Here is a link to all of WMNF’s Hurricane Milton stories
Shelters, evacuation orders, transportation, and closures in the Tampa Bay area.
Listen to Seán Kinane’s interview on WMNF Tuesday Café with FPREN meteorologist Megan Borowski here:
As of 8:00 a.m., Wednesday: Hurricane Milton is now a category 4 storm. Sustained wind speeds are 155 miles per hour with higher gusts. The storm is about 250 miles southwest of Tampa.
Milton is expected to remain an extremely dangerous major hurricane when it reaches the west-central coast of Florida tonight.
While its track continues to wobble, forecasters say just 10-20 miles north or south could make a huge difference.
The latest National Hurricane Center forecast report said the storm is heading northeast at 16 miles per hour.
Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 30 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 125 miles.
A Hurricane Warning is in effect for:
- Florida’s west coast from Bonita Beach northward to the mouth of the Suwannee River, including Tampa Bay
- Florida’s east coast from the Indian River/St. Lucie County Line northward to Ponte Vedra Beach
A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for:
- The west coast of Florida from Flamingo northward to the Suwannee River, including Charlotte Harbor and Tampa Bay
- Sebastian Inlet Florida to Altamaha Sound Georgia, including the St. Johns River
There are still a lot of variables with Hurricane Milton.
The storm continues to intensify over the Gulf’s warm, deep waters and is on a path headed toward the Tampa Bay area. The National Weather Service said if this storm impacts Tampa, it will be the worst in over a century to do so.
Transportation
Tolls are suspended across west and central Florida and Emergency Shoulder Use is activated for all those evacuating.
In addition, the Florida Division of Emergency Management has partnered with Uber to provide free rides for Floridians traveling to and from shelters in evacuating counties.
Use the promo code – Milton Relief.
TODAY is the last chance to use the free evacuation shuttle service in Manatee, Pinellas, Pasco, Hillsborough, and Sarasota Counties. Rides are available until NOON.
Call 1-800-729-3413 or visit FloridaDisaster.org and click on ‘Evacuation Assistance’ for shuttle locations.
Debris pick up
Four Hillsborough County sites will remain open until noon Wednesday to accept yard waste and mixed storm debris, weather permitting.
- Northwest County Solid Waste Facility, 8001 W. Linebaugh Ave., Tampa
- South County Solid Waste Facility, 13000 U.S. 41, Gibsonton
- Hillsborough Heights Debris Site, 6209 County Road 579, Seffner
- Resource Recovery Facility Debris Site, 350 N. Falkenburg Road, Tampa
Shelters
Visit here for a full list of shelters.
Pinellas County
All shelters are currently open. Anyone can go to a pet-friendly shelter, but only special needs residents can go to a special needs shelter.
- Largo High School, 410 Missouri Ave. N., Largo (general population & pet friendly)
- Gibbs High School, 850 34th St. S., St. Petersburg (general population & pet friendly)
- Palm Harbor University High School, 1900 Omaha St., Palm Harbor (general population & pet friendly)
- Palm Harbor University High School Bldg. 19 (special needs only)
- Dunedin Middle School, 70 Patricia Ave., Dunedin (special needs only)
- Oak Grove Middle School, 1370 S. Belcher Rd., Clearwater (special needs only)
- Lealman Innovation Academy, 4900 28th St. N., St. Petersburg (general population)
- Clearwater Fundamental Middle School, 1600 Palmetto St., Clearwater (general population)
All shelters are currently open. Things to keep in mind at the shelter: no cots, blankets, or supplies will be available and each resident will have about the same amount of room as a sleeping bag (20 sq. ft.).
- Burnett Middle School 1010 N Kingsway Rd, Seffner
- Durant High 4748 Cougar Path, Plant City
- Erwin Technical College 2010 E Hillsborough Ave, Tampa (special needs only)
- Middleton High School 4801 N 22nd St, Tampa
- Pizzo Elementary School, 11701 USF Bull Run Dr., Tampa (not pet friendly)
- (FULL) Shields Middle School, 15732 Beth Shields Way, Ruskin
- Sickles High School 7950 Gunn Hwy, Tampa
- Sumner High School, 10650 Co. Rd. 672, Riverview (special needs only)
- Strawberry Crest High School, 4691 Gallagher Rd., Dover (special needs only)
All shelters listed are open and pet-friendly.
- Buffalo Creek Middle School, 7320 69th St. E, Palmetto
- Gullett Elementary School, 12125 44th Ave. E, Bradenton
- Harvey Elementary School, 8610 115th Ave. E, Parrish
- McNeal Elementary School, 6325 Lorraine Rd., Bradenton
- Miller Elementary School, 601 43rd St. W, Bradenton
- Mills Elementary School, 7200 69th St. E, Palmetto
- Mona Jain Middle School, 12205 44th Ave. E, Bradenton
- Myakka City Elementary School, 37205 Manatee Ave., Myakka City
- Prine Elementary School, 3801 Southern Pkwy., Bradenton
- Sugg Middle School, 5302 38th Ave. W, Bradenton
Utilities
- Manatee County has shut off water to the islands of Anna Maria and Town of Longboat Key
Evacuations
Most current evacuation orders are available at floridadisaster.org.
The Florida Division of Emergency Management said in a post to social media that if you need to evacuate, you only need to go “tens of miles, not hundreds.”
Hernando County:
- Mandatory evacuations for residents west of U.S. 19, people in Zones A, B, and C, and those living in manufactured homes or low-lying areas.
Hillsborough County:
- Mandatory evacuation for Zones A and B, and all mobile and manufactured homes
Pinellas County:
- Mandatory evacuations for everyone in Zone A, B, and C, and all mobile homes throughout the county.
- Mandatory evacuation for all Residential Healthcare Facilities in Evacuation Zones A, B, and C.
- The county recommends special needs residents in Zones D and E evacuate due to the potential loss of electricity and water.
Manatee County:
- Mandatory evacuation Levels A, B, and C, and everyone in RVs or mobile homes.
Sarasota County:
- Evacuations have been called for Levels A through C, plus anyone in a manufactured home, mobile, boat, or RV home.
Pasco County:
- Mandatory evacuation for residents in Zones A, B, and C – including anyone living in a manufactured home, mobile home, or RV and everyone in flood-prone or low-lying areas.
- Voluntary evacuation for Special Needs Residents and anyone who would be vulnerable in the event of a power loss throughout the county.
Citrus County:
- Starting Tuesday, at 8 a.m.: Mandatory evacuations for anyone residing in a camper, tent, mobile home, manufactured home, or any structure not capable of withstanding 110 mph winds.
School Closures:
- Pasco County Schools are closed through Friday, Oct. 11. Students will return to campus Monday, Oct. 14.
- Hernando County Schools are closed through Friday, Oct. 11.
- Hillsborough County Schools are closed through Friday, Oct. 11.
- Pinellas County Schools are closed through Friday, Oct. 11.
Useful links
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