Part of preparing for a hurricane is knowing who to call in an emergency.
Polk County residents are being warned that hurricane activity could be higher than normal, and to start putting together their emergency kits well before the height of the season in mid-August.
The Ledger has compiled this list of emergency contacts across Polk County, from county services and individual cities’ contacts, to the first line of emergency aid.
Take the local phone numbers, type them in and save them as contacts in your phone. Print out the list and put it with your bug-out bag, so you can use them on a land line if cellphone service is down or your phone has lost its charge.
For those technologically inclined, bookmark it. That way, one less step in searching for the information when internet service may be slow.
Polk County
Citizen’s Information Line: 863-298-7500, or 866-661-0228 toll free
Animal Services: 863-577-1762, or 1-888-275-8941 toll free
Medical Essential Program: 863-834-1555
Sheriff’s Office: 863-298-6200, or 800-226-0344 toll-free
Solid Waste: 863-284-4319
Special Needs Program: 863-298-7027
Utilities Customer Service Line: 863-298-4100, or 800-301-6039 toll-free
City Municipal Contacts
Auburndale
Emergency Operations: 863-965-5530
Police Department (non-emergency line): 863-965-5555
Fire Department (non-emergency line): 863-965-5522
Bartow
Police Department, non-emergency: 863-534-5034
Public Works: 863-534-0100
Solid Waste: 863-534-0181
Davenport
Police Department (non-emergency): 863-419-3306
Fire Department (Non-emergency) 863-419-3305
Fort Meade
Haines City
Fire Department (non-emergency): 863-421-3611
Police Department (non-emergency): 863-421-3636
Public Works: 863-421-3777
Lake Alfred
Lake Alfred City Administration: 863-291-5270
Police Department (non-emergency): 863-291-5200
Fire Department (non-emergency): 863-291-5202
Public Works/Utilities: 863-298-5458
Lake Wales
Police Department (non-emergency): 863-678-4223
Fire Department (non-emergency: 863-678-4203
Lakeland
Police Department (non-emergency): 863-834-6900
Fire Department (non-emergency): 863-834-8200
Tree and Lawn Debris removal: 863-834-8773
Winter Haven
Citizen’s Information Line: 863-503-3058 for recorded message with important storm-related information
Text “hello” to 877-522-7594 and click on the link for emergency alerts via text
Public Safety (non-emergency): 863-291-5858
2025 Hurricane Season: Polk County residents can sign up for these local alerts before storms
Power Companies
Lakeland Electric
Before hurricane season:
Sign up for Outage Notification Alerts: Text “REG” to 21592 to register
Call Customer Service at 863-834-9535 to update your phone number if it has recently changed
Once a storm hits your area:
Automated Outage Reporting: 866-834-4248 or text “OUT” to 21592
Fallen power lines/water outages: 866-834-4248(If a downed power line is arching and sparking, call 911)
Customer service call center: 863-834-9535
TDD (Hearing Impaired number): 863-834-8333
Text 21592 with “HELP” for list of available keywords to register and get updates
Duke Energy
To report a power outage:
Register for text updates of outage alerts and service restoration, text “REG” to 57801
Florida Public Utilities
Emergency response (Gas): 800-427-7712
TECO
To report power outages from Tampa Electric Company:
Emergency Assistance
American Red Cross: 800-RED-CROSS (733-2767), 24/7
American Red Cross (Polk County Main Office): 863-294-5941
Crisis Cleanup Hotline: 844-965-1386
Disaster Distress Hotline (emotional support): 800-985-5990 or text “TalkWithUs” to 66746
FEMA Helpline: 800-621-3362
Hurricane Help Line: 800-227-8676, or for hearing-impaired 1-800-640-0886
United Way of Central Florida: Call 211, text your zip code to 898-211, or email uw211help@gmail.com.
Know of a valuable emergency contact or local resource not listed here? Contact swalsh@theledger.com.
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: 2025 Hurricane Season: Polk County emergency contacts to keep handy