Okeechobee County hurricane guide¶
Okeechobee County Emergency Management plans for hurricanes and runs the county's Emergency Operations Center, shelters, and ALERT Okeechobee notifications. The county is inland, on the north shore of Lake Okeechobee, and hurricanes can still bring damaging wind and heavy rain here. Shelters are a last resort and open only when the county announces them.
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 Okeechobee 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. |
| Citizen information center (during emergencies) | 863-824-6888 | The county's Citizen's Information Line for emergency information. |
| Emergency management office | 863-763-3212 | Office line. Not for emergencies. The county also lists extension 5. |
| Sheriff's Office non-emergency | 863-763-3117 | For police matters that are not emergencies. |
| County information line | 863-763-6441 | Office line. Not for emergencies. |
| Animal services | 863-357-3225 | Animal Control, run by the Sheriff's Office. For animal emergencies, call 863-763-3117. |
| Road and traffic conditions (FL511) | 511 | Evacuation routes and road closures. |
Official alerts and information¶
- ALERT Okeechobee: Free alerts by text, email, or phone. Sign up before a storm. Website.
- Okeechobee County Emergency Home Page: The county's official hurricane information page. Website.
- 2026 Okeechobee County Hurricane Preparedness Guide: The county's printable guide with shelter locations, evacuation routes, and important contacts. 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.
Okeechobee County opens shelters only as needed, at the direction of the Emergency Management Director. Listen for announcements on local radio and TV and through ALERT Okeechobee before you go. South Elementary School is the primary general and pet friendly shelter and Osceola Middle School is the secondary one; other schools open only if necessary. People with medical needs must register in advance for the special needs shelter, and general shelter guests should bring their own blankets, medicines, toiletries, and clothing.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| South Elementary School | 2468 SW 7th Avenue, Okeechobee, FL | General, Pets allowed |
| Osceola Middle School | 825 SW 28th Street, Okeechobee, FL | General |
| Okeechobee County Health Department and Senior Services building (special needs) | 1728 NW 9th Ave, Okeechobee, FL | Medical needs |
Help to evacuate¶
- Special Needs Shelter Program: For people who need oxygen, rely on electricity for medical equipment, or have dementia and need a full time caregiver. Space is limited, so register in advance online at snr.flhealthresponse.com or with the county form, and submit a new form every year starting January 1. The shelter has nurses but does not provide medicines, dialysis, oxygen, or oxygen concentrators, and a caregiver must come along. Phone: 863-763-3212. Website.
- Okeechobee County Animal Control: Run by the Sheriff's Office at 1480 NW 25th Drive, Okeechobee. Weekdays during business hours. For animal emergencies, call 863-763-3117. Phone: 863-357-3225. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| WQCS | 88.9 FM | English | Emergency Alert System primary station (LP1) |
| WCNO | 89.9 FM | English | Emergency Alert System primary station (LP2) |
| WLRN-FM | 101.9 FM | English | WLRN (South Florida NPR) is heard in the Palm Beaches on translator W270AD at 101.9 FM. |
| WJNO | 1290 AM | English | Talk station in West Palm Beach. |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| WXM58 | 162.400 MHz | Belle Glade |
| WWF69 | 162.425 MHz | Fort Pierce |
TV stations¶
| Station | Channel | Network | Language |
|---|---|---|---|
| WPTV-TV (WPTV News Channel 5) | 5 | NBC | English |
| WPEC (CBS12) | 12 | CBS | English |
| WPBF (WPBF 25) | 25 | ABC | English |
| WFLX (WFLX Fox 29) | 29 | Fox | English |
| WXEL-TV (South Florida PBS) | 42 | PBS | English |
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¶
- 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.
- 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¶
- 211 Palm Beach / Treasure Coast: A 24-hour helpline with crisis support and referrals for Palm Beach and the Treasure Coast counties. 24 hours a day. Phone: 561-383-1112. 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¶
- Treasure Coast Food Bank: Regional food bank for the Treasure Coast and Okeechobee County. Phone: 772-489-3034. 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¶
- Southeast 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.okeechobeecountyfl.gov/departments/public-safety/emergency-management/emergency-contacts
- https://www.okeechobeecountyfl.gov/departments/public-safety/emergency-management
- https://www.okeechobeecountyfl.gov/departments/emergency-home-page
- https://www.okeechobeecountyfl.gov/departments/animal-control
- https://www.fl511.com/
- https://www.okeechobeecountyfl.gov/departments/public-safety/emergency-management/alert-okeechobee
- https://www.okeechobeecountyfl.gov/departments/public-safety/emergency-management/2026-hurricane-preparedness-guide
- https://www.okeechobeecountyfl.gov/departments/public-safety/emergency-management/okeechobee-county-shelter-list
- https://www.okeechobeecountyfl.gov/departments/public-safety/emergency-management/special-needs-shelter-registration
- https://www.weather.gov/source/nwr/JS/CCL.js
- https://api.weather.gov/zones/county/FLC093
- https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/
- https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/api/service/facility/search/WQCS
- https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/api/service/facility/search/WCNO
- https://www.wlrn.org/topic/radio?page=2
- https://wjno.iheart.com/
- https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/api/service/facility/search/WPTV-TV
- https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/api/service/facility/search/WPEC
- https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/api/service/facility/search/WPBF
- https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/api/service/facility/search/WFLX
- https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/api/service/facility/search/WXEL-TV
- https://www.fpl.com/support/report-concerns.html
- https://www.gladeselectric.com/member-services/outages/
- https://egateway.fema.gov/ESF6/DRCLocator
- https://stophunger.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.frls.org/
- https://www.floridabar.org/public/consumer/hurricaneinfo/
- https://sefbhn.org/
- https://www.myfloridalegal.com/consumer-protection/price-gouging
- https://www.myfloridalicense.com/wl11.asp
- https://211palmbeach.org/
- https://www.redcross.org/local/florida/south-florida/about-us/locations/mid-florida.html