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Baker County hurricane guide

Baker County Emergency Management is based at 1 Sheriff's Office Drive in Macclenny. The county is inland and has no storm surge evacuation zones, so heavy rain, flooding near rivers, and high winds are the main hurricane dangers. The county disaster page is updated during emergencies, not between them, so check it and the Sheriff's Office app when a storm threatens.

Checked on September 30, 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 Baker County Emergency Management. 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 904-259-0235 Office line. Not for emergencies.
Sheriff's Office non-emergency 904-259-2861 For police matters that are not emergencies.
Animal services 904-259-6786 Baker County Animal Control. Weekday mornings.
Road and traffic conditions (FL511) 511 Evacuation routes and road closures.

Official alerts and information

  • Baker County Disaster Preparedness: The county's disaster information page. In past emergencies it listed shelter locations, road and bridge closures, and office closings. It is not updated between events. Website.
  • Baker SO app: The Baker County Sheriff's Office app sends emergency notifications and public service announcements. 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.

Baker County does not publish a standing list of hurricane shelters. When shelters open, check the county disaster page and the Sheriff's Office app. The special needs shelter, run by the Florida Department of Health in Baker County with Emergency Management, is at Dopson Family Medical Center, 159 N 3rd St, Macclenny, and opens only when announced.

Help to evacuate

  • Special needs shelter registration: Register before a storm if you will need help to evacuate or a special needs shelter. Registration is through the Florida Special Needs Registry. Call the Florida Department of Health in Baker County with questions. Phone: 904-653-5276. Website.
  • Baker County Animal Control: County animal control in Macclenny. Phone: 904-259-6786. 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
WJCT-FM 89.9 FM English NPR station for Jacksonville and the First Coast.
WOKV-FM 104.5 FM English News talk station for Jacksonville; the FCC shows it licensed and operating at reduced power since August 2026.
WOKV 690 AM English One of Florida's three Primary Entry Point stations for national alerts; Wikipedia says it now airs sports.

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
WXJ60 162.475 MHz Gainesville
KHB39 162.550 MHz Jacksonville

TV stations

Station Channel Network Language
WJXT (News4JAX) 4 Independent English
WTLV (First Coast News) 12 NBC English
WJXX (First Coast News) 25 ABC English
WJAX-TV (Action News Jax, CBS47) 47 CBS English
WFOX-TV (Action News Jax, FOX30) 30 Fox English
WJCT (Jax PBS) 7 PBS English

Official forecasts

  • National Weather Service Jacksonville: Local forecasts, watches, and warnings. Phone: 904-741-4370. Website.
  • National Hurricane Center: Official hurricane forecasts, watches, and warnings. Website.

Power, water and debris

  • Florida Power & Light (FPL): Also written 1-800-4-OUTAGE. Report an outage online or by phone. Assume every downed line is live and stay far away. Phone: 1-800-468-8243. Website.
  • Okefenoke Rural Electric Membership Corporation (OREMC): Report an outage online or by phone. Assume every downed line is live and stay far away. Phone: 1-800-262-5131. Website.
  • Clay Electric Cooperative: Report an outage online or by phone. Assume every downed line is live and stay far away. Phone: 855-939-3840. 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

  • United Way 211 of Northeast Florida: United Way of Northeast Florida runs this 24/7 211 line for Northeast Florida, St. Johns County and the Suwannee Valley. 24 hours a day. Phone: 904-632-0600. 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

  • Feeding Northeast Florida: Regional food bank for Northeast and North Central Florida. Phone: 904-513-1333. Website.
  • Disaster SNAP (D-SNAP): State food benefits after a declared disaster. Dates and locations are posted when it opens. Website.

Money, work and insurance

  • DisasterAssistance.gov: Apply for FEMA aid after a federal declaration. Phone: 1-800-621-3362. Website.
  • Florida Insurance Consumer Helpline: Free help with insurance claims and disputes. Phone: 1-877-693-5236. Website.
  • SBA disaster loans: Low interest loans for homeowners, renters, and businesses after a declared disaster. Phone: 800-659-2955. Website.
  • Disaster Unemployment Assistance: For people who lose work because of a declared disaster. Website.
  • Three Rivers Legal Services: Free civil legal aid for low-income residents of 17 North and North Central Florida counties. Toll free intake line, during business hours. Phone: 866-256-8091. Website.
  • Florida Disaster Relief Hotline: Free legal help for disaster survivors, switched on after a storm. Phone: 1-866-550-2929. Website.

Emotional support

  • Lutheran Services Florida Health Systems (LSF Health Systems): State-contracted managing entity that funds and coordinates public mental health and substance use care in its region; it does not treat people directly. 24 hours a day. Phone: 877-229-9098. Website.
  • 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call or text, any time. Phone: 988.

Relief organizations

  • American Red Cross Northeast Florida Chapter (North and Central Florida Region headquarters): Local Red Cross chapter that runs shelters and gives emergency help after disasters and home fires. Office hours Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For disaster help at any hour, call 1-800-733-2767. Phone: 904-358-8091. Website.

Scams, contractors and price gouging

  • Price gouging hotline (Florida Attorney General): Report price gouging during a declared state of emergency. Phone: 1-866-966-7226. Website.
  • Contractor license check (DBPR): Check any contractor's license before you pay for repairs. Phone: 850-487-1395. 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 September 30, 2026. If a number or address here is wrong, please tell us at Keith@KMyers.me.