Tropical Storm and Hurricane Resources
Bright House Networks has built a strong, state-of-the-art network system that makes it highly reliable and durable. Bright House Networks has constructed a digital and fiber optic network in its nine county service area that represents the best the industry has to offer today.
Besides serving as a strong foundation on which to offer customers the latest communications and broadband technology, the company's network infrastructure is built to survive Florida's hurricane season and other threats from nature. To do that, the network has redundant systems and battery backup so service will not be interrupted.
Below are some additional helpful storm resources. Please note that the following information is subject to change at any time.
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Additional Storm Preparation Resources
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American Red Cross
National: (866) 438-4636, TDD: (800) 526-1417
Brevard County: (321) 723-7141
Flagler County: (386) 226-1400
Lake County: (352) 314-0883
Marion County: (352) 622-3457
Orange County: (407) 894-4141
Osceola County: (407) 894-4141
Polk County: (863) 294-5941
Seminole County: (407) 894-4141
Sumter County: (352) 314-0883
Volusia County: (386) 226-1400
Red Cross of Central Florida General Information:
Mailing Address: P. O. Box 536726, Orlando, FL 32853
Phone Number: (407) 894-4141
Building Permits and Repairs
Customers with a damaged electrical service will require repairs by a licensed electrical contractor and the permit is also free. Upon the final electrical inspection, the power company will restore the electrical service to the residence.
Orange County Building Department: (407) 836-5541
For Suspicion of Fraud within Orange County, please call the Consumer Fraud Unit at: (407) 836-2490 or the Better Business Bureau at: (407) 621-3300
For all other counties, please contact the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation at: (850) 487-1395
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Carbon Monoxide Warning
NEVER use a camping stove, lantern, generator, or charcoal grill in enclosed or partially enclosed spaces.
Locate the unit outdoors and away from doors, windows, and vents that could allow Carbon Monoxide to come indoors.
Install battery-operated Carbon Monoxide alarms or plug-in Carbon Monoxide alarms with battery back-up in your home, according to the manufacturer’s installation instructions.
Test your Carbon Monoxide alarms frequently and replace dead batteries.
If you start to feel sick, dizzy, or weak while using one of the above items, get to fresh air RIGHT AWAY. DO NOT DELAY. Carbon Monoxide can rapidly lead to full incapacitation and death.
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County Help Lines
Brevard County: (321) 637-4070
Flagler County: (386) 437-8202
Lake County: (352) 343-9732
Marion County: (352) 369-6807
Orange County: (407) 836-3111
Osceola County: (407) 343-4111
Seminole County: (407) 665-2650
Sumter County: (352) 793-5346
Volusia County: (866) 345-0345
Damage Assessment
For Orange County Only: Orange County will deploy Damage Assessment Teams to evaluate residential properties impacted by a storm. If you have any questions about the damage assessment of your home, please call the Orange County Building Division at (407) 836-5581.
All other counties, call (866) 438-4636
Report property damage to your agent or insurance company. If unable to reach your agent call the Florida Department of Financial Services at (800) 22-STORM.
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Disabilities
Contact your health provider; or call the county special needs number:
Orange County: 211 or (407) 836-7870
Osceola County: (407) 343-6942
Seminole County: (407) 665-8001
Lake County: (866) 438-4636
Brevard County: (321)637-6670
Volusia County: (386) 254-1500
Marion County: (352) 622-3205
Flagler County: (386) 437-8202
Sumter County: (352) 569-6000
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DonationsTo make financial donations, please call (866) GET-INFO or (800) HELP-NOW.
You can also make a secure donation online by using the online donation form at: https://american.redcross.org.
Mailed donations can be sent to:
American Red Cross of Central Florida
Disaster Relief Fund
PO Box 536726
Orlando, FL 32853-6726
The State of Florida has established a hot line for donated goods, services and money. Please call (800) 354-3571 (available until further notice).
For the Progress Energy Match program:
- By Check - Make your check to the order of American Red Cross of Central Florida and write "Progress Energy" on the memo line. Send it to P.O. Box 536726, Orlando, FL 32853
- By Credit Card online - go to centralflorida.redcross.org and click on the Donate link. Select "Donation/American Red Cross of Central Florida" and write "Progress Energy" on the comments field
- By credit Card by phone: Call (800) HELP-NOW
To make food donations:
- Salvation Army: (407) 423-8581
- Second Harvest Food Bank: (407) 295-1066; 2008 Brengle Avenue
- Christian Service Center: (407) 425-2523
For the following donations, The Red Cross does not currently accept these types of donations. However, the agencies that do are listed below.
To make furniture and appliances donations:
- Mustard Seed: (407) 875-2040
To make clothing donations:
- Christian Service Center: (407) 425-2523
- Goodwill Industries: (407) 857-0659
To make pet food donations:
- SPCA (Orange County): (407) 351-7722
- SPCA (Seminole County): (407) 323-8685
To make baby food donations:
- BETA: (407) 277-1942 and/or (407) 277-1943; 4680 Lake Underhill Road, Orlando, FL 32807
To make cleaning supplies and paper products donations:
- Salvation Army: (407) 423-8581
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Elderly Assistance
Seniors needing assistance in recovery or have had medications lost should call 211 or (800) 963-5337.
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Emergency Management By County
Brevard County – (321) 633-1770
Flagler County – (386) 437-8202
Lake County – (352) 343-9420
Marion County – (352) 622-3205
Orange County – (407) 836-7870
Osceola County – (407) 343-6942
Polk County – (863) 519-7300
Seminole County – (407) 322-4795
Sumter County – (352) 569-6000
Volusia County – (386) 254-1500
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Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
The Florida Division of Emergency Management can be contacted at (800) 342-3557 or (800) 621-3362 as well as their website at www.floridadisaster.org. Speech or hearing impaired may call (TTY) (800) 462-7585.
For use ONLY by people in designated federal disaster areas. For complete info http://www.fema.gov/about/process.
Be prepared to:
- Give the street address of your damaged property
- Your current mailing address and a telephone number where you can be reached in the event you have been forced to relocate
- Your Social Security Number
- Your household’s approximate gross income at the time of the flood or, if you are reporting business damages, the gross income of the business
- Information on the type of insurance coverage you have, particularly flood insurance
You can then make an optional visit to a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Disaster Recovery Center to receive more information after you have registered by phone. There you will find local, state, federal, and voluntary agencies that may be able to assist you.
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Please contact 211 or (407) 839-4357 (Orange County).
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Generators
As you run your generator, keep in mind many fuel stations could also be without fuel and power. A good practice to conserve fuel is to run your generator for four hours and turn it off for four hours.
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Hotel Availability
Hotel availability Hot Line: (407) 354-5555
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Government Hotlines
Orange County Citizens Citizens Information Lines: (407) 836-3111
Florida Emergency Information Hotline: (800) 342-3557
Osceola County General Information Government hot lines: (407) 343-6942
Flagler County Citizens Information Center: (386) 437-8202
Brevard County Citizens Hotline: (321) 637-4070
Seminole County Information Line: (407) 665-6600 or (407) 665-2650
Volusia County Citizens Information Center: (866) 345-0345
City of Titusville Citizens Information lines: (321) 264-4024
Marion County Citizens Information: (352) 369-6708
Bethune Cookman College Student Government hot lines: (800) 781-9104 and (800) 781-1968
Daytona Beach Citizens Hot Line: (877) 843-3737
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Insurance Company Numbers
Allstate Floridian: (800) 547-8676
American Strategic: (866) 274-5677
American Superior: (888) 472-0211
Citizens: (866) 411-2742
Clarendon National: (800) 216-3711
Clarendon Select: (800) 509-1592
First Floridian Auto & Home: (800) 252-4633
Florida Family: (888) 486-4663
Florida Select: (888) 700-0101
Hartford of the Midwest: (800) 637-5410
Liberty Mutual Fire: (800) 225-2467
Nationwide: (800) 421-3535
Prudential Property & Casualty: (800) 437-3535
Regency: (800) 216-3711
Southern Family: (800) 673-4952
State Farm Florida: (800) 732-5246
Universal Property & Casualty: (800) 425-9113
United States Automobile Association: (800) 531-8222
Vanguard Fire & Casualty: (888) 343-5585
Regency (Tower Hill) (800) 216-3711
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Medical Emergencies and Needs If you have a medical, fire, or traffic emergency, call 911. All other inquiries dial 211.
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Military Calls
Between the hours of 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., please call (407) 447-7240. After 4:30 p.m, please call (407) 231-5131. This is a pager number. To receive a call back from an AFES caseworker, enter the telephone number where you are calling from and then press #.
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Animals in Shelters - The Red Cross does permit an individual with a disability the use of a service animal in its disaster or evacuation shelters. Service animals are defined as guide dogs, signal dogs, or any other animal individually trained to provide assistance to an individual with a disability. Service animals are the only types of animals permitted in Red Cross shelters, except for those indicated as "pet friendly" due to special arrangements the shelter has made to house the animals.
For more information, check out the Pet Safety Section of the American Red Cross' website: http://www.redcross.org/services/disaster/beprepared/animalsafety.html
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Police Non-Emergency Numbers
Altamonte Springs: (407) 339-2441
Apopka: (407) 703-1771
Belle Isle: (407) 851-7730
Casselberry: (407) 262-7606
Clermont: (352) 394-5588
Eatonville: (407) 623-1303
Edgewood: (407) 851-2920
Kissimmee: (407) 846-3333
Lake Buena Vista: (407) 828-2241
Lake Mary: (407) 585-1330
Longwood: (407) 260-3400
Maitland: (407) 539-6262
Mascotte: (352) 429-3111
Minneola: (352) 394-6198
Montverde: (407) 469-2681
City of Oakland: (407) 656-3636
Town of Oakland: (407) 656-9797
Ocoee: (407) 905-3160
Orlando: (321) 235-5300
Oviedo: (407) 977-6146
St. Cloud: (407) 892-2114
Sanford: (407) 323-3030
Winter Garden: (407) 656-3636
Winter Park: (407) 644-1313
Winter Springs: (407) 327-1000
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Contact your electric company to ask for more information:
Progress Energy – (800) 228-8485
Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC) – (407) 823-9150
Orange County Utilities (OUC) – Water Division – (407) 836-6800 or (407) 836-2777
Florida Power and Light (FPL) – (800) 468-8243
Kissimmee Utility Authority (KUA) – (407) 933-7777
TECO Energy – (800) 223-0800
Winter Park Utilities – (407) 599-3220
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To report suspected cases of price gouging, please call (800) 352-4357 or (800) 646-4444. You can also call Orange County Consumer Fraud Office at 407-836-2490 for questions and assistance.
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Traffic Signals
Please remember to treat non-working traffic signals as four-way stops.
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Wastewater
In the event of a hurricane, high winds do not permit utility employees to safely deploy generator backup power during these times. Orange and Seminole county residents are strongly encouraged to minimize water usage to sanitary use only.
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Water Boiling Instructions
Most water is safe for bathing, laundering and other non-consumptive uses. If your county, city, or development has been issued a boil water alert, please follow these instructions:
Filter the water using a piece of cloth or coffee filter to remove solid particles.
Bring it to a rolling boil for about one full minute.
Let it cool at least 30 minutes. Water must be cool or the chlorine treatment described below will be useless.
Add 16 drops of liquid chlorine bleach per gallon of water, or 8 drops per 2-liter bottle of water. Stir to mix. Sodium hypochlorite of the concentration of 5.25% to 6% should be the only active ingredient in the bleach. There should not be any added soap or fragrances. A major bleach manufacturer has also added Sodium Hydroxide as an active ingredient, which they state does not pose a health risk for water treatment.
Let stand 30 minutes.
If it smells of chlorine, you can use it. If it does not smell of chlorine, add 16 more drops of chlorine bleach per gallon of water (or 8 drops per 2-liter bottle of water), let stand 30 minutes, and smell it again. If it smells of chlorine, you can use it. If it does not smell of chlorine, discard it and find another source of water.
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