Hernando County hurricane guide¶
Hernando County Emergency Management plans for hurricanes, issues evacuation orders, and opens evacuation shelters with the Hernando County School District. Storm surge threatens coastal areas, and the county evacuates by levels A through E. Everyone in a mobile home, boat, or RV must leave for any hurricane evacuation order, wherever they are in the county.
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 Hernando County Emergency Management. In a life threatening emergency, call 911.
What to know in Hernando County¶
- Shelter doors close when winds reach 40 mph sustained, so leave early. Bring ID, bedding, and a sleeping pad, since cots are not provided and each person gets about 20 square feet.
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 | 352-754-4083 | Also the county's Public Information Center during emergencies. |
| Recorded emergency information line | 352-754-4111 | Recorded updates from the Emergency Operations Center. |
| County information line | 352-754-4000 | Hernando County Government main line. |
| Sheriff's Office non-emergency | 352-754-6830 | For police matters that are not emergencies. |
| Special needs registration | 352-754-4083 | Register before a storm if you will need help to evacuate or a special needs shelter. |
| Animal services | 352-796-5062 | Run by the Hernando County Sheriff's Office. |
| Water and sewer emergencies | 352-754-4037 | Hernando County Utilities Department emergency service. |
| Road and traffic conditions (FL511) | 511 | Evacuation routes and road closures. |
Official alerts and information¶
- Hernando County emergency alerts: Free alerts by text, email, or phone. Sign up before a storm. Website.
- Hernando County Emergency Management: The county's official hurricane information page. It lists activated shelters during a storm. Website.
- All Hazards Disaster Planning Guide: The county's printable 2026 guide. Website.
Evacuation zones¶
Hernando County uses five evacuation levels, A through E, based on potential storm surge. Level A covers the red areas on the county map, and each higher level adds more areas as the expected surge rises. Every level includes all mobile home and RV residents, so if you live in one, or on a boat, leave for any hurricane evacuation order. Areas shown in white on the map are not in an evacuation zone.
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.
Hernando County opens evacuation shelters, usually schools, based on each threat, and you should never go to one unless local officials have announced it is open. Shelters have no generators, cots, pillows, or blankets, and food may not be ready when you arrive. The county's designated pet-friendly shelter for dogs and cats is D.S. Parrott Middle School, open only when announced, and you need current vaccination records and a crate. Special needs shelters give medical monitoring only and require advance registration.
Official list of open evacuation centers
Help to evacuate¶
- Hernando County Special Needs Program: For people with disabilities or medical conditions, such as needing oxygen or electric medical equipment, who need help to evacuate or a special needs shelter. Register online, by phone, or through your home health, oxygen, or care provider or doctor's office. Renew every year. Bring one caregiver to the shelter. Phone: 352-754-4083. Website.
- Hernando County Sheriff's Office Animal Services: Plan for your pets before a storm. If you evacuate, take your pets with you. Phone: 352-796-5062. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| WMTX | 100.7 FM | English | Emergency Alert System primary station (LP1) |
| WWRM | 94.9 FM | English | Emergency Alert System primary station (LP2) |
| WHPT | 102.5 FM | English | Emergency Alert System primary station (LP2) |
| WUSF | 89.7 FM | English | NPR station for the Tampa Bay area. |
| WFLA | 970 AM | English | News talk station in Tampa that runs Operation Storm Watch coverage. |
Emergency Alert System roles come from the Florida state EAS plan, last revised in April 2021.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| WWF38 | 162.400 MHz | Inverness |
| KPS505 | 162.500 MHz | Sumterville |
TV stations¶
| Station | Channel | Network | Language |
|---|---|---|---|
| WFLA-TV (WFLA News Channel 8) | 8 | NBC | English |
| WTSP (10 Tampa Bay) | 10 | CBS | English |
| WTVT (FOX 13 Tampa Bay) | 13 | Fox | English |
| WFTS-TV (Tampa Bay 28) | 28 | ABC | English |
| WWSB (ABC7 WWSB) | 40 | ABC | English |
| WEDU (WEDU PBS) | 3 | PBS | English |
| WVEA-TV (N+ Univision Tampa Bay) | 50 | Univision | Spanish |
| WRMD-CD (Telemundo 49 Tampa) | 49 | Telemundo | Spanish |
Official forecasts¶
- National Weather Service Tampa Bay Area: Local forecasts, watches, and warnings. Phone: 813-645-2323. Website.
- National Hurricane Center: Official hurricane forecasts, watches, and warnings. Website.
Power, water and debris¶
- Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative (WREC): Report an outage online or by phone. Assume every downed line is live and stay far away. Phone: 352-567-5133. Website.
- Duke Energy Florida: Report an outage online or by phone. Assume every downed line is live and stay far away. Phone: 1-800-228-8485. Website.
- Hernando County Utilities Department: Emergency service for county water and sewer customers. Phone: 352-754-4037. Website.
- Hernando County Solid Waste: County disposal questions. In unincorporated areas, curbside pickup is by the county's contracted hauler. Brooksville residents should contact the city. Phone: 352-754-4112. 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¶
- First Contact (formerly 211 Tampa Bay Cares): The 211 provider for Pinellas and Hernando counties; it also answers 988. Hernando County alternate line: 727-210-4212. Phone: 727-210-4211. 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 Tampa Bay: Regional food bank for the Tampa Bay area and nearby counties. Phone: 813-254-1190. 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.
Legal help¶
- Community Legal Services: Free civil legal aid for low-income residents of Central Florida. Phone: 800-405-1417. 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 Tampa Bay Chapter (North and Central Florida Region): Local Red Cross chapter that runs shelters and gives emergency help after disasters and home fires. Hillsborough County office. Pasco County office: 727-848-8354. Pinellas County office: 727-898-3111. For disaster help at any hour, call 1-800-733-2767. Phone: 813-348-4820. 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.
Related guides¶
- Should I evacuate?
- What to expect at a hurricane shelter
- Hurricane supply list
- After a hurricane: the first 24 hours
- Insurance claims and disaster aid
Sources¶
Checked on September 30, 2026. If a number or address here is wrong, please tell us at Keith@KMyers.me.
- https://www.hernandocounty.us/public-safety/emergency-management/
- https://www.hernandosheriff.org/
- https://www.hernandocounty.us/public-safety/emergency-management/emergency-preparedness/special-needs/
- https://www.hernandosheriff.org/AnimalServices/
- https://www.hernandocounty.us/living-here/utilities/
- https://www.fl511.com/
- https://www.hernandocounty.us/public-safety/emergency-management/emergency-preparedness/
- https://media-002-us.cdn.govstack.com/hernandocounty-us/media/0xlj2mho/emergency-management-disaster-planning-guide-2026.pdf
- https://www.hernandocounty.us/living-here/garbage-recycling/
- https://www.weather.gov/source/nwr/JS/CCL.js
- https://api.weather.gov/zones/county/FLC053
- https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/
- https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/api/service/facility/search/WMTX
- https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/api/service/facility/search/WWRM
- https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/api/service/facility/search/WHPT
- https://www.wusf.org/
- https://wflanews.iheart.com/
- https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/api/service/facility/search/WFLA-TV
- https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/api/service/facility/search/WTSP
- https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/api/service/facility/search/WTVT
- https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/api/service/facility/search/WFTS-TV
- https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/api/service/facility/search/WWSB
- https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/api/service/facility/search/WEDU
- https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/api/service/facility/search/WVEA-TV
- https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/api/service/facility/search/WRMD-CD
- https://wrec.net/report-outage
- https://www.duke-energy.com/Customer-Landing-Pages/Florida-Storm-Ready
- https://egateway.fema.gov/ESF6/DRCLocator
- https://ftb.org/contact-us
- https://www.myflfamilies.com/dsnap
- https://www.disasterassistance.gov/
- https://myfloridacfo.com/division/ica/contactus
- https://www.sba.gov/disaster/
- https://floridajobs.org/workforce-resources/reemployment-assistance/general-information/special-programs
- https://www.legalaccessforall.org/contact-us/
- https://www.floridabar.org/public/consumer/hurricaneinfo/
- https://lsfhealthsystems.org/
- https://www.myfloridalegal.com/consumer-protection/price-gouging
- https://www.myfloridalicense.com/wl11.asp
- https://www.211.org/api/program/results?location=Pinellas%20County%2C%20FL
- https://www.redcross.org/local/florida/north-central-florida/about-us/locations/tampa-bay.html