POLK COUNTY, Fla. – The Visit Central Florida Welcome Center in Davenport is launching its annual Hurricane Preparedness Week from May 25 through June 1 to help residents and visitors get ready for the upcoming storm season. The free event will run daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the center, located at 101 Adventure Court, just south of Interstate 4.
Attendees can pick up a free hurricane preparedness bag, limited to one per family, packed with resources. The bags include local travel guides, disaster supply checklists, a flashlight, a hand fan, snacks, and a 2026 Polk County Shelter Map.
The bags also feature QR codes linking to the Florida Special Needs Registry, Polk County Emergency Management, and the Florida Hurricane Guide.
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This year’s event features a lineup of local weather and emergency experts who will speak at 1 p.m. on select days to share insights and answer public questions:
- Monday, May 25: Tina Sweeten, Executive Director of the American Red Cross Mid-Florida Chapter. Representatives from the Red Cross will also be on-site earlier that day from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Wednesday, May 27: Jeff Berardelli, Chief Meteorologist and Climate Specialist for WFLA, WTTA, and WSNN.
- Friday, May 29: Joshua Odom, Emergency Management Planner for Polk County Emergency Management.
The newly updated 2026 shelter map, printed in green this year, details 48 shelters across the county. This includes three designated pet-friendly shelters for dogs, cats, and birds, which require visitors to meet specific guidelines.
The list also includes three special-needs shelters for individuals requiring medical or physical assistance. Officials highly recommend pre-registering for special needs sheltering by calling Polk County Emergency Management at (863) 298-7027.
For those who cannot attend the week-long event, the 2026 shelter maps will remain available at the welcome center daily after June 1. Through a partnership between Polk County Tourism and Sports Marketing, emergency officials, and Publix Supermarkets, the maps are also available at local Publix locations, area lodging facilities, and chambers of commerce.
The welcome center operates seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., offering vacation planning resources and discounted attraction tickets alongside its community events. Residents looking for additional information on local emergency planning can visit www.polk-county.net/em or call the center directly at (863) 420-2586.
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