Lake County hurricane guide¶

The Lake County Office of Emergency Management runs hurricane planning, shelters, and emergency alerts for the county. Lake County is inland and not in a hurricane evacuation zone, but hurricanes still bring high winds, tornadoes, and heavy rain here. If you live in a manufactured home or a low-lying area, the county says to always shelter in a safe site-built building during a hurricane. If your home is site built and you do not depend on electricity for medical care, the county encourages you to shelter at home or with family or friends.

What to know in Lake County¶

• Lake County's shelters also take in people evacuating from coastal counties, so shelter space may fill quickly.
• Evacuation orders in Lake County are usually voluntary and are issued in the days before a storm. If an order does not apply to you, stay off the roads so evacuees and emergency crews can get through.
• Florida law makes it illegal to leave a pet behind during a hurricane. If you evacuate with a pet, go to a pet-friendly shelter.

Emergency and information numbers¶

Official alerts and information¶

• AlertLake: Free alerts by text, email, or phone. Sign up before a storm. Website.
• Lake County Office of Emergency Management: The county's official hurricane information page. Website.

Evacuation centers¶

Lake County's emergency shelters are in public schools. Not every shelter opens for every emergency, and the county announces which ones are open on its website and social media. The schools below are designated shelters for planning only, and they open only when announced. Use a shelter if you have no safer place to go, such as a friend's or relative's site-built home. Check which shelters take pets and which serve people with special needs before you go.

Official list of open evacuation centers

These are locations the county has used or designated as evacuation centers. They are listed for planning only.

Help to evacuate¶

• Lake County Special Needs Program: For people with medical, transportation, or mobility needs during a disaster, such as needing electricity for medical equipment. Register online through the Florida Special Needs Registry, which is the preferred way, or call if you cannot use the website. The Florida Department of Health in Lake County reviews each application and mails you the result. Before a storm, the county calls approved people to ask if they need a ride to a shelter. Phone: 352-742-4850. Website.
• Special needs registration help (Florida Department of Health in Lake County): Help filling out the special needs registration. Phone: 352-253-6130. Website.
• Lake County Animal Shelter: County animal shelter at 12280 County Road 448, Tavares. For stray or aggressive dogs or animals in distress, call the Sheriff's Animal Enforcement Unit at 352-742-4640. Phone: 352-343-9688. 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¶

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.

TV stations¶

Official forecasts¶

• National Weather Service Melbourne: Local forecasts, watches, and warnings. Phone: 321-255-0212. 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.
• SECO Energy (Sumter Electric Cooperative): Report an outage online or by phone. Assume every downed line is live and stay far away. Phone: 352-793-3801. Website.
• City of Leesburg Electric: Report an outage online or by phone. Assume every downed line is live and stay far away. Phone: 1-833-223-1313. Website.
• City of Mount Dora Electric Utility: Report an outage online or by phone. Assume every downed line is live and stay far away. 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.
• Storm debris collection: Lake County Office of Solid Waste, for unincorporated areas. After a storm, sort debris into vegetation, household trash, and construction debris, and put it at the curb, not in the road. Household trash is picked up only in cans or carts. Do not pile yard waste at the curb right before a storm. Phone: 352-343-3776. 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¶

• Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida: Regional food bank that supplies partner pantries across Central Florida. Phone: 407-295-1066. 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 Central Florida Coast Chapter (North and Central Florida Region): Local Red Cross chapter that runs shelters and gives emergency help after disasters and home fires. Orange County office. Brevard County office: 321-890-1002. Volusia County office: 386-682-3113. For disaster help at any hour, call 1-800-733-2767. Phone: 407-894-4141. 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.lakecountyfl.gov/emergency-management/preparedness
• https://www.lakecountyfl.gov/emergency-management/FAQs
• https://www.lakecountyfl.gov/emergency-management/special-needs-program
• https://www.lcso.org/
• https://www.lakecountyfl.gov/animal-services
• https://www.fl511.com/
• https://alertlake.com/
• https://www.lakecountyfl.gov/emergency-management
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• https://secoenergy.com/report-outage
• https://www.leesburgflorida.gov/services/electric/outages.php
• https://www.mountdora.gov/953/Electric-Utility
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