Polk County shelters and emergency information
By Times Staff Writer
Published May 29, 2005
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 informationResident 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 numbersPolk 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 policyIt 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 programThe 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.