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Putnam County hurricane guide

The Putnam County Bureau of Emergency Services, in Carmel, runs the county's 911 system and its emergency management planning for natural and manmade disasters. Putnam is inland along the Hudson, so the main hurricane risks are flash flooding and wind from tropical storm remnants. The county's PREADY page tells residents who get a flash flood warning to move to higher ground immediately if in a flood prone area and to evacuate immediately if told to do so.

Checked on October 9, 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 Putnam County Bureau of Emergency Services. In a life threatening emergency, call 911.

What to know in Putnam County

  • Putnam County lists storm recovery contacts for shelter, temporary housing and food after a disaster, including the county Department of Social Services at 845-808-1500 extension 45233.

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 845-808-4000 Putnam County Bureau of Emergency Services, 112 Old Route 6, Carmel. Not for emergencies.
Sheriff's Office non-emergency 845-225-4300 For police matters that are not emergencies. This is the Sheriff's Office main number, 3 County Center, Carmel.

Official alerts and information

  • Putnam Alert: Free county alerts. Sign up before a storm by creating a Putnam Alert account from the county page. You can opt out at any time. Website.
  • PREADY (Putnam preparedness): The county's severe weather preparedness page, including flash flood and extreme wind warnings. 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.

Putnam County does not publish a standing list of hurricane shelters on the pages we checked. The county tells residents to know their community's local evacuation plan, to identify several routes out in case roads are blocked, and to plan transportation and a safe place to go. For a flash flood warning it says to move to higher ground immediately if in a flood prone area, and to evacuate immediately if told to. Do not go to a site until it is announced as open. After a storm, the county's Bureau of Emergency Services lists contacts for help with shelter, temporary housing and food.

Official list of open evacuation centers

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 October 9, 2026. If a number or address here is wrong, please tell us at Keith@KMyers.me.