Colbert County hurricane guide¶

The Colbert County Emergency Management Agency, working with Colbert County 911 in Muscle Shoals, coordinates preparedness, response, and recovery for the county. Colbert is far inland on the Tennessee River, so the remains of a hurricane or tropical storm mainly bring heavy rain, flash flooding, strong wind, and tornadoes. The county has community storm shelters for tornadoes and severe weather.

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 Colbert 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	256-386-8558	Office line. Not for emergencies.
911 Dispatch Center non-emergency	256-381-0911	Colbert County 911, 24 hours. For calls that are not emergencies.
Sheriff's Office non-emergency	256-383-0741	For police matters that are not emergencies.
County information line	256-386-8501	Colbert County Commission. Office line. Not for emergencies.
County Road Department	256-381-2120	County roads and bridges. Office hours 6:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Not for emergencies.

Official alerts and information¶

Colbert County Alerts (Smart911): Free alerts by text, email, or phone. Sign up before a storm. Website.
Colbert County Public Safety app: The county's public safety app for iPhone. It is also on Google Play. Website.
Colbert County EMA: The county EMA's page, with alert signup, storm shelters, and preparedness tips. 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.

Colbert County does not publish a list of hurricane shelters. If shelters open for a storm, local officials announce them, so do not go to a shelter until it has been announced. Separately, the county has community storm shelters built of steel and reinforced concrete. These are tornado shelters, not hurricane evacuation shelters. Check county alerts to find out which are open.

Help to evacuate¶

Colbert County 911 Special Alert Program: If someone in your home has special needs or a medical condition, fill out the form so 911 responders see those details for your address. Do it before a storm. 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
WQLT-FM	107.3 FM	English	Emergency Alert System primary station (LP1)
WLAY-FM	100.1 FM	English	Emergency Alert System primary station (LP2)
WQPR	88.7 FM	English	Emergency Alert System primary station (SR)

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
KIH57	162.475 MHz	Florence

TV stations¶

Station	Channel	Network	Language
WHNT-TV (WHNT News 19)	19	CBS	English
WAFF (WAFF 48)	48	NBC	English
WAAY-TV (WAAY 31)	31	ABC	English
WZDX (FOX54 WZDX)	54	Fox	English
WFIQ (Alabama Public Television, APT)	36	PBS	English

Official forecasts¶

National Weather Service Huntsville: Local forecasts, watches, and warnings. Phone: 256-890-8503. Website.
National Hurricane Center: Official hurricane forecasts, watches, and warnings. Website.

Power, water and debris¶

Franklin Electric Cooperative: Report an outage online or by phone. Assume every downed line is live and stay far away. Phone: 256-332-2730. Website.
City of Muscle Shoals Electric Board: City utility office. The city does not publish a separate outage line. Phone: 256-386-9290. Website.
City of Sheffield Utilities: Report an outage online or by phone. Assume every downed line is live and stay far away. Phone: 256-389-2478. Website.
City of Tuscumbia Utilities: City utility office. The city does not publish a separate outage line. Phone: 256-383-0321. Website.
Colbert County Water Department: County water system. Office hours 6:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Phone: 256-386-8504. Website.
Colbert County roadside pickup: The county picks up limbs cut into smaller pieces and yard debris placed at the county right of way. Keep piles out of drainage ditches. Not available on federal or state highways. Phone: 256-383-9918. 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¶

Food Bank of North Alabama: Regional food bank for 11 counties in north Alabama. Find a pantry near you on its site. Huntsville office, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Florence office: 256-760-5315. Phone: 256-539-2256. 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 help¶

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¶

Riverbend Center for Mental Health: The community mental health center for Colbert, Franklin, and Lauderdale counties. Main line in Florence. For a crisis at any hour, call or text 988. Phone: 256-764-3431. 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.