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Shelters

Important Notice for Those with Special Needs Whose Power Has NOT Been Restored

Updated 9/15/17 at 12:46 PM

If you have a loved one that requires special needs and they are without power, please get them to the special needs shelter set in place the Polk County Emergency Operations Center. The Bartow Health Department Specialty Care Unit is still up and running. Please call the Polk County Health Department in Bartow at 863.298.7090, 863.298.7089 or 863.298.7088. Special Needs Shelters are in place for you and your loved ones with special needs. 

Click here to learn more about Polk County's Special Needs Shelters.

Lakeland Electric crews and mutual aid crews are working diligently to get all LE customer’s power restored. As you know, the entire state of Florida got hit pretty hard by Hurricane Irma and at the height of the storm Lakeland Electric had 80% of our customers without power.  We are now at 9% without power and that number is getting better by the hour.   

There are some very large rebuild projects going on right now and we have crews in the neighborhoods doing their very best to get power restored. In all, over 300 individuals are working 16 hours shifts to get power restored.  We can’t give you a specific date or time when power will be restored because it is such a dynamic process. 

Recent Updates

For the most updated information, please continue to monitor your local news media or call the Citizen’s Information Line at 863.401.2234 (locally) or toll-free 866.661.0228.

  • Polk County Shelter Locations

    From Polk County Emergency Management : Based on the current track and estimated time of arrival in Polk County of Hurricane Irma, the following public shelters will be open on Saturday, September 9th at 7 AM:

    Lakeland Shelters (Alpha by Shelter Name):

      • George Jenkins High School | 6000 Lakeland Highlands, Lakeland
      • Kathleen High School | 1100 Red Devil Way, Lakeland
      • Phillip O’Brien Elementary | 1255 E. Lime Street, Lakeland
        • Phillip O’Brien is also a “pet friendly” shelter. Pet owners must bring shot records for their pets, an airline-approved carrying case or crate and pet food. Please read this flyer for complete info on pet-friendly shelters
      • R. Bruce Wagner Elementary | 5500 Yates Road, Lakeland
      • Sleepy Hill Elementary | 2285 Sleepy Hill Drive, Lakeland
      • Tenoroc High School | 4905 Saddle Creek Road, Lakeland


    Other Polk County Shelter Locations (Alpha by City):     

        • Auburndale High School | 1 Bloodhound Trail, Auburndale
        • Bartow High School | 1270 S Broadway, Bartow
        • Davenport School of the Arts | 4751 N CR 547, Davenport
        • Horizons Elementary | 1700 Forest Lake Drive, Davenport
        • Lake Region High School | 1995 Thunder Road, Eagle Lake
          • LRHS is also a “pet friendly” shelter. Pet owners must bring shot records for their pets, an airline-approved carrying case or crate and pet food. Please read this flyer for complete info on pet-friendly shelters.
        • Haines City High School | 2800 Hornet Drive, Haines City
        • Spook Hill Elementary | 321 Dr. J.A. Wiltshire Avenue, E., Lake Wales
        • Mulberry Middle School | 500 Martin Luther King Avenue, Mulberry
        • Lake Marion Creek Elementary | 3055 Lake Marion Creek Road, Poinciana
        • Donald Bronson Community Center | 124 Bronson Trail, Polk City
        • Chain of Lakes Elementary | 7001 CR 653, Winter Haven

    Special Needs Shelters

    “Special Needs” Shelters will also open at 7 AM on Saturday, September 9th, for those residents with special medical needs. Polk County Emergency Management Special Needs Program is designed to provide shelter and/or transportation for residents with medical or physical conditions and/or dependent on medical electrical equipment who require assistance during an emergency.

    “Special Needs” Shelters Locations:

        • Polk County Health Department | 1255 Brice Boulevard, Bartow, FL
        • Ridge Community High School | 500 W. Orchid Drive, Davenport, FL
        • McKeel Academy | 1810 W Parker Street, Lakeland, FL

    Pet-Friendly Shelters

    The only “pet friendly” shelters that will be open on Saturday at 7 AM will be at Lake Region High School, 1995 Thunder Road, Eagle Lake and Phillip O’Brien Elementary, 1255 E. Lime Street, Lakeland.

    Pet owners must bring shot records for their pets, an airline-approved carrying case or crate and pet food.

  • Emergency Public Shelters Info

    Not all public shelters are automatically activated for each emergency. They are opened as needed and are not pre-assigned by geographic area. During an emergency please monitor Polk County Government Television, other local television and radio stations for open shelter information. Have your 72-hour survival kit ready to take with you.

    Weapons and alcoholic beverages are not allowed at any public shelter.

  • Special Needs Shelter Info

    A special needs shelter is an emergency facility capable of providing special medical or nursing care which does not necessitate an acute care hospital setting.

    Eligible persons desiring special needs sheltering should pre-register with Emergency Management by calling 863.298.7027. 

    ***Download a Special Needs Registration Form***

    A special needs shelter is a temporary emergency facility capable of providing care to residents whose medical condition may require the use of electrical equipment, oxygen, dialysis, or individuals with physical, cognitive, or medical conditions who may require assistance from medical professionals. Although special needs shelters provide more care than a general shelter, they do not provide the level of care found in a medical facility.

  • Pet-Friendly Shelter Info

    Polk County has two pet-friendly shelters that allow residents who own pets to shelter with their pets. Pre-registration is strongly suggested to ensure you have a spot at the shelter and some limitations apply.

    ONLY dogs, cats and birds and their owners will be allowed to shelter in Polk’s pet-friendly shelters.

    Download our ‘Don’t Forget Pets’ flyer for complete information including:

    • How to register
    • Pet shelter guidelines and requirements
    • What to do before the storm
    • Preparing a pet survival kit
    • Weathering the storm at home

Evacuating Your Home

It is the policy of Emergency Management 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.

Recommended options are:

  • In-Place Shelter | Plan to remain in residence during the emergency, if possible.
  • Evacuate to Friends or Relative Residence - If forced to evacuate, it is less traumatic for all concerned to be sheltered with familiar people, in more comfortable surroundings.
  • Evacuate the Area - Pther people leaving this area or areas in the projected path of the storm will also be on the road; leave at least 48-72 hours before the storm is expected to strike.
  • Evacuate to the Hotel/Motel | Make arrangements early as rooms will fill quickly with other evacuees.
  • Evacuate to a Public Shelter | Please see the Public Shelter policy. Download the Polk County Public Shelter Map here, or visit a Polk County Public Library or Publix Super Market near you.

Source: Polk County Emergency Management

Polk County Public Shelters Maps

 Download the 2017 Polk County Hurricane Shelters Map
View the Google Map

2017 Polk County Public Shelters Map

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