Living in Central Florida means hurricane season is part of the deal. The good news: Polk County and the City of Davenport have real resources, and a prepared neighborhood weathers storms well. Here's everything organized — set it up on a sunny day, not when a cone is on the map.
Always follow official guidance — links below go to the official sources
Live from the U.S. National Weather Service for the Charles Cove area. Any active watches or warnings for Polk County appear here automatically.
Five things to set up early — they take an afternoon, total.
Polk County's emergency notification system sends severe-weather alerts, evacuation notices, and boil-water orders straight to your phone and email. Register for AlertPolk — it's free, and it's the single highest-value five minutes on this page.
Water, non-perishables, medications, flashlights, batteries, a battery bank for phones, and cash. The Florida Division of Emergency Management publishes a full checklist — aim for several days of self-sufficiency.
If anyone in your home depends on electricity for medical equipment, oxygen, or needs assistance evacuating, pre-register with the Florida Special Needs Registry or call Polk County's Special Needs Program at (863) 298-7027. If you need a ride to a shelter, the county arranges transport.
Walk the house with your phone camera — every room, the exterior, the roof line. Store photos in the cloud, confirm your policy details and hurricane deductible, and keep your insurer's claims number where you can find it without power.
Polk County operates general, special-needs, and pet-friendly shelters. Bookmark the county's Find a Shelter page now — and remember shelters only open when announced.
| Need | Who | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Life-threatening emergency | Police / Fire / Medical | 911 |
| Storm info during emergencies | Polk County Citizens Information Line | (863) 401-2234 |
| Emergency management (general) | Polk County Emergency Management | (863) 298-7000 |
| Special needs program | Polk County Emergency Management | (863) 298-7027 |
| Power outages | Duke Energy | Outage map |
| City services & debris | City of Davenport | (863) 419-3300 |
When something affects Charles Cove — closures, debris pickup, reopenings — we post it on the News page and send it to the neighborhood list.
