Live Updates: Hurricane Milton
Stay informed on all the latest info about the storm.
Shelters are opening across Central Florida ahead of Hurricane Milton.
Brevard County
Brevard County will open three shelters at 9 a.m. Wednesday. They're for residents who live in manufactured or mobile homes, flood-prone or low-lying areas, and those needing safe harbor from potentially dangerous wind and rain conditions, according to a news release from the county.
Local officials expect Hurricane Milton to begin to affect the county late Wednesday and Thursday.
The shelter locations are:
- South Mainland Community Center, 3700 Allen Ave., Micco.
- Walter Butler Community Center, 4201 N Cocoa Blvd, Cocoa.
- Wickham Park Community Center, 2815 Leisure Way, Melbourne.
The shelters are for the general population and are pet-friendly.
Space Coast Area Transit will provide transportation to the shelters for registered special needs clients. To request a ride call 2-1-1.
Officials say people going to a shelter should bring supplies, such as bedding and folding chairs; any needed medications; multiple changes of clothes and sturdy shoes; personal hygiene items; and things for their entertainment, like games, cards, books or magazines.
Brevard County also has a Community Information Hotline. Call 2-1-1.
Lake County
The following shelters will open at 12 p.m. on Tuesday.
General population
- East Ridge High – 13322 Excalibur Road, Clermont
- East Ridge Middle – 13201 Excalibur Road, Clermont
- Eustis High – 1300 E. Washington Ave., Eustis
- Leesburg High – 1401 Yellow Jacket Way, Leesburg
- Mount Dora High – 700 N. Highland St., Mt. Dora
- Tavares High – 603 N. New Hampshire Ave., Tavares
- Creekside Middle School, 6801 Airport Road, Port Orange, FL 32128
- University High School, 1000 W. Rhode Island Ave, Orange City, FL 32763
Pet friendly
- Mascotte Elementary – 460 Midway Ave., Mascotte
- Round Lake Elementary – 31333 Round Lake Road, Mt. Dora
- Spring Creek Elementary – 44440 Spring Creek Road, Paisley
- Treadway Elementary – 10619 Treadway School Road, Leesburg
- Mainland High School, 1255 W. International Speedway Blvd, Daytona Beach, FL 32114
- DeLand High School, 800 N. Hill Ave, DeLand, FL 32724
Pet friendly and special needs
- Leesburg Elementary – 2229 South St., Leesburg
- Lost Lake Elementary – 1901 Johns Lake Rd., Clermont
- Astatula Elementary – 13925 Florida Ave., Astatula
- Umatilla Elementary – 401 Lake St., Umatilla
- Villages Elementary – 695 Rolling Acres Rd., Lady Lake
Medically fragile population
- Hinson Middle School, 1860 N. Clyde Morris Blvd, Daytona Beach, FL 32117
- Galaxy Middle School, 2400 Eustace Ave, Deltona, FL 32725
Marion County
The Marion County Sheriff’s Office Division of Emergency Management announced the following emergency shelters will open Tuesday in preparation for Hurricane Milton.
Special Needs Shelter: West Port High School, 3733 SW 80th Ave., Ocala. It will open at 5 p.m. Small pets are also allowed into the shelter with proper documentation.
Pet-Friendly Shelter: Vanguard High School, 7 NW 28th St., Ocala.
General Population Shelter: Fort McCoy School, 16160 NE County Road 315, Fort McCoy.
People entering the shelter must bring food, water and snacks for the night. Those with special dietary needs should bring a supply of food.
Pet owners should bring their own pet crates.
Marion County also has a citizen help line for residents with questions about the storm. It's 352-369-7500.
Orange County
Orange County announced shelters are opening Tuesday, October 8 by 6 p.m.
General Population Shelters
Opening Tuesday, October 8 by 6 p.m.
- Apopka High School*: 555 Martin St, Apopka, FL 32712
- Carver Middle School *: 4500 W. Columbia Street, Orlando, FL32811-4052
- Colonial High School*: 6100 Oleander Dr, Orlando, FL 32807
- Lake Buena Vista High School: 11305 Daryl Carter Pkwy, Orlando, FL 32836
- Lake Nona High School*: 12500 Narcoossee Rd, Orlando, FL 32832
- Oak Ridge High School: 700 W. Oak Ridge Rd, Orlando, FL 32809
- Ocoee High School: 1925 Ocoee Crown Point Pkwy, Ocoee, FL 34761
- Odyssey Middle School: 9290 Lee Vista Blvd, Orlando, FL 32829
- Timber Springs Middle School: 16001 Timber Park Ln, Orlando, FL 32828
- Union Park Middle School*: 1844 Westfall Dr, Orlando, FL 32817
- Wedgefield K-8: 3835 Bancroft Blvd, Orlando, FL 32833
*Denotes Pet-Friendly Shelter
Persons with Special Needs (PSN) Shelters
Open Tuesday afternoon, October 8, by 10 a.m.
- Goldenrod Rec.: 4863 N. Goldenrod Road, Winter Park, FL 32792
- Silver Star Rec.: 2801 N. Apopka-Vineland Road, Orlando, FL 32818
- South Econ Park: 3850 S. Econlockhatchee Trail, Orlando, FL 32829
Orange County residents requiring a PSN Shelter please dial 3-1-1 or 407-836-3111. LYNX will provide free service to shelter locations. For important information on what to bring to a shelter, visit ocfl.net/shelters.
Osceola County
Osceola County announced that shelters will open at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, October 8. There are seven public shelters:
- Celebration High School - 1809 Celebration Blvd., Kissimmee
- Gateway High School (Pet-Friendly) - 93 Panther Paws Trail, Kissimmee
- Harmony High School (Pet-Friendly) - 3601 Arthur J. Gallagher Blvd., St. Cloud
- Holopaw Community Center - 8801 Community Center Road, St. Cloud
- Kenansville Community Center - 1178 S Canoe Creek Rd., Kenansville
- Kissimmee Middle School (Pet-Friendly) - 2410 Dyer Blvd., Kissimmee
- Liberty High School (Pet-Friendly) - 4250 Pleasant Hill Rd., Kissimmee
A shelter for those with special medical needs will open at noon on Tuesday at the Osceola Council on Aging, 700 Generation Point, Kissimmee.
The county encourages residents who wish to evacuate to make arrangements with friends or family, or consider staying in a hotel, if possible. Shelters should be considered a last resort.
Polk County
Polk County has announced it will open shelters on Tuesday, October 8, at noon.
Thirteen public shelters and three pet-friendly shelters will be available at that time.
Public shelters:
- Auburndale High School, 1 Bloodhound Trail, Auburndale
- Spessard Holland Elementary School, 2432 E.F. Griffin Road, Bartow
- Citrus Ridge Academy, 1775 Sand Mine Road, Davenport
- Horizons Elementary School, 1700 Forest Lake Dr., Davenport
- George Jenkins High School, 6000 Lakeland Highlands Road, Lakeland
- Highlands Grove Elementary, 4510 Lakeland Highlands Road, Lakeland
- Kathleen High School, 1100 Red Devil Way, Lakeland
- R. Bruce Wagner Elementary School, 5500 Yates Road, Lakeland
- Sleepy Hill Elementary School, 2285 Sleepy Hill Road, Lakeland
- Mulberry Middle School, 500 S.E. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., Mulberry
- Lake Marion Creek Middle School, 3055 Lake Marion Creek Dr., Poinciana
- Chain of Lakes Elementary School, 7001 Hwy. 653, Winter Haven
- Winter Haven High School, 600 6th St. S.E., Winter Haven
Pet shelters:
- Haines City High School, 2800 Hornet Dr., Haines City
- Lake Region High School, 1995 Thunder Road, Eagle Lake
- Tenoroc High School, 4905 Saddle Creek Road, Lakeland.
Residents must bring records of vaccines for their pets, an airline-approved carrying case or crate and pet food.
Special needs:
Three special needs shelters will also open on Tuesday but will open several hours earlier at 7 a.m. Those sites are:
- FDOH Polk Specialty Care Unit, 1255 Brice Blvd., Bartow
- Ridge Community High School, 500 W. Orchid Drive, Davenport
- McKeel Academy, 1810 W. Parker St., Lakeland
Polk County has a Citizen’s Information Line at (863) 298-7500.
Seminole County
The following Seminole County shelters open Wednesday, October 9, at 8:00 a.m.
Pet friendly shelters are noted below. Not all shelters accept animals. Please ensure the shelter you use is pet friendly before bringing along animals. All animals need to be in carriers and we ask that you please provide your own crate/carrier.
General population:
- Lyman High School - 865 S Ronald Reagan Blvd, Longwood *Pet-Friendly*
- Crystal Lake Elementary School - 231 Rinehart Rd, Lake Mary
- Lawton Chiles Middle School - 1240 Sanctuary Dr, Oviedo
- Midway Elementary School - 2368 Brisson Ave, Sanford
- Winter Springs High School - 130 Tuskawilla Rd, Winter Springs
Special needs:
- Bentley Elementary School - 2190 S Oregon Ave, Sanford *Pet-Friendly*
- Highlands Elementary School - 1600 Shepard Rd, Winter Springs
- Layer Elementary School - 4201 FL-419, Winter Springs
Emergency shelters should be used as a last resort; if possible, evacuees should stay with family or friends. Shelter clients will be assigned a space of 3’ x 7’; belongings should fit in this space if staying at a shelter. Cots are not provided at general population shelters.
Sumter County
Sumter County has opened two shelters for those seeking cover from Hurricane Milton, according to information provided by the county.
Locations:
- South Sumter High School, 706 N. Main St., Bushnell.
- Webster Elementary School, 349 S. Market Blvd., Webster.
"All shelters are pet-friendly, so DO NOT leave your pets behind," the county announcement says.
Local officials recommend sheltering in place for residents of The Villages. But the county advises the following groups to consider evacuating or moving to a shelter:
- Residents in mobile, manufactured, modular homes, or recreational vehicles.
- Those living in low-lying, flood-prone areas near the river.
- Individuals with special needs.
- Anyone who feels unsafe staying alone.
The announcement says residents should bring: Identification, bedding (cot, air mattress, blanket, pillow), food and water, medications, baby supplies (food, formula), toiletries, entertainment items, pet supplies (food, bedding, medication, crates for your pet).
Sex offenders are prohibited from entering general or special needs shelters. They can report to the County Jail for sheltering needs.
Volusia County
Volusia County officials are issuing evacuation orders for areas east of the intercoastal waterway, ahead of Hurricane Milton.
The orders include people who live in manufactured and mobile homes, low-lying areas, campsites, recreational vehicles, and other areas prone to flooding.
Volusia County Schools will provide shelters for Hurricane Milton starting at 9:00 a.m., Wednesday, October 9, at the following school locations:
General population:
- Mainland High School, 1255 W. International Speedway Blvd, Daytona Beach, FL 32114 (pet friendly)
- Creekside Middle School, 6801 Airport Road, Port Orange, FL 32128
- University High School, 1000 W. Rhode Island Ave, Orange City, FL 32763
- DeLand High School, 800 N. Hill Ave, DeLand, FL 32724 (pet friendly)
Medically fragile population only:
- Hinson Middle School, 1860 N. Clyde Morris Blvd, Daytona Beach, FL 32117
- Galaxy Middle School, 2400 Eustace Ave, Deltona, FL 32725
The Volusia County Fairgrounds will also open as a pet-friendly shelter.
