Walton County hurricane guide¶

Walton County Emergency Management runs hurricane planning, evacuation orders, shelters, and AlertWalton for the county. South Walton sits on the Gulf of Mexico and Choctawhatchee Bay, so storm surge is the biggest danger for people in evacuation zones, and hurricanes also bring tornadoes and flooding inland. It is never safe to stay in a mobile home during a tropical storm or hurricane.

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

What to know in Walton County¶

The Clyde B. Wells Bridge (US 331) over Choctawhatchee Bay closes when sustained winds reach 40 mph, with little or no warning. Leave early if you need to cross it.
During past storms the county has opened sandbag sites where sand and bags were provided and residents brought their own shovel. Check AlertWalton and the county FAQ page for current sites.
After a storm, report damage to your home with the county's online damage reporting tool.

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)	850-892-8392	Answered during emergencies and storm activations.
Emergency management office	850-892-8065	Office line. Not for emergencies.
County information line	850-892-8155	County Administration. Office line. Not for emergencies.
Sheriff's Office non-emergency	850-892-8111	For police matters that are not emergencies.
Animal services	850-892-8682	Walton County Animal Control, run by the Sheriff's Office.
Road and traffic conditions (FL511)	511	Evacuation routes and road closures.

Official alerts and information¶

AlertWalton: Free alerts by text, email, or phone. Sign up before a storm. Also reached at AlertWalton.org. Website.
Walton County Emergency Management FAQ: The county's official hurricane information page. During a storm it shows evacuation orders, open shelters, sandbag sites, and bridge status. Website.
Walton County Perimeter map: Live county map of verified road closures, evacuation routes, and resources during a disaster. Website.

Evacuation zones¶

Walton County uses evacuation zones A through E. Zone A is generally the most vulnerable and the most likely to be ordered out first. Not every zone is ordered to leave in every storm: Emergency Management announces which zones must go through AlertWalton, press releases, and social media. If you live in a mobile home, leave whenever officials advise it, whatever your zone. The county's evacuation zone map shows all zones.

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.

Walton County's primary shelter is Freeport High School, which serves the general population, people with special needs, and pets (dogs and cats only). It opens only when the county announces it, and the county says locations can change by storm, so check AlertWalton or the county FAQ page before you go. Shelters are a last resort. If you can, stay with friends or family or in a hotel outside the evacuation area.

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
Freeport High School	12615 Business Highway 331, Freeport, FL 32439	General, Medical needs, Pets allowed

Help to evacuate¶

Special Needs Shelter Registration: Register before a storm if you will need help to evacuate or a special needs shelter. Register online through the Florida Special Needs Registry, the fastest way, or mail the county's paper form to Walton County Emergency Management. Registering does not by itself qualify you for a special needs shelter. Phone: 850-892-8065. Website.
Pet-friendly shelter: Walton County Animal Services runs a pet-friendly shelter during every hurricane. No registration is needed and space is first come, first served. Only dogs and cats are allowed, each in a kennel or carrier, and you must stay with your pet and care for it. Bring food, water, medicines, and proof of vaccinations. Website.
Walton County Animal Shelter: County animal shelter, run by the Sheriff's Office. After hours, call 850-892-8111. Phone: 850-892-8758. Address: 365 Triple G Road, DeFuniak Springs, FL 32433. 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
KIH59	162.550 MHz	Dozier
KGG67	162.550 MHz	Panama City
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¶

CHELCO (Choctawhatchee Electric Cooperative): Report an outage online or by phone. Assume every downed line is live and stay far away. Phone: 1-800-342-0990. 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.
Storm debris collection: Sort storm debris by type so it can be picked up faster. Keep piles off the road and away from downed power lines, utility boxes, trees, poles, fire hydrants, and meters. 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.

Food¶

Feeding the Gulf Coast: Regional food bank that supplies food pantries in the western Panhandle. Panhandle Branch in Milton. Phone: 850-626-1332. 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 (Fort Walton Beach office): Free civil legal help for low-income residents; apply online or call the office for your county. Phone: 850-862-3279. 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 Northwest Florida Chapter (North and Central Florida Region): Local Red Cross chapter that runs shelters and gives emergency help after disasters and home fires. Pensacola office, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Bay County office: 850-601-5199. For disaster help at any hour, call 1-800-733-2767. Phone: 850-432-7601. 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.