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Cherokee County hurricane guide

The Cherokee County Emergency Management Agency, in Centre, handles disaster planning and emergency alerts for the county. The county is inland and has no hurricane evacuation zones. The EMA is updating its alert system, so register or update your contact information to get severe weather and emergency alerts.

Checked on October 2, 2026

Every phone number and web address on this page was checked against official sources on that date. Details can change, especially during a storm. Always follow instructions from Cherokee County Emergency Management Agency. In a life threatening emergency, call 911.

Emergency and information numbers

Service Number Notes
Emergency 911 Police, fire, and ambulance. Call only when someone's life or property is in danger.
Emergency management office 256-927-3367 Office line. Not for emergencies. Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
County information line 256-927-3668 Office line. Not for emergencies.
Sheriff's Office non-emergency 256-927-3365 For police matters that are not emergencies.
Animal services 256-266-1390 Cherokee County Animal Shelter, 9200 County Road 71, Centre.

Official alerts and information

  • Cherokee County EMA Emergency Alert Registration: Free emergency alerts. Sign up before a storm. If you signed up in the past, use this form to confirm or update your information. Website.
  • Cherokee County Emergency Management Agency: The county EMA page. Website.

Evacuation centers

Open only when announced

Evacuation centers open only when officials announce them, and not every center opens for every storm. Check the official list of open centers before you leave home. Bring your own bedding, food, water, and medicines.

Cherokee County does not publish shelter information on its website. Register for EMA alerts, or call the emergency management office to ask about open shelters during a storm.

Help to evacuate

  • Cherokee County Animal Shelter: 9200 County Road 71, Centre. Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Phone: 256-266-1390. Website.

Radio, TV and weather

Keep a battery or hand crank radio. When power and cell service fail, radio is often the only way to hear official updates.

Radio stations

Station Frequency Language Notes
WQSB 105.1 FM English Emergency Alert System primary station (LP1)
WKXX 102.9 FM English Emergency Alert System primary station (LP2)
WDRM 102.1 FM English FM station licensed to Decatur (IHM LICENSES, LLC). Listed as a Zone 3 monitor source in January 2026. It is the Zone 2 LP-1 in the January 2023 assignments.

Emergency Alert System roles come from the Alabama state EAS plan, last revised in January 2021, and the Alabama Broadcasters Association's station assignments of January 2026.

NOAA Weather Radio

A weather radio turns itself on for warnings, even in the middle of the night. Set it to this frequency.

Station Frequency Transmitter
KIH58 162.475 MHz Anniston
WWF44 162.500 MHz Henagar

TV stations

Station Channel Network Language
WBRC (WBRC 6 News) 6 Fox English
WVTM-TV (WVTM 13) 13 NBC English
WVTM-TV (WVTM CBS) 13.4 CBS English
WBMA-LD (ABC 33/40) 58.1 ABC English
WVUA (WVUA 23) 23 Independent English
WTBM-CD (Telemundo Birmingham) 24.1 Telemundo Spanish
WBIQ (Alabama Public Television, APT) 10 PBS English
WCIQ (Alabama Public Television, APT) 7 PBS English

Official forecasts

  • National Weather Service Birmingham: Local forecasts, watches, and warnings. Phone: 205-664-3010. Website.
  • National Hurricane Center: Official hurricane forecasts, watches, and warnings. Website.

Power, water and debris

  • Alabama Power: Report an outage online or by phone. Assume every downed line is live and stay far away. Phone: 800-888-2726. Website.
  • Cherokee Electric Cooperative: Main office line. The cooperative does not publish a separate outage line. Phone: 800-952-2667. Website.

After the storm: help for displaced residents

If your home is damaged or you cannot go back, these organizations help with shelter, food, money, and paperwork. Many programs open only after a disaster declaration, so check their pages for current status.

Where to start

  • 211 Connects Alabama: The 211 helpline for all 67 Alabama counties, run by nine local 211 offices of the United Ways of Alabama. Free and confidential, with help in over 150 languages. During disasters it shares information on shelters and road closures. Dial 211 at any hour, or call 888-421-1266. You can also text your ZIP code to 898-211. Phone: 211. Website.

Housing and shelter

  • FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers: After a federal declaration, these centers help you apply for aid in person. Use the locator to find the nearest one. Phone: 1-800-621-3362. Website.

Food

  • Community Food Bank of Central Alabama: Regional food bank for 12 counties in north central Alabama. Find a pantry or mobile pantry near you on its site. Bessemer office. The food bank does not hand out food at its warehouse; find a pantry or mobile pantry on its Find Food page. Phone: 205-942-8911. Website.

Money, work and insurance

  • DisasterAssistance.gov: Apply for FEMA aid after a federal declaration. Phone: 1-800-621-3362. Website.
  • SBA disaster loans: Low interest loans for homeowners, renters, and businesses after a declared disaster. Phone: 800-659-2955. Website.
  • Legal Services Alabama: Free civil legal help for low-income residents of all 67 counties, including help after a disaster with FEMA claims, insurance claims, housing, contractor fraud, and replacing documents. Apply by phone or online. Disaster Relief Hotline, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For other legal problems, call 866-456-4995, or 888-835-3505 in Spanish. Phone: 877-393-2333. Website.

Emotional support

  • WellStone Emergency Services: One of Alabama's six state-funded crisis centers, for a mental health, substance use, or suicidal crisis. 24/7 crisis center in Huntsville. Cullman: 256-255-1020. For a crisis at any hour, you can also call or text 988. Phone: 256-705-6444. Website.
  • 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call or text, any time. Phone: 988.

Relief organizations

  • American Red Cross North Alabama Chapter: The Red Cross chapter for 12 Alabama counties, part of the Red Cross Alabama and Mississippi Region. Shelter, emergency help, and disaster relief. Huntsville office. For disaster help at any hour, call 1-800-733-2767. Phone: 256-536-0084. Website.

Cities and towns

Each city has its own services and some have their own alerts. The county's evacuation zones, evacuation centers, and emergency alerts cover everyone, in every city and in unincorporated areas.

Sources

Checked on October 2, 2026. If a number or address here is wrong, please tell us at Keith@KMyers.me.