne — Hurricane Ian Rainfall Totals
• National Hurricane Center — Hurricane Ian Tropical Cyclone Report (PDF)
• Florida Department of Revenue — Permanent Disaster Preparedness Exemptions (PDF)
• Florida CFO — Mitigation Notices, Inspections and Forms

Buying or selling in Lake Nona? Call/Text David Myers at 407.801.3286 or use the contact form.