Okaloosa County Hurricane Routes and
Shelters
We do not automatically open all hurricane shelters during an evacuation.
Several factors determine which shelters will be open. Listen to local radio stations for
updates. The Emergency Broadcast System stations in Okaloosa County are AM 1260, FM 105.5
and FM 99.5. Listen to one of these stations during a hurricane alert for important
information.
Familiarize yourself with these directions anytime there is a tropical system in
the Gulf of Mexico or off the Atlantic coast of Florida. Compare the directions to a road
map, and trace your route to shelters or to a point outside this area. Keep your
vehicle’s fuel tank topped off, and get some extra cash from the bank. Make sure you
have enough prescription medications to last at least a week without refill.
Hotels in Alabama fill up fast during an evacuation. Leave early to beat the
traffic jams and to increase your chance of finding a hotel. Shelters do not allow pets,
but many hotels will allow small pets in the room.
NEED MAPS AND DIRECTIONS? CLICK HERE.
YOU CAN GET A DETAILED MAP FROM WHERE YOU ARE, TO WHERE YOU WANT TO GO.
SHELTERS
(Please note that this is just a convenient name for Evacuation Centers. We
cannot guarantee any particular level of safety at a shelter. They are selected because
they are outside of hurricane surge zones and are of generally sturdy construction.)
Choctawhatchee High School (on the north side of Racetrack Road in Ft. Walton
Beach. Cross-streets are Eglin Pky and Beal Pky.)
Bruner Middle School (on Holmes Ave. in Ft. Walton Beach. Cross-streets are
Eglin Pky and Wright Pky)
Addie Lewis Middle School. (On Mississippi Ave. in Valparaiso. Cross-street is
John Sims Pky. It is just outside the Eglin East Gate.)
First Baptist Church of Valparaiso. (On Hwy 190, access from Hwy 85 or Hwy 20
(John Sims Pky)
Niceville High School (On John Sims Pky/Hwy 20 in Niceville. Cross-street is Hwy
285).
Crestview High School This is the shelter you should use if you have special
medical needs. (On Ferdon Blvd – which is Hwy 85 – just north of Crestview.)
Laurel Hill School (access off of Hwy 85 north of Crestview – look for
signs when you get into Laurel Hill.)
Baker School (access off of Rte. 4 in Baker – look for signs on right side
of road when you get into Baker. If you miss the sign, turn right at the caution light in
Baker, then right again.)
Shalimar Elementary School (access off of Eglin Pky (Hwy 85) just north of
Shalimar. This is a very small shelter and should be a last resort.)
Longwood Elementary School (50 Holley Ave, Shalimar --access from Eglin Pky to
Sunset to Holley). This shelter is usually the last to open.
EVACUATION ROUTES
Leave early, and with a full tank of gas! If you are using a
shelter, take a pillow and blankets. Don’t forget your prescription
medications.
From CRYSTAL BEACH area:
Go to Miracle Strip Parkway (US 98) and turn east to go to Hwy 331 North, or
turn west to go to the Mid-Bay Bridge. Then take Hwy 331 or the Mid-Bay Bridge to Hwy 20,
which runs east/west. When you get to Hwy 20, you can turn east toward Tallahassee,
or turn west toward Niceville. If you go toward Niceville, you should turn north on Hwy
285 (to I-10) or Hwy 85 (to I-10 and Crestview) if you are trying to leave the area. If
seeking a local shelter, you should drive into Niceville and go to either the Niceville
High School or Addie Lewis Middle School in Valparaiso (if they are open). If those
shelters are closed, you can go toward Crestview to use Crestview High School, Baker
School, or Laurel Hill School (see Crestview directions below).
From DESTIN (including Holiday Isle):
Go to US 98 and turn east to go to the Mid-Bay Bridge, or west toward Ft. Walton
Beach.
If you go east to the Mid-Bay Bridge, take the bridge to Hwy 20. When you get to
Hwy 20, you can turn east toward Tallahassee, or turn west toward Niceville. If you go
toward Niceville, you should turn north on Hwy 285 (to I-10) or Hwy 85 (to I-10 and
Crestview) if you are trying to leave the area. If seeking a local shelter, you should
drive into Niceville and go to either the Niceville High School or Addie Lewis Middle
School in Valparaiso (if they are open). If those shelters are closed, you can go toward
Crestview to use Crestview High School, Baker School, or Laurel Hill School (see Crestview
directions below)..
If you go west toward Ft. Walton Beach, go across the Destin Bridge and Brooks
Bridge into Ft. Walton Beach. Follow the signs and turn north on Hwy 85 (also called Eglin
Pky.) If you are looking for a local shelter, turn west on Racetrack Road and go to
Choctawhatchee High School. If that shelter is closed or if you are leaving the area,
continue north on Eglin Pky through Shalimar. Just after leaving Shalimar, you will have
to bear off to the right toward Valparaiso/Crestview. This will take you on an overpass,
past the Armament Museum, and to a traffic light. Continue straight through the traffic
light, and get in the left lane. Look for a sign leading you to Crestview. You will have
to make a left turn, crossing the oncoming lanes. This turn will put you on a two-lane
road leading north. After a few miles, this road intersects with Hwy. 85 again. When you
get to the intersection, turn left onto the four-lane Hwy. 85 and drive north. This will
lead you to I-10, Crestview, or Alabama (see Crestview directions below).
From OKALOOSA ISLAND:
Go to US 98 and turn east toward Destin, or west toward Ft. Walton Beach.
If you go toward Destin, cross the Destin Bridge and continue east until you
reach the road toward the Mid-Bay Bridge. Take the bridge to Hwy 20. When you get to Hwy
20, you can turn east toward Tallahassee, or turn west toward Niceville. If you go toward
Niceville, you should turn north on Hwy 285 (to I-10) or Hwy 85 (to I-10 and Crestview) if
you are trying to leave the area. If seeking a local shelter, you should drive into
Niceville and go to either the Niceville High School or Addie Lewis Middle School in
Valparaiso (if they are open). If those shelters are closed, you can go toward Crestview
to use Crestview High School, Baker School, or Laurel Hill School.
If you go west toward Ft. Walton Beach, go across the Brooks Bridge into Ft.
Walton Beach. Follow the signs and turn north on Hwy 85 (also called Eglin Pky.) If you
are looking for a local shelter, turn west on Racetrack Road and go to Choctawhatchee High
School. If that shelter is closed or if you are leaving the area, continue north on Eglin
Pky through Shalimar. Just after leaving Shalimar, you will have to bear off to the right
toward Valparaiso/Crestview. This will take you on an overpass, past the Armament Museum,
and to a traffic light. Continue straight through the traffic light, and get in the left
lane. Look for a sign leading you to Crestview. You will have to make a left turn,
crossing the oncoming lanes. This turn will put you on a two-lane road (Rte 123) leading
north. After a few miles, this road intersects with Hwy 85 again. When you get to the
intersection, turn left onto the four-lane Hwy 85 and drive north. This will lead you to
I-10, Crestview, or Alabama (see Crestview directions below).
IF YOU MISS THE TURN ONTO Rte. 123, you can continue on Hwy 85 into Niceville.
Turn left onto Hwy 20 (John Sims Pky) at the traffic light. From here you can drive to
another intersection with Hwy 85 North, Hwy 285 North, or continue on Hwy 20 toward
Tallahassee. Also, the Niceville High School shelter is on Hwy 20.
From FT. WALTON BEACH:
You have two main routes to go north : Beal Pky (which becomes Lewis Turner
Blvd), or Hwy 85 (which is also called Eglin Pky). If you are in the western section of
Ft. Walton Beach, you should use Beal Pky. If you are in the eastern section, use Eglin
Pky. US 98 and Hollywood Blvd cross both routes.
If using Hwy 85/Eglin Pky, go north toward Eglin AFB. If you are looking for a
local shelter, turn west on Racetrack Road and go to Choctawhatchee High School. If that
shelter is closed or if you are leaving the area, continue north on Eglin Pky through
Shalimar. Just after leaving Shalimar, you will have to bear off to the right toward
Valparaiso/Crestview. This will take you on an overpass, past the Armament Museum, and to
a traffic light. Continue straight through the traffic light, and get in the left lane.
Look for a sign leading you to Crestview. You will have to make a left turn, crossing the
oncoming lanes. This turn will put you on a two-lane road (Rte. 123) leading north. After
a few miles, this road intersects with Hwy 85 again. When you get to the intersection,
turn left onto the four-lane Hwy 85 and drive north. This will lead you to I- 10,
Crestview, or Alabama.
If using Beal Pky, drive north and out of the city. You will come to a large
intersection with Hwy 85. Turn left onto Hwy 85 and get in the left lane. Look for a sign
leading you to Crestview. You will have to make a left turn, crossing the oncoming lanes.
This turn will put you on a two-lane road (Rte. 123) leading north. After a few miles,
this road intersects with Hwy 85 again. When you get to the intersection, turn left onto
the four-lane Hwy 85 and drive north. This will lead you to I-10, Crestview, or Alabama
(see Crestview directions below).
IF YOU MISS THE TURN ONTO Rte. 123, you can continue on Hwy 85 into Niceville.
Turn left onto Hwy 20 (John Sims Pky) at the traffic light. From here you can drive to
another intersection with Hwy 85 North, Hwy 285 North, or continue on Hwy 20 toward
Tallahassee. Also, the Niceville High School shelter is on Hwy 20.
From the MARY ESTHER/FLOROSA/WYNNEHAVEN BEACH
area:
Go east on US 98 to Mary Esther Blvd (also called Mary Esther Cutoff), turn
north and drive to Beal Pky. Turn left on Beal Pky. If traffic is too bad on Mary Esther
Blvd or if you miss the turn, you can continue east on US 98 until you reach the
intersection with Beal Pky. Drive north on Beal Pky through the built-up area. Beal Pky
will become Lewis Turner Blvd (marked as rte. 189 on maps). After you get out of the
built-up area, you’l come to a large intersection controlled by a traffic light. This
is the intersection with Hwy 85. Turn left onto Hwy 85, and stay in the left lane. Look
for a sign pointing to Crestview. Make the left turn (across oncoming lanes) toward
Crestview. This is Rte. 123. Drive north on 123 until it intersects with Hwy 85 again.
Turn left onto Hwy 85 and continue north toward I-10 and Crestview (see Crestview
directions below).
IF YOU MISS THE TURN ONTO Rte. 123, you can continue on Hwy 85 into Niceville.
Turn left onto Hwy 20 (John Sims Pky) at the traffic light. From here you can drive to
another intersection with Hwy 85 North, Hwy 285 North, or continue on Hwy 20 toward
Tallahassee. Also, the Niceville High School shelter is on Hwy 20.
From the BLUEWATER BAY area:
You can drive east on Hwy 20 toward Tallahassee, or west on Hwy 20 toward
Niceville. If you drive toward Niceville, you can seek shelter at Niceville High School or
Addie Lewis Middle School (if open). Or, you can take Hwy 285 north to I-10, or Hwy 85
north toward I-10 and Crestview (see Crestview directions below).
You can seek shelter at one of three evacuation centers in the
Niceville/Valparaiso area: Addie Lewis Middle School, First Baptist Church, or Niceville
High School (listen to EBS radio stations for availability).
From the TWIN CITIES (NICEVILLE/VALPARAISO)
area:
Take Hwy 20 (John Sims Pky) to Hwy 85 North or Hwy 285 North. Hwy 85 will take
you toward I-10 and Crestview. Hwy 285 takes you to I-10. Alternatively, you can stay on
Hwy 20 toward Tallahassee.
You can seek shelter at one of three evacuation centers in the Twin Cities area:
Addie Lewis Middle School, First Baptist Church, or Niceville High School (listen to EBS
radio stations for availability).
From CRESTVIEW:
Take Hwy 85 North toward Alabama, Hwy 90 west or east, or I-10 west or east. If
you go north on Hwy 85, you can seek shelter at Crestview High School or Laurel Hill
School (if opened). Or, you can continue north through Florala and into Alabama.
If you take Hwy 90 west, look for the sign to Baker (just past the Yellow River
Bridge). Turn right toward Baker onto Rte. 4. When you get to Baker, you can seek shelter
at the Baker School (if open), or continue north toward Alabama, or turn left at the
caution light toward Alabama.
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