Hurricane Milton: Polk County updates & information

By FOX 13 News Staff
Updated  October 6, 2024 9:09pm EDT
FOX 13 News
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LAKELAND, Fla. - As Hurricane Milton works its way toward Florida, here's what people in Polk County need to know.

Polk County Evacuations:

No evacuations have been ordered.

Polk County Closings:

There are no closings at this time.

Polk County Shelters:

Polk County will open shelters on Tuesday, Oct. 8 at noon: 

  • Auburndale High School, 1 Bloodhound Trail, Auburndale
  • Spessard Holland Elementary School, 2432 E.F. Griffin Road, Bartow
  • Citrus Ridge Academy, 1775 Sand Mine Road, Davenport
  • Horizons Elementary School, 1700 Forest Lake Dr., Davenport
  • George Jenkins High School, 6000 Lakeland Highlands Road, Lakeland
  • Highlands Grove Elementary, 4510 Lakeland Highlands Road, Lakeland
  • Kathleen High School, 1100 Red Devil Way, Lakeland
  • R. Bruce Wagner Elementary School, 5500 Yates Road, Lakeland
  • Sleepy Hill Elementary School, 2285 Sleepy Hill Road, Lakeland
  • Mulberry Middle School, 500 S.E. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., Mulberry
  • Lake Marion Creek Middle School, 3055 Lake Marion Creek Dr., Poinciana
  • Chain of Lakes Elementary School, 7001 Hwy. 653, Winter Haven
  • Winter Haven High School, 600 6th St. S.E., Winter Haven

Three pet-friendly shelters will also open at noon on Tuesday, Oct. 8. They are located at:

  • Haines City High School, 2800 Hornet Dr., Haines City
  • Lake Region High School, 1995 Thunder Road, Eagle Lake
  • Tenoroc High School, 4905 Saddle Creek Road, Lakeland.

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

Special Needs shelters will also open at 7 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 8, for those residents with special and/or medical needs. Special needs shelters are temporary emergency facilities capable of providing care to residents whose medical condition(s) may require the use of electrical equipment, oxygen or 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.

The Special Needs shelters are located at:

  • FDOH Polk Specialty Care Unit, 1255 Brice Blvd., Bartow
  • Ridge Community High School, 500 W. Orchid Dr., Davenport
  • McKeel Academy, 1810 W. Parker St., Lakeland

Polk County Sandbags:

Polk County will have sandbags available on Monday, Oct. 7, from 8 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. at the following locations: 

  • Mulberry/South Lakeland – Parque Loyce E. Harpe, 500 W. Carter Road, Mulberry
  • Lakeland – 8970 N. Campbell Road, Lakeland
  • Fort Meade – 1061 NE 9th St., Fort Meade
  • Frost Proof: 350 County Road 630A, Frostproof
  • Auburndale – 1701 Holt Road, Auburndale
  • Dundee – 805 Dr. Martin Luther King St. SW, Dundee
  • Poinciana Park – 5109 Allegheny Road, Kissimmee 34759

A maximum of 10 bags of sand will be provided to each home.

Winter Haven

The city will open a sandbag fill station from 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 7. It will be open on Tuesday, Oct. 8 from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. weather permitting. 

  • Rueben Williams Sports Complex (Previously Lake Maude Recreation Park) at 1751 7th St NE, Winter Haven, FL 33881

This is a self-serve station, and residents are encouraged to bring their own shovels. The city will provide bags and sand. The limit is 10 bags per Winter Haven resident. Residency is verified by a Winter Haven address on an I.D. such as a driver's license. 

Polk County Schools:

Polk County Schools announced that Monday’s after-school programs and sports are canceled or will be rescheduled. All PCPS schools and offices will be closed on Tuesday, Oct. 8, Wednesday, Oct. 9, and Thursday, Oct. 10. 

Polk County More Information:

Click here for more information from Polk County Emergency Management.

County-by-County

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