Hurricane Preparedness: Open Shelters, Sandbag Stations, and Other Important Information for Polk County

Having an emergency supply kit prepared takes a lot of the anxiety out of weathering storms. It can seem like a daunting task at first but realistically once your kit is ready you only have to update it as needed. First, you need to determine what supplies you have and what items you need to get.

These tips below are from the State of Florida:

Non-perishable food (enough to last at least 3 days)
Water (enough to last at least 3 days)
First-aid kit (include any prescription medication you may need)
Personal hygiene items and sanitation items
Flashlights (have extra batteries on hand)
Battery-operated radio (again, have extra batteries)
Waterproof container with cash and important documents
Manual can opener
Lighter or matches
Books, magazines, games for recreation
Special needs items: pet supplies and baby supplies if applicable
Cooler and ice packs
A plan for evacuation and for if family members are separated
Potable battery charger for charging electronics

Now that you have an inventory of what you need to purchase or replenish put everything together where it is accessible. It can be a closet, a storage bin, or a box – it doesn’t matter – what matters is you can get to it easily, it is portable in case you have to evacuate and everyone in your home knows where it is.

Evacuation Zone:

Because Florida has lots of low-lying areas, lakes, and coastal areas it is susceptible to flooding and storm surges. Storm surges can move buildings resulting in more damage than hurricane winds. The best way to be prepared for a hurricane storm surge is to know your evacuation zone.

Do you know your Evacuation Zone? When evacuations are ordered they are done by Zone. Zones are called by a letter.

Check your zone HERE  by entering your address.

Evacuation Route:

Evacuation routes are developed to help people leave the area efficiently and safely. Most interior counties do not have designated evacuation zones. However, you can view all the counties and their routes HERE

View the Evacuation Route for Hillsborough HERE
View the Evacuation Route for Polk HERE

A family safety plan can be as simple or as complicated as you want it to be. Ideally, you want everyone to know where to meet, how to contact each other, and whom to contact in case you are separated or someone is incapacitated. A more complex plan can include household members’ names, contact numbers, a list of medications per person, social media handles, as well as copies of important documents. This can be kept inside the Safety Kit or emailed to everyone or texted to everyone’s devices.

This Family Emergency Plan from FEMA covers everything from out-of-town contacts to doctors’ information. You can also use this Make a Plan Form from the Unites States Government that allows you to email it as a pdf.

Storms mean inside time and for many kids -and adults – which can be downright boring. In my household, it usually means lots of eating and watching the news or weather channel. A little prep before the storm can make a world of difference and it doesn’t require buying anything or lots of space.

1. Play Board Games – Gather around and play a game suitable for the family. From Pictionary to Monopoly to Sorry – this is a great way to focus on something besides the storms and have fun together.
2. Read a story with your kids and talk about it. Ask what they thought of the story. Is there something they would change about the story?
3. Sit together and color or draw. Have everyone draw a cat or a house or a person. Who is a great artist and who is the abstract artist in the family?
4. Play a card game together. You may have a card shark in your mist and not even know it!
5. Ask each other questions and get to know each other better. Here are some suggestions

• What famous person do people think you look like?
• What is your favorite holiday and why?
• If you were invisible for a day what would you do?
• What is the funniest joke you’ve heard?
• What hidden talent do you have?
• If you could only eat one thing for life what would it be?
• Would you rather live underwater, on land, or in space?
• What is your favorite restaurant?
• What was the best day you have ever had?
• If you could be good at one thing what would it be?

Shelters are opened as needed. Please confirm the shelter is open before heading over to it. As a reminder weapons and alcohol are prohibited in Public Shelters.

AUBURNDALE
Auburndale High School
1 Bloodhound Tr, Auburndale

BARTOW
Spessard L. Holland Elementary School
2342 E.F. Griffin Rd, Bartow

DAVENPORT
Citrus Ridge Academy
1775 Sand Mine Rd, Davenport

Horizons Elementary School
1700 Forest Lake Dr, Davenport

LAKELAND
George Jenkins High School Freshman Academy
6000 Lakeland Highlands Rd, Lakeland

Highlands Grove Elementary School
4510 Lakeland Highlands Rd, Lakeland

Kathleen High School
1100 Red Devil Way, Lakeland

R. Bruce Wagner Elementary School
5500 Yates Rd, Lakeland

Sleepy Hill Elementary School
2285 Sleepy Hill Road, Lakeland

MULBERRY
Mulberry Middle School
500 S.E. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave, Mulberry

POINCIANA
Lake Marion Creek Middle School
3055 Lake Marion Creek Dr, Poinciana

WINTER HAVEN
Chain of Lakes Elementary
7001 Hwy 653, Winter Haven

Winter Haven High School
600 6th St S.E., Winter Haven

Polk County offers special needs shelters for residents with medical conditions that may require extra care during emergencies. These shelters are equipped to support individuals who need electrical medical devices, oxygen, or assistance with daily activities. While they provide more care than general shelters, they are not substitutes for medical facilities, so pre-registration is recommended for those who qualify. These shelters will open at 7 a.m. on Tuesday, October 8, in preparation for Tropical Storm Milton. If transportation is an issue, Polk County Transit Services can arrange transportation to these shelters.

Important details:

* Who qualifies: Residents with physical, cognitive, or medical conditions that need extra assistance.
* What to bring: Essential medical supplies, medications, and personal care items.
* Pre-registration: Required for shelter access and transportation assistance.
For more information and to register  call (863) 298-7027

The Special Needs Shelters are:
McKeel Academy of Technology
1810 W. Parker St
Lakeland, Fl

Ridge Community High School
500 Orchid Dr
Davenport, Fl

Florida Department of Health – Polk Specialty Care Unit
1255 Brice Blvd
Bartow, Fl

Pet-Friendly Shelters

There are 3 pet-friendly shelters in Polk County. Pre-registration is highly advised. These shelters open at noon on Tuesday October 8. Only cats, dogs, and birds are allowed as pets in the shelters.

The Pet-Friendly shelters are:

Lake Region High School
1995 Thunder Rd
Eagle Lake, Fl

Haines City High School
2800 Hornet Dr
Haines City

Tenoroc High School
4905 Saddle Creek Rd
Lakeland, Fl

There are additional shelter requirements to use these shelters such as:

• Complete vaccination records for each pet
• An airline-approved carrying case where the animal brought to the shelter will stay
• Food for the pet for at least a seven-day period
• A document signed by the pet owner acknowledging the requirement that the pet will be with the owner the whole time they are in the shelter. Failure to comply with any of these items could prohibit the use of the shelter.

Staying informed during a storm is essential. Alert Polk allows officials to send out information quickly and efficiently.
Register for Alert Polk

Citizen’s Information Line – (863) 298-7500 or toll-free (866) 661-0228.

NOAA Weather Radio Frequencies for Polk: 162.500 and 162.550 MHz

Sandbag Sites Will Be Open 8 a.m. to Noon on Tuesday

Auburndale 
1701 Holt Road,
Auburndale, Fl

Dundee 
805 Dr. Martin Luther King St. SW,
Dundee, Fl

Fort Meade 
1061 NE 9th St.,
Fort Meade, Fl

Frostproof 
350 County Road 630A,
Frostproof, Fl

Lakeland 
8970 N. Campbell Road,
Lakeland, Fl

Poinciana Park 
5109 Allegany Road,
Kissimmee 34759

Bartow
Pull up to the Fire Department and 10 bags will be handed out. Location to where the sand is located will be provided. Is about a block away and there is a shovel there or you can bring your own

Fire Department
110 E Church Street
Bartow, FL 33830

Open Oct 7 until 8 PM
Open Oct 8 from 8 AM to 8 PM

Davenport
400 Palm St
Davenport, FL

7:30 AM – Until further notice

Haines City
Haines City Public Infrastructure Department
300 N. 5th St.
Haines City, Fl

Larry Parrish Baseball Complex
2401 E. Johnson Ave
Haines City, Fl

7:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Lake Alfred
Sandbags are available at the intersection of N. Seminole Avenue and E. Pomelo Street by the Library.

Hours of operation are sunrise to sunset.

Lake Hamilton
The fill site location is located at 215 Smith Ave, Lake Hamilton.
A maximum of ten (10) sandbags will be provided to each household. Sandbags are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Open Monday Oct 7 – 8am to 5pm

Lake Wales
Stop by one of the Lake Wales Fire Departments to pick up empty sandbags. You must bring a shovel and be prepared to shovel sand into the sandbags.

600 Chalet Suzanne Rd, Lake Wales, FL 33859
2. 253 W. Central Ave, Lake Wales, FL 33853.

Head to the sandpile at First Street and Tillman Avenue.

Hours of operation not provided

Frostproof
Stop by the Frostproof Fire Department for the self fill location. You must bring a shovel and be prepared to shovel sand into the sandbags.

47 N. Lake Reedy Blvd., Frostproof, FL,

The sand and sandbags will be available 24 hours per day. After 5:00 pm bags are left on the honor.

Winter Haven
Rueben Williams Sports
Complex
1751 7th St NE
Winter Haven, FL 33881

This is a self-serve station. Residents are encouraged to bring your own shovels.
The City provides the bags and sand.

Oct 7 open until dusk
Oct 8 open 7:00 am to dusk

Shelters are opened as they are needed. Please confirm the shelter is open before heading over to it. As a reminder weapons and alcohol are prohibited in Public Shelters. You can search which shelter is closest to you using this map

Burnett Middle School
1010 N Kingsway Rd
Seffner, FL 33584

Durant High
4748 Cougar Path
Plant City, FL 33567

Erwin Technical College
2010 E Hillsborough Ave
Tampa, FL 33610

Middleton High School
4801 N 22nd St
Tampa, FL 33610

Pizzo Elementary School
11701 USF Bull Run Dr.
Tampa, FL 33617

Shields Middle School
15732 Beth Shields Way
Ruskin, FL 33573

Sickles High School
7950 Gunn Hwy
Tampa, FL 33626

Sumner High School
10650 Co. Rd. 672
Riverview, FL

Strawberry Crest High School
4691 Gallagher Rd.
Dover, FL 33527

Hillsborough County provides a shelter program for those who require special medical-related care. Special needs shelters are for those who need more skilled medical care than available in a public shelter but not enough to be hospitalized. Contact the Hillsborough County Special Needs Shelter Registration Line at 813-307-8063 for registration into this program or complete the online registration form HERE

The Special Needs Shelters are:

Erwin Technical College
2010 E Hillsborough Ave
Tampa, FL 33610

Sumner High School
10650 Co. Rd. 672
Riverview, FL

Strawberry Crest High School
4691 Gallagher Rd.
Dover, FL 33527

Pet-Friendly Shelters

There are the open pet-friendly shelters in Hillsborough County.

Burnett Middle School
1010 N Kingsway Rd
Seffner, FL 33584

Durant High
4748 Cougar Path
Plant City, FL 33567

Erwin Technical College
2010 E Hillsborough Ave
Tampa, FL 33610

Middleton High School
4801 N 22nd St
Tampa, FL 33610

Shields Middle School
15732 Beth Shields Way
Ruskin, FL 33573

Sickles High School
7950 Gunn Hwy
Tampa, FL 33626

Sumner High School
10650 Co. Rd. 672
Riverview, FL

Strawberry Crest High School
4691 Gallagher Rd.
Dover, FL 33527

There are additional shelter requirements to use these shelters. Failure to comply with any of these items could prohibit the use of the shelter.

1. Proof of current rabies vaccination and license for dogs and cats
2. Pet must be on a leash or in a carrier
3. A crate that is large enough for your pet to stand up and turn around. Cats need a crate large enough to contain litter and food/water
4. Bring all pet supplies including a crate, food, water, litter, treats, cleaning supplies, medicines, etc.
5. You are responsible for the care of your pet while in the shelter

Staying informed during a storm is essential. HCFL Alert allows officials to send out information quickly and efficiently.
Register for HCFL Alert

To receive messages by email, phone, and text, go HERE . Residents without digital access are encouraged to call (833) HC STORM or (833) 427-8676, the County’s storm information and help line, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.