Madison County hurricane guide¶

Madison County Emergency Management runs hurricane planning, alerts, and sheltering for the county from its Emergency Operations Center in Madison. The county is inland, so the main hurricane dangers are high winds, falling trees, flooding, and tornadoes. If you live in a mobile home or another unsafe building, plan to go to a sturdier place, such as the home of family or friends or the county's risk shelter when it opens.

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 Madison 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	850-973-3698	Hurricane questions, alert signup help, and special needs registration forms. Not for emergencies.
Sheriff's Office non-emergency	850-973-4001	Madison County Communications Center. Press extension 1 for the non-emergency line. For police matters that are not emergencies.
County information line	850-973-3179	Office line. Not for emergencies.
Special needs registration	850-973-3698	Register before a storm if you will need help to evacuate or a special needs shelter.
Animal services	850-973-4001	Animal Control is part of the Madison County Sheriff's Office.
Road and traffic conditions (FL511)	511	Evacuation routes and road closures.

Official alerts and information¶

ALERTMadison: Free alerts by text, email, or phone. Sign up before a storm. The county no longer uses CodeRED, so check that you are signed up here. A paper form is available from Emergency Management. Website.
Madison County Emergency Management: The county's official hurricane information 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.

When a hurricane affects the county, Madison County opens Madison County Central School as a risk shelter for people who live in mobile homes or other unsafe buildings. It opens only when the county announces it, so watch ALERTMadison. Shelters are a last resort and are meant only for safety, so staying with family or friends is usually more comfortable. Bring pillows, blankets, snacks, medicines, and hygiene items.

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
Madison County Central School	2093 W US Hwy 90, Madison, FL 32340	General

Help to evacuate¶

Florida Special Needs Registry (Madison County): For people who need medical help, oxygen, or electricity for equipment. Register online or call Emergency Management for a paper form. Registering does not guarantee a place, because the Department of Health checks each person. A caregiver should come with you, and you must bring your own medicines, supplies, equipment, clothes, and bedding. Phone: 850-973-3698. Website.
Madison County Animal Control: Run by the Madison County Sheriff's Office. Phone: 850-973-4001. 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
WQHL-FM	98.1 FM	English	Emergency Alert System primary station (LP1)
WQHL	1250 AM	English	Emergency Alert System primary station (LP1)
WNFB	94.3 FM	English	Emergency Alert System primary station (LP2)

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
WWF88	162.425 MHz	Salem
KIH24	162.400 MHz	Tallahassee
WWH31	162.500 MHz	Valdosta

TV stations¶

Station	Channel	Network	Language
WCTV	6	CBS	English
WTXL-TV (WTXL ABC 27)	27	ABC	English
WTWC-TV (NBC 40)	40	NBC	English
WFSU-TV (WFSU)	11	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¶

Tri-County Electric Cooperative (TCEC): Report an outage online or by phone. Assume every downed line is live and stay far away. Phone: 1-800-999-2285. 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.

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¶

211 Big Bend (now Lifeline Connection): The 211 helpline for the Big Bend counties around Tallahassee; it connects callers to local help and crisis support. 24 hours a day. Phone: 850-617-6333. 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 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¶

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¶

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 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.