Polk County Board of County Commissioners

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Emergency Home

Welcome to the Polk County Emergency Home Page

***AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE ABOUT HURRICANE DEBRIS***

Please DO NOT call to report that you have debris to be picked up. Calling to report your debris does not put you on a list for collection.

Hurricane debris collection trucks are moving through the county, neighborhood by neighborhood. Everyone's debris will be picked up. See below for more information regarding hurricane debris collection.

Debris Collection
If debris has been mixed into a single pile, the truck may not pick it up. Keep your debris pile separate from your household garbage and recycling and away from obstacles that make it difficult for the claw trucks to operate…power lines, mailboxes, trees, parked cars, etc.

 

all hurricane waste must be separated for pick up

Polk County must adhere to FEMA guidelines for collecting hurricane debris.


If you have been impacted by a hurricane and need Red Cross assistance call 800, Red Cross.

Polk County Parks/Natural Lands Status

Polk County’s Park System sustained damage in the storm.  Parks staff has been evaluating, cleaning and repairing parks since the storm. We anticipate a large portion of the system to be open on Monday but there will be some parks or individual amenities inside parks that will be closed to the public.  

Closures/Parks Effected:
• Mosaic Peace River Park
• Homeland Canoe Launch
• Homeland Heritage Park – partially open
• Bone Valley ATV Park
• Lake Arbuckle Park and Campground 
• Lake Garfield Boat Ramp
• Lake Cannon Park 
• Mulberry Park
• Lake Roy
• Strickland Pit
• Loyce Harpe Park – partially open
o Will be closed sunrise to 6:00 p.m. daily for debris collection.  Will be open to league activity after 6:00 p.m.
• Simmers/Young Park 
o Old Section – Closed for a Debris Removal Site.
• Highland City Park 
• Walker Road – partially open
• Highway 60 Peace River Canoe Launch
• Lake Jesse
• Fort Meade Park
• Snively Brooks Park
• Lake Blue Park – partially open
• Poinciana Park – partially open
• NERP – Park is open, but walkway on south side of park closed.
• Wahneta – partially open
• Aldine Combee Park – partially open
• Fuller Heights
• Lake Hancock Boat Ramp
• Walk-in-Water

Natural Lands:  Most natural lands parks will be closed to the public for the foreseeable future.  Flooding and downed trees make them inaccessible. Open areas include:

• Hickory Lake Scrub
• Crooked Lake Prairie
• Crooked Lake Sandhill
• Sherwood L. Stokes Preserve
• SUMICA
• Lakeland Highlands Scrub
• Gator Creek Reserve

  • Circle B Bar Reserve and Marshall Hampton Reserve are also now open.
Polk County's Disaster Recovery

Polk's Disaster Recovery Center now Open to Assist Residents

Polk County’s Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) is open and ready to provide assistance with FEMA applicant services, SBA, Housing, Department of Children and Family, and Hazard Mitigation.

Hurricane Ian Debris Hotline

Hurricane Ian Debris Hotline

All Polk County residents with questions regarding hurricane debris are advised to call the Hurricane Ian Debris Hotline at (800) 375-0844. This is the only number that will be able to provide answers for all debris-related questions. 

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