Weather

Polk County

Polk County shelters and emergency information

By Times Staff Writer
Published May 29, 2005

---

	Click here for a printable Polk County evacuation zone map with current information about shelters. You will need the free Acrobat Reader from Adobe for viewing.
	Hurricane Tracking Map. Click for printable PDF *You will need the free Acrobat Reader from Adobe for viewing.

Polk County Emergency Management (863) 519-7300

2. Caldwell Elementary School, 141 Dairy Road, Auburndale

3. Stambaugh Middle School, 226 N Main St., Auburndale

4. * Polk Public Health Department Specialty Care, 5 Brice Road, Bartow

5. Bartow Middle School, 550 E Clower St., Bartow

6. Bartow High School, 1270 S Broadway, Bartow

7. James Stephens Elementary School, 1350 N Maple Ave., Bartow

8. Davenport Elementary School, 8 Palmetto St., Davenport

9. Ridgeview Global Studies School, 1000 Dunson Road, Davenport

10. Lake Region High School, 1995 Thunder Road, Eagle Lake

11. Fort Meade Junior/Senior High School, 700 Edgewood Drive, Fort Meade

12. Lewis Elementary School, 115 S Oak Ave., Fort Meade

13. Frostproof Elementary School, 118 W Third St., Frostproof

14. Frostproof Junior/Senior High School, 1000 N Palm Ave., Frostproof

15. Alta Vista Elementary School, 801 Scenic Highway, Haines City

16. Boone Middle School, 225 S 22nd St., Haines City

17. Eastside Elementary School, 1820 E Johnson Ave., Haines City

18. * Haines City Adult Day Care Center, 751 Scenic Highway (SR 544), Haines City

19. Haines City High School, 2800 Hornet Drive, Haines City

20. Sandhill Elementary School, 1801 Tyner Road, Haines City

21. Blake Elementary School, 510 Hartsell Ave., Lakeland

22. Churchwell Elementary School, 8201 Park Byrd Road, Lakeland

23. Crystal Lake Middle School, 2410 N Crystal Lake Drive, Lakeland

24. George Jenkins High School, 6000 Lakeland Highlands Road, Lakeland

25. Kathleen High School, 2600 Crutchfield Road, Lakeland

26. Kathleen Middle School, 3627 Kathleen Pines, Lakeland

27. Lake Gibson High School, 7007 N Socrum Loop Road, Lakeland

28. Lake Gibson Middle School, 6901 N Socrum Loop Road, Lakeland

29. * Lakeland Adult Day Care Center, 1200 Southern Ave., Lakeland

30. Lakeland High School, 726 S Hollingsworth Road, Lakeland

31. Lakeland Highlands Middle School, 740 Lake Miriam Drive, Lakeland

32. Lime Street Elementary School, 1225 E Lime St., Lakeland

33. Padgett Elementary School, 110 Leelon Road, Lakeland

34. Dr. N.E. Roberts Elementary School, 6600 Green Road, Lakeland

35. Rochelle School of the Arts, 1501 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., Lakeland

36. Scott Lake Elementary School, 1140 E County Road 540 A, Lakeland

37. Seth McKeel Academy, 1810 W Parker St., Lakeland

38. Southwest Middle School, 2815 S Eden Parkway, Lakeland

39. R. Bruce Wagner Elementary School, 5500 Yates Road, Lakeland

40. Lake Alfred Elementary School, 550 E Cummings St., Lake Alfred

41. Lake Wales High School, 1009 N Sixth St., Lake Wales

42. McLaughlin Middle School, 800 S Fourth St., Lake Wales

43. Roosevelt Academy of Leadership and Applied Technology, 115 E St., Lake Wales

44. Mulberry High School, 1 Panther Place, Mulberry

45. Mulberry Middle School, 500 SE Ninth Ave., Mulberry

46. Polk City Elementary School, 125 S Bougainvillea Ave., Polk City

47. Denison Middle School, 400 Ave. A SE, Winter Haven

48. Jewett Academy, 601 Ave. T NE, Winter Haven

49. Westwood Middle School, 3520 Ave. J NW, Winter Haven

50. Winter Haven High School, 600 Sixth St. SE, Winter Haven

* Special care shelters

Emergency information

Resident information line (available only during emergency activation) (863) 534-0321

Radio: WONN-1230 AM, WPCV-97.5 FM, 1610 AM for travelers, WAUC-1310 AM in Spanish

Television: Consult listings for local television stations

Weather: Weather Channel, local TV stations, Lakeland Ledger LiNC (863) 291-4444 (weather update code 1200; tropical weather update code 1210)

National Weather Service in Ruskin (863) 645-2323

Important phone numbers

Polk County communications center (863) 534-0360

American Red Cross (863) 294-5941

Polk County Animal Services (863) 499-2600

United Way Information Referral Service toll-free 1-800-881UWAY

Federal Emergency Management Agency toll-free 1-800-621-FEMA

Salvation Army: East (863) 291-5107; West (863) 682-8179

Polk County Neighborhood Services (863) 534-5915

Polk County evacuation policy

It is the policy of the Polk County Emergency Management Division to recommend in-place shelter as the primary option during a disaster. For those unable to remain in place, especially those in mobile homes, the remaining choices should be considered in order of preference. Whichever of the following options is selected, it is advised that a 72-hour survival kit be assembled and ready, a course of action be planned and that the plans be executed as soon as practicable before the disaster hits. The recommended options are:

1) In-place shelter. Plan to remain in residence during the emergency if possible.

2) Evacuate to a friend's or relative's residence. If forced to evacuate, it is less traumatic for all concerned to be sheltered with familiar people in more comfortable surroundings.

3) Evacuate the area. Other people leaving this area or areas in the projected path of the storm also will be on the road. Leave at least 48-72 hours before the storm is expected to strike.

4) Evacuate to a hotel or motel. Make arrangements early as rooms will fill quickly with other evacuees.

5) Evacuate to a public shelter. Confirm your shelter of choice is open before proceeding to that location or select another open shelter.

Special care program

The Polk County Special Care Program is designed to provide sheltering at specific locations for clients with medical or physical conditions who require assistance during an emergency. The program also provides transportation to shelters for those unable to evacuate on their own. A large number of people in the program need electrical power for their medical support equipment. They are assigned to these specially designed shelters because emergency generator power is available: Polk County Public Health Department Specialty Care Units (No. 4 on the map), Haines City Adult Day Care (No. 18) and Lakeland Adult Day Care (No. 29) are special care shelters only.

[Last modified May 24, 2005, 10:55:08]