Jackson County hurricane guide¶
Jackson County Emergency Management, in Marianna, plans for hurricanes, decides when shelters open, and sends Alert Jackson warnings. Jackson is inland and has no storm surge evacuation zones, but hurricanes can still bring damaging wind, heavy rain, flooding, and tornadoes. In past storms the county has strongly urged people in RVs and mobile homes to move to sturdier buildings, so plan now where you would go.
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 Jackson 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 | 850-482-9678 | Office line. Not for emergencies. |
| County information line | 850-482-9633 | Office line. Not for emergencies. TDD: 800-955-8771. |
| Animal services | 850-718-0021 | Jackson County Animal Control. On weekends and holidays, call the non-emergency dispatch line, 850-482-9648. |
| Water and sewer emergencies | 850-718-0065 | Jackson County Utilities after hours and on call, for county utility customers. |
| Road and traffic conditions (FL511) | 511 | Evacuation routes and road closures. |
Official alerts and information¶
- Alert Jackson: Free alerts by text, email, or phone. Sign up before a storm. Website.
- Jackson County Severe Weather Updates: The county's page for public updates during severe weather. Website.
- Jackson County Emergency Management: The county's emergency management page, with its emergency plans. 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.
Jackson County's emergency plan names Marianna High School as the county's hurricane shelter and special needs shelter, but it opens only when the Emergency Management Director decides it is needed, so wait for an announcement. The plan also lists Cottondale High School and Sneads High School as host shelters for evacuees from other areas. During Hurricane Helene in 2024, the county opened general and special needs shelters at Marianna High School and did not allow pets. Watch Alert Jackson for openings. The state's shelter status page lists shelters that are open now.
Official list of open evacuation centers
Help to evacuate¶
- Florida Special Needs Registry: Jackson County Emergency Management uses the state registry. Choose Jackson County when you sign up. Register before a storm if you will need help to evacuate or a special needs shelter. Website.
- Jackson County Animal Control: County animal control. In past storms the county's shelters did not allow pets, so plan ahead for your animals. Phone: 850-718-0021. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| WFSY | 98.5 FM | English | Emergency Alert System primary station (LP1) |
| WPAP | 92.5 FM | English | Emergency Alert System primary station (LP1) |
| WFLF-FM | 94.5 FM | English | Emergency Alert System primary station (LP2) |
| WKGC-FM | 90.7 FM | English | Public radio station of Gulf Coast State College in Panama City. |
| WFSW | 89.1 FM | English | WFSU news and information service for the Panama City area, licensed to Panama City. |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| KZZ70 | 162.525 MHz | Blakely |
| WNG633 | 162.425 MHz | Sneads |
| WWH20 | 162.450 MHz | Westville |
TV stations¶
| Station | Channel | Network | Language |
|---|---|---|---|
| WJHG-TV (WJHG NewsChannel 7) | 7 | NBC | English |
| WMBB | 13 | ABC | English |
| WPGX | 28 | Fox | English |
| WFSG (WFSU) | 56 | PBS | English |
Official forecasts¶
- National Weather Service Tallahassee: Local forecasts, watches, and warnings. Phone: 850-942-8833. Website.
- National Hurricane Center: Official hurricane forecasts, watches, and warnings. Website.
Power, water and debris¶
- West Florida Electric Cooperative (WFEC): Report an outage online or by phone. Assume every downed line is live and stay far away. Phone: 1-800-342-7400. Website.
- Florida Public Utilities: Report an outage online or by phone. Assume every downed line is live and stay far away. Phone: 1-800-427-7712. Website.
- 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.
- Jackson County Utilities: After hours and on call line for county water and sewer customers. Office: 850-718-0437. Phone: 850-718-0065. Website.
- Jackson County Road and Bridge: Clears storm debris from county roads, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Phone: 850-482-9629. 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¶
- 2-1-1 Northwest Florida: The 211 helpline and resource directory for the western Panhandle, linked from United Way of West Florida. 24 hours a day. Phone: 855-420-8689. 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.
- Jackson County Housing Assistance Office: After a declared state of emergency, the county's SHIP program may help income eligible homeowners with storm repairs, emergency supplies, and temporary housing costs. Phone: 850-482-9637. Website.
Food¶
- Second Harvest of the Big Bend: Regional food bank for the Big Bend; its site has a Find Food page. Phone: 850-562-3033. 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¶
- Legal Services of North Florida (Quincy office): Free civil legal help for low-income residents; apply online or call the office for your county. Phone: 850-875-9881. Website.
- Florida Disaster Relief Hotline: Free legal help for disaster survivors, switched on after a storm. Phone: 1-866-550-2929. Website.
Emotional support¶
- NWF Health Network (Northwest Florida 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 Capital Area Chapter (North and Central Florida Region): 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: 850-878-6080. 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.jacksoncountyfl.gov/services/emergency-management/
- https://www.jacksoncountyfl.gov/services/animal-control/
- https://www.jacksoncountyfl.gov/services/utilities/
- https://www.fl511.com/
- https://www.jacksoncountyfl.gov/severe-weather-updates/
- https://www.jacksoncountyfl.gov/uploads/2025/08/2025-cemp-basicplan.pdf
- https://www.jacksoncountyfl.gov/services/road-bridge/
- https://www.weather.gov/source/nwr/JS/CCL.js
- https://api.weather.gov/zones/county/FLC063
- https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/
- https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/api/service/facility/search/WFSY
- https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/api/service/facility/search/WPAP
- https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/api/service/facility/search/WFLF
- https://www.wkgc.org/
- https://news.wfsu.org/
- https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/api/service/facility/search/WJHG-TV
- https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/api/service/facility/search/WMBB
- https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/api/service/facility/search/WPGX
- https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/api/service/facility/search/WFSG
- https://www.westflorida.coop/outage-center
- https://fpuc.com/customer-care/report-an-electric-outage/
- https://www.fpl.com/support/report-concerns.html
- https://egateway.fema.gov/ESF6/DRCLocator
- https://fightinghunger.org/
- 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.lsnf.org/contact/
- https://www.floridabar.org/public/consumer/hurricaneinfo/
- https://nwfhealth.org/
- https://www.myfloridalegal.com/consumer-protection/price-gouging
- https://www.myfloridalicense.com/wl11.asp
- https://211nwfl.communityos.org/cms/
- https://www.redcross.org/local/florida/north-central-florida/about-us/locations/capital-area.html