Levy County hurricane guide¶

Levy County Emergency Management, based at the Emergency Operations Center in Bronson, runs hurricane planning, evacuation zones, shelters, and Levy Alert notifications. The county's Gulf coast, including Cedar Key, Yankeetown, and Inglis, faces storm surge, so know your evacuation zone and leave when officials tell you to. Shelters are a last resort, and pets are not allowed in the human shelters.

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 Levy County Emergency Management. In a life threatening emergency, call 911.

What to know in Levy County¶

After a storm, you can report damage to your home or business online. Reports help the county request state and federal help, but they do not guarantee financial assistance.

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	352-486-5213	Office line. Not for emergencies. After hours, call 352-486-5111.
Citizen information center (during emergencies)	352-486-5155	Levy County public information line. A second line is 352-486-5576.
Special needs registration	352-486-5213	Register before a storm if you will need help to evacuate or a special needs shelter.
Sheriff's Office non-emergency	352-486-5111	For police matters that are not emergencies.
County information line	352-486-5218	Office line. Not for emergencies.
Road and traffic conditions (FL511)	511	Evacuation routes and road closures.

Official alerts and information¶

Levy Alert: Free alerts by text, email, or phone. Sign up before a storm. Website.
Levy County Emergency Management (LevyDisaster.com): The county's official hurricane information page. Website.
Levy County Storm Surge Map: Printable map of areas at risk from storm surge. Website.

Evacuation zones¶

Levy County uses lettered evacuation zones for areas at risk from storm surge along the Gulf coast. When a storm threatens, officials name the zones that must leave. Look up your zone by address before hurricane season, and evacuate if you are told to do so.

Look up your 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.

Levy County has designated the hurricane shelters below, but they open only when the county announces them, and the county's shelter page shows whether each one is open or closed. Try to stay with friends or family outside the evacuation area first, and use a shelter only as a last resort. Bronson Elementary School is for special needs clients only. Pets are not allowed in human shelters; Levy County Animal Services is the pet emergency shelter.

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
Bronson Elementary School (special needs only)	400 Ishie Avenue, Bronson, FL 32621	Medical needs
Williston Elementary School	801 S. Main St., Williston, FL 32696	General
Bronson Middle High School	351 Ishie Ave., Bronson, FL 32621	General
Williston Middle High School	350 SW 12^th Ave., Williston, FL 32696	General
Chiefland Elementary School	1205 NW 4^th Ave, Chiefland, FL 32626	General
Joyce Bullock Elementary School	130 SW 3^rd St, Williston, FL 32696	General
Levy County Animal Services (pet emergency shelter)	12055 NE 69^th Ln., Bronson, FL 32621	Pets allowed

Help to evacuate¶

Levy County Special Needs Sheltering Registry: For people who need oxygen, rely on electricity for medical equipment, need help with daily living, or have a condition such as Alzheimer's. Sign up online through the state Special Needs Registry at snr.flhealthresponse.com, or mail a printed form to the Levy County EOC, 7911 NE 90^th Street, Bronson. For help signing up, call Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Special needs shelters are in public schools and have generators for medical equipment, but they can be crowded and noisy. Phone: 352-486-5213. Website.
Pet emergency shelter at Levy County Animal Services: Human shelters in Levy County do not accept pets. As a last resort, the county has said Animal Services can board up to five dogs and cats, with proof of rabies and DHPP shots. Bring food, medicine, a leash, and a crate for each animal. 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
WRUF-FM	103.7 FM	English	Emergency Alert System primary station (LP1)
WRUF	850 AM	English	Emergency Alert System primary station (LP1)
WOGK	93.7 FM	English	Emergency Alert System primary station (LP2)
WUFT-FM	89.1 FM	English	NPR news and talk station of the University of Florida in Gainesville.
WJUF	90.1 FM	English	Carries WUFT news for Citrus and Levy counties, licensed to Inverness.
WSKY-FM	97.3 FM	English	News talk station licensed to Micanopy, serving Gainesville and Ocala.

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
WXJ60	162.475 MHz	Gainesville
WWF38	162.400 MHz	Inverness
KWN38	162.550 MHz	Morriston

TV stations¶

Station	Channel	Network	Language
WCJB-TV (TV20)	20	ABC	English
WOGX (FOX 51 Gainesville)	51	Fox	English
WUFT	5	PBS	English

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¶

Central Florida Electric Cooperative (CFEC): Report an outage online or by phone. Assume every downed line is live and stay far away. Phone: 1-800-227-1302. 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.
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 Williston (Public Works and Utilities, electric): City utility office. The city does not publish a separate outage line. Phone: 352-528-3060. 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 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.

Legal help¶

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 North Central Florida Chapter (North and Central 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: 352-376-4669. 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.