Highlands County hurricane guide¶
Highlands County Emergency Management, part of the Public Safety Department, runs the county's Emergency Operations Center, public shelters, and AlertHighlands notifications. The county is inland, and its guide warns that mobile and manufactured homes are very vulnerable to strong winds and that heavy rain can cause flooding. Highlands County does not use evacuation zones: any evacuation order will name geographic boundaries or landmarks.
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 Highlands County Emergency Management. In a life threatening emergency, call 911.
What to know in Highlands County¶
- The county lists sand pile sites in Sebring, Avon Park, and Lake Placid, but they are not always stocked. They are made available during an emergency declaration, so check county alerts before you go.
Emergency and information numbers¶
| Service | Number | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency | 911 | Police, fire, and ambulance. Call only when someone's life or property is in danger. |
| Citizen information center (during emergencies) | 863-402-6800 | The county's Citizen Emergency Information Line. |
| Emergency management office | 863-402-7600 | Office line. Not for emergencies. |
| Special needs registration | 863-402-7600 | Register before a storm if you will need help to evacuate or a special needs shelter. |
| Sheriff's Office non-emergency | 863-402-7200 | For police matters that are not emergencies. |
| County information line | 863-402-6500 | Office line. Not for emergencies. |
| Animal services | 863-655-6475 | Office line. Not for emergencies. |
| Road and traffic conditions (FL511) | 511 | Evacuation routes and road closures. |
Official alerts and information¶
- AlertHighlands: Free alerts by text, email, or phone. Sign up before a storm. Website.
- Highlands County Emergency Management: The county's official hurricane information page. Website.
- Highlands County All-Hazards Guide: The county's printable guide, with evacuation routes and important contacts. ADA and Spanish versions are on the county's Plan and Prepare 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.
Highlands County opens shelters in tiers as needed, and not all shelters open at the same time. Check the county's public shelters page, county social media, or local media to see which shelters are open or full. These are risk shelters for 12 to 72 hours: they do not provide food, drinks, cots, or chairs, so bring your family's disaster supplies. The three primary shelters below open only when the county announces them. There is also a special needs shelter and a pet-friendly shelter, and both require registration in advance.
Official list of open evacuation centers
These are locations the county has used or designated as evacuation centers. They are listed for planning only.
| Name | Address | Serves |
|---|---|---|
| Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Sports Complex | 207 E. State St., Avon Park, FL | General |
| Alan Jay Arena | 781 Magnolia Ave., Sebring, FL | General |
| Lake Placid High School | 202 Green Dragon Drive, Lake Placid, FL | General |
Help to evacuate¶
- Special Needs Shelter: For people who depend on electricity, or whose medicines or devices need refrigeration or power, and their caregivers. It is not for the general public. Register online through the state Special Needs Registry, or call Emergency Management. Phone: 863-402-7600. Website.
- Pet-friendly shelter: For Highlands County residents with proof of residency. Register in advance by emailing the county's registration form to PetShelter@HighlandsFL.gov. Dogs and cats only, kept apart from owners in a crate or carrier. Pets must be microchipped, vaccinated against rabies, and wearing a current license tag. Bring at least five days of pet food, water, and medicines. Website.
- Diverse Needs Registry: A voluntary registry that tells dispatchers and first responders about someone at your home with communication or mobility needs. Register again every year after March 1. For help, call Emergency Management and choose option 3. Phone: 863-402-7600. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| WXK83A | 162.500 MHz | Sebring |
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¶
- 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.
- Glades Electric Cooperative: Report an outage online or by phone. Assume every downed line is live and stay far away. Phone: 855-940-3810. 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¶
- Heart of Florida United Way 2-1-1: Heart of Florida United Way answers 211 for the Orlando area and for many other Florida counties. 24 hours a day. Phone: 407-839-4357. 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¶
- Florida Rural Legal Services: Free civil legal help for low-income people in 13 South and Central Florida counties. Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Phone: 888-582-3410. Website.
- Florida Disaster Relief Hotline: Free legal help for disaster survivors, switched on after a storm. Phone: 1-866-550-2929. Website.
Emotional support¶
- Central Florida Behavioral Health Network: State-contracted managing entity that funds and coordinates public mental health and substance use care in its region; it does not treat people directly. Website.
- 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call or text, any time. Phone: 988.
Relief organizations¶
- American Red Cross Mid-Florida Chapter (South Florida Region): Local Red Cross chapter that runs shelters and gives emergency help after disasters and home fires. For disaster help at any hour, call 1-800-733-2767. Phone: 863-294-5941. 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.highlandsfl.gov/departments/public_safety/emergency_management/plan_and_prepare.php
- https://www.highlandsfl.gov/departments/public_safety/emergency_management/index.php
- https://www.highlandsfl.gov/Documents/Departments/Public%20Safety/Emergency%20Management/Plan%20and%20Prepare/2025%20All%20Hazards%20Guide_Final-updated.pdf
- https://www.highlandssheriff.gov/
- https://www.fl511.com/
- https://www.highlandsfl.gov/departments/public_safety/emergency_management/public_shelters.php
- https://www.highlandsfl.gov/departments/public_safety/emergency_management/pet_shelter.php
- https://www.highlandsfl.gov/departments/public_safety/emergency_management/diverseneeds.php
- https://www.weather.gov/source/nwr/JS/CCL.js
- https://api.weather.gov/zones/county/FLC055
- 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://www.duke-energy.com/Customer-Landing-Pages/Florida-Storm-Ready
- https://www.gladeselectric.com/member-services/outages/
- 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.frls.org/
- https://www.floridabar.org/public/consumer/hurricaneinfo/
- https://www.cfbhn.org/
- https://www.myfloridalegal.com/consumer-protection/price-gouging
- https://www.myfloridalicense.com/wl11.asp
- https://www.211.org/api/program/results?location=Orange%20County%2C%20FL
- https://www.redcross.org/local/florida/south-florida/about-us/locations/mid-florida.html