Live Updates: Hurricane Milton

Florida's Turnpike

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Florida's Turnpike is repairing a washout caused by Hurricane Milton that forced the closure of southbound lanes for several miles in Lake County.

The washout was at mile marker 280. The Turnpike was closed from there to mile marker 289, according to a Lake County official.

Early Thursday afternoon, one of the two lanes was reopened as work continued.

Florida Channel

Governor Ron DeSantis said the state might start to open points of distribution or PODs in harder hit areas of the state after Hurricane Milton.

DeSantis said luckily, there might not be as much of a need for these sites, as the hurricane did less damage statewide than expected.

“We typically will set up these PODs with water, food, tarps, things of that nature. I think we will be doing some PODs. A lot of this is based on what the counties ask us for. But I also think you're probably going to see a lot of the stores and gas stations reopen very quickly, at least, that's our hope,” said DeSantis.

DeSantis said the Port of Tampa and Port of Manatee did not take a direct hit, which means gas stations should reopen quickly as well.

“We're also looking at the damage that was done to the ports in Florida, East Coast I don't think there was very much if any. Port of Tampa, seems like it's okay. Manatee, that remains to be seen,” said DeSantis.

The state has 1.5 million gallons of gasoline on hand.

The governor said major bridges will be reopened in the state this afternoon including the Skyway Bridge and Howard Franklin Bridge in Tampa, and Courtney Campbell Causeway and Gandy Bridge into Pinellas County.

Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie said there were fewer requests for search and rescue missions during Hurricane Milton, than with Hurricane Helene.

At least 10 deaths have been confirmed in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton.

Volusia County will enforce a curfew starting at 9 p.m. Thursday and ending 5 a.m. on Friday.

“The curfew is to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of the community during Volusia County’s Hurricane Milton’s recovery efforts,” the Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post.

It does not apply to regular members of law enforcement, employees traveling for work or emergency workers.

Any person who knowingly violates the curfew will be subject to a $500 fine and/or imprisonment in county jail for up to 60 days.

Last night’s curfews for Lake and Osceola counties have expired.

Pexels

Most Central Florida schools will remain closed tomorrow Friday, October 11.

Here are the K-12 schools that will remain closed through Friday: Brevard, Flagler, Lake, Marion, Orange, Osceola, Polk, Seminole, and Volusia.

And here are the colleges and universities that will remain closed on Friday: AdventHealth University, Daytona State College, Embry Riddle, FAMU, Florida Tech, Lake-Sumter State College, Nova Southeastern University, Rollins College, Seminole State College, Stetson University, and UCF.

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Walt Disney World Resort and Universal Orlando theme parks will continue to remain closed today, Thursday, October 10, due to impacts caused by Hurricane Milton.

Disney Springs is also closed today.

Gatorland, LEGOLAND, SeaWorld and Peppa Pig Theme Park Florida were already closed today.

Lillian Hernández Caraballo

Strong winds from Hurricane Milton are lingering in Brevard County this morning.

Communications Director Don Walker said most of the major storm activity came before 10 p.m. Wednesday, with reports of at least one tornado touching down and flooding.

Around 116,000 people are without power, and Walker said there’s still a lot to assess today, once it’s safe to do so. There have been no reports of injuries.

One of the priorities today, Walker said, is to close down or consolidate shelters. Capacity was around 2,800, but they only needed space for about 550 people.

Walker said county officials will try to get most of those people back home today and get those shelters closed to get back to normalcy as soon as possible.

Brevardians who need assistance or resources should dial 2-1-1.

Lillian Hernández Caraballo is a Report for America corps member.

Florida Channel

Search and rescue missions continue Thursday after Hurricane Milton caused flooding, wind damage, and spurred dozens of tornadoes throughout the state.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Director Colonel Roger Young said he’s deployed 135 officers to help with these missions.

His officers are working with the Florida State Guard, cut teams from the Florida Department of Agriculture, the Florida National Guard and the Miccosukee tribe law enforcement and local sheriff's offices up and down the coast and across the state.

So far, these teams have completed 42 rescue missions as of Thursday morning.

“In the wake of the tornadoes, we had seven local FWC officers respond to a tornado event where they rescued six and evacuated four, or evacuated by four-by-four vehicles, and also conducted 30 welfare checks," said Young.

Rescues continue in hard-hit areas like Pinellas, Pasco and Hillsborough counties.

In Hillsborough County, teams have evacuated 100 people from an assisted living facility, and 20 people from a senior living facility in Tampa.

Watch the governor's press conference here:

Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie is warning Floridians to avoid walking or driving through flooded areas today even though some areas are clearing up after Milton.

Guthrie said residents should also avoid using power tools for the first time to clean up any debris in their yards, and he said to never cut lines of any kind during clean-up.

“We do not need Florida Man and Florida Woman out there cutting random lines as they go. You don't know what is a cable line. You don't know what is an electrical line, and probably more importantly these days, is you don't know what is a fiber optic line,” said Guthrie.

Guthrie said most emergency communications are run through fiber optic lines, and cutting these lines could stop entire neighborhoods from reaching 9-1-1.

Anyone who needs help removing debris should wait, and call 1-800-342-3557.

The Sanford Police Department is warning of dangerous conditions caused by Hurricane Milton. It's asking residents to avoid driving unless it is necessary -- and to absolutely not drive through standing water.

The department is reporting that roadways in the Historic District from First Street to 25th Street are "dangerous and unsafe to drive due to debris, powerlines, flooding and trees down."

People should avoid that area.

SPD listed the following areas with flooding:

• 20th Street and Lily Court
• Sanford Avenue and 24th Place
• Brenthaven Subdivision
• Shannon Drive and French Avenue
• Seminole Boulevard from Melonville Avenune to 17-92
• First Street and Park Avenue
• 1426 Mara Court
• Upsala and SR 46
• Rosalea Drive and Sanford Avenue
• Historic Goldsboro Boulevard and Persimmon Avenue
• Plumosa Drive & Valencia Court
• Locust Avenue & San Lanta Circle

The department also reports that numerous traffic lights are out and posted this reminder on Facebook: "When approaching an intersection with the traffic light not functioning, treat it as a four-way intersection. Approach slowly and with caution."

Pexels

Brevard, Seminole and Marion counties, along with the City of Bunnell in Flagler County are warning residents to conserve water.

That means limiting time in the shower, cutting down on using washing machines and dishwashers, and only flushing the toilet when needed.

Conserving water now, reduces pressure on lift stations and prevents sewer overflow.

Flooding from Hurricane Milton is already straining systems in Flagler County.

Kevin Harber

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Flickr

Some Central Florida roads are closed Thursday morning due to Hurricane Milton.

The following roads are obstructed as of 7:40 AM EST, on Thursday, October 10:

• I-95 North, at Mile Marker 257. The right lane is blocked.
• South Sr-15A Both Directions near S Clara Ave. All lanes closed.
• Florida's Turnpike South, before Exit 285: Leesburg (U.S. 27 South). On-ramp is closed, along with all lanes. 
• I-75 South, beyond Mile Marker 310. Right lane is blocked.
• Polk Parkway West, ramp to Exit 14: near S.R. 540 Winter Lake Rd. Off-ramp is closed.

Click here for up-to-date road closures.

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Marion County is waking up to some flooding, downed power lines, and trees that fell on houses after Hurricane Milton moved through the region in the overnight hours.

However, Public Information Officer Zach Moore said the storm’s impact, so far, seems to be much less than what the county had expected.

Overnight, emergency workers responded to trees that fell on houses, leaving residents more exposed to water and storm winds. Moore said that, unlike during Helene, first responders were not immediately able to head out to these areas of concern for their own safety, as wind gusts were much stronger this time around.

Moore said as the storm calmed down and whenever an opportunity would permit safe travel, emergency responders made it out to scenes to help people, but there is still much to still be done. However, the county braced for a much stronger impact, so resources are not overwhelmed.

Moore said this could change as day breaks and better lighting will provide better conditions for public workers to more accurately assess and service damages.

According to Moore, they’re expecting anyone who needs assistance with debris or damages will call into the county services line, as they should. That number is 352-369-7500, and they will be available to the public all day.

However, Moore said people with actual emergencies should dial 9-1-1 as their first resort.

Lillian Hernández Caraballo is a Report for America corps member.

Catherine Welch

Hurricane Milton brought gusty winds and torrential rain to Central Florida.

In Seminole County, Emergency Manager Alan Harris said while the night was calmer than expected, they are seeing flooding.

“We have major flooding now on the Little Wekiva River in the Altamonte Springs and Longwood area. Gee Creek, Howell Creek, Little Econ all exceeded their threshold. So, a lot of rain over the last 24 to 48 hours,” he said.

Harris said no streets have washed away and that rivers are doing their jobs as desired and water is flowing, but these basins can only take so much rain — and it hasn't stopped raining.

Another problem, he said, has been downed trees, some of which have fallen on people’s houses, which prompted rescues. One person, Harris said, was found alive and taken to a nearby hospital.

This morning, the county will continue to assess damages and prioritize repairs, cleaning, and restoring. Anyone needing emergency assistance can also contact FEMA and report damages.

Harris said neighbors helping neighbors is always one of the best ways to get the communities back on track, as well, and that anyone who needs help can call 407-665-0000. The line is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Lillian Hernández Caraballo is a Report for America corps member.

Source: Wikimedia Commons

As Hurricane Milton moves out of the Central Florida area, Duke Energy reported more than 700,000 power outages, having already restored more than 100, 000.

The company has asked consumers for patience, as drier conditions and light in the morning will allow more access to assess damages and get power back on.

So far, some damages include downed lines, disrupted transformers, and fallen trees on other power sources.

Director of Public Affairs Ana Gibbs said they will know more in the coming hours.

“What’s important for customers to know and understand, we do have approximately 16,000 crews - and when I say crew, these are linemen, vegetation workers, assessment damage staff - and what they’ll do tomorrow is begin to understand the damage that may have occurred to our system,” Gibbs said.

Gibbs also said that while simple disruptions can be fixed right away, major disrepairs can take days. The company focuses on the work that takes priority, such as repairs that can get power back to hundreds, even thousands of places at once.

“A lot of times we do get customers who do get a little frustrated because they don’t see bucket trucks going down in their neighborhoods, and the way it works is all of the infrastructure - starting at the transmission site of power plants, the really large transmission lines, and all the down to individual meters for service to work,” she said.

Gibbs says people out exploring damages should treat all downed lines as live wires, avoiding puddles where there is damage to electrical sources nearby, and even be careful when clearing out vegetation in the area, as these, too, can be conductive.

For the most part, she said consumers should leave the repairs to the professionals but that people looking to stay up to date can sign up for alerts on their website or their app.

Lillian Hernández Caraballo is a Report for America corps member.

Pexels

The National Weather Service is warning swimmers and boaters of dangerous conditions at beaches on Florida’s East Coast.

Breaking waves of 7 to 15 feet along the Volusia, Brevard and Indian River coasts, and rough surf in these areas, are making conditions dangerous for anyone near the water.

There is also a high risk of deadly rip currents along the East Coast of Florida.

The National Weather Service said just because skies are clear doesn’t mean hazards have ended, and boaters, swimmers and surfers should stay off the water.

Strong wind gusts continue across east Central Florida and flooding concerns north of I-4 continue.

NWS Melbourne Twitter/X

For more information, click here. 

Pexels

Central Florida schools remain closed Thursday, October 10, after Hurricane Milton.

The following K-12 school districts are out Thursday: Brevard, Flagler, Lake, Marion, Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Sumter, and Volusia.

And the following colleges and universities are closed today as well: AdventHealth University, Barry School of Law, Daytona State College, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, FAMU, Florida Tech, Lake-Sumter State College, Nova Southeastern University, Rollins College, Seminole State College, Stetson University, and the University of Central Florida.

Central Florida curfews are still in effect Thursday morning as well.

A curfew in Lake County is in effect through 7:30 a.m., in Osceola the curfew is in effect through 10 a.m., and in Volusia a curfew is in effect through 8 a.m.

And as Central Florida wakes up this morning, thousands are without power in Central Florida. Here’s the rundown as of 6:30 a.m.

• Brevard 86,000 outages
• Flagler 50,000 outages
• Lake 87,000 outages
• Marion 70,000 outages
• Orange 92,000 outages
• Osceola 45,000 outages
• Seminole 37,000 outages
• Sumter 20,000 outages
• Volusia 104,000 outages

Follow power outages here.

The National Hurricane Center downgraded Hurricane Milton to a category 1 with maximum sustained winds of 90 miles per hour as it travels through Florida. The storm’s center was roughly 40 miles south-southwest of Orlando.

The National Hurricane Center has downgraded Hurricane Milton to a category 2 with maximum sustained winds of 105 miles per hour as it continues to move across the state. The storm made landfall around Siesta Key on the west side of the state.

The National Hurricane Center reports "extremely dangerous Category 3 Hurricane Milton makes landfall near Siesta Key, Florida."

In an advisory issued at landfall at 8:30 p.m., the NWC forecasts life-threatening storm surge, extreme winds, and flash flooding across the central region of the state.

Winds and heavy rain are expected in Central Florida throughout the evening and overnight hours. Flooding could continue even after the storm has passed, including areas like Osceola county.

Several counties have issued curfews tonight. Osceola county’s began at 8 p.m. and lifts at 10 a.m. tomorrow. Volusia county’s curfew began at 8 p.m. and goes until 8 a.m. tomorrow.

As Milton made landfall on Florida's Gulf Coast, more than 778,000 power outages were reported across the state, according to PowerOutage.us.

The county anticipates receiving the storm’s full effects beginning Wednesday night. Emergency Management Director Clint Mecham said there’s a possibility of tornadoes reaching the county before the storm itself.

Mecham urged residents who have experienced flooding in the past to consider leaving their homes if not done so already. As of 3 p.m. Wednesday, more than 800 people are staying in county shelters.

Mecham said to be wary of hazards on the road like standing water or debris.

If residents experience power outages, county officials remind them to never operate a generator inside or in a garage. Fumes can still spill through window sills and closed doors, according to Emergency Services Director Jim Judge.

Any damage sustained because of the storm can be reported directly to the county through its emergency management app or by calling the citizens information center at the number provided below. A link on the county website will be added Thursday morning.

Residents itching to leave their homes after the storm are reminded to stay safe in doing so. Road use will still be recommended only for safety or medical reasons.

Curfew in Volusia County goes into effect Wednesday at 8 p.m.. Evaluation on curfew policies and county damages will start 8 a.m. Thursday.

County residents can visit volusia.org or call 866-345-0345 for more information.

A tornado watch is in effect for all of east Central Florida and the National Weather Service said tornadoes have been reported over the region.

A Tornado Watch means conditions are favorable for tornadoes and severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch area. Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for threatening weather conditions and listen for later statements and possible warnings.

NWS forecasts the greatest tornado threat in Central Florida through 6 p.m.

As of 3 p.m., more than 50 tornado watches were issued by NWS Tampa Bay, NWS Miami, and NWS Melbourne.

Seminole County officials are urging residents to prepare for the worst but hope for the best.

County Chair Jay Zembower said residents should be fully prepared for the storm by sundown Wednesday evening.

The county gave out around 290,000 sandbags in the last four days. Sandbag locations will reopen when it is safe to do so following the storm in preparation for flooding from the St. Johns River. Emergency Management Director Alan Harris said the river will continue to rise for days or weeks following the storm.

Residents should also prepare for the possibility of extended power outages.

Duke Energy’s Patty D’Alessandro said 16,000 crews from across the country have been readied to respond to more than 1 million power outages after the storm has passed.

Residents are reminded to avoid calling 9-1-1 for power outages, but crews will be ready to respond to emergencies up until it is deemed unsafe to do so. Fire departments will cease road operations once winds hit 70 mph, while police road operations are safe up until about 40 mph.

Energy Management Director Alan Harris added that when restoring power, the county will first focus on critical infrastructures like hospitals, 9-1-1 centers and assisted living facilities.

Harris said tropical storm-level gusts and wind from Hurricane Irma in 2017 left 75 percent of the county without power.

For further information, call the Seminole County citizen hotline at 407-665-0000.

Orange County Facebook

Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings said the county has already started to feel impacts from Hurricane Milton.

Demings said the worst of these effects will be felt until about 6 p.m. Thursday.

He said it’s imperative for everyone to seek shelter now either at home, or in any countywide shelter.

“We certainly want all people within our community to be well sheltered by 10 p.m. tonight. It is suggested that you really should be off the roadways by no later than 6 p.m. but you should be well sheltered by 10 p.m. tonight,” said Demings.

Demings said that the county could experience localized flash flooding, flooding, power outages, and significant damage from strong winds during the storm.

“In addition to heavy rain in Orange County, we anticipate sustained tropical storm force winds at 45 to 65 miles per hour overnight, and we will likely see wind gusts up to 80 miles per hour. That means that there's going to be some damage within our community,” said Demings.

Due to these weather conditions, Lynx has suspended bus services in the county.

AdventHealth Centra Care is offering free virtual health visits today, and Thursday for people in need of care who can’t get on the roads.

In a medical emergency dial 9-1-1.

Four special needs shelters are currently being operated by the Florida Department of Health in Orange County. These are for people who might need electricity to run medical equipment, who might need supplemental oxygen, or who need memory care.

Those shelters are available at Goldenrod Rec., Silver Star Rec., South Econ Park, and Freedom High School shelters.

To register dial 3-1-1. Or call 407-836-3111.

Florida Channel

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Florida Channel

Governor Ron DeSantis said several bridges have closed statewide ahead of Hurricane Milton.

DeSantis said conditions are worsening already on Florida’s West Coast, necessitating these closures, along with road closures.

Emergency shoulder road usage has been suspended.

“Sunshine Skyway Bridge and Howard Franklin Bridge are closed in the Tampa Bay area. Courtney Campbell Causeway and Gandy are closed going into Pinellas County,” said DeSantis.

Governor Ron DeSantis said it’s not just people on the West but also the East Coast of Florida that should be prepared for storm surge caused by Hurricane Milton.

The storm is expected to leave the state on Thursday on Florida’s East Coast.

He said that means residents of Brevard, Volusia, Flagler, and St. Johns counties should brace for storm surge too.

“And we've had issues on the coast there anyways, with erosion and whatnot. So just understand that is going to be something that's going to enter the West Coast of Florida and then go almost horizontal across the state, maybe a little east, northeast, and then come out maybe in like Southern Brevard County,” said DeSantis.

Tolls are still lifted in Central Florida, West Central Florida, Alligator Alley and the 595 Express.

Brevard County officials say high winds from Hurricane Milton could be felt in the county this evening, overnight and Thursday morning - but there's no cause to panic.

Emergency Management Director John Scott expects a wind event with sustained winds of 55-75 miles per hour and then gusts up to 95 miles per hour in the stronger rain bands.

"But it's wind we should be able to handle," he said, "especially if we've been doing things like we've been asking folks to do: getting ready, getting their shutters up, making the last minute preparations, getting all that debris out of their yard.

The county has not issued evacuation orders. But Scott emphasizes that shelters are available for people who need them, including those in flood-prone areas.

The county is also expecting widespread power outages.

Lake County residents with debris left over from the last hurricane are urged to stow it now, before the early winds from Milton pick up this afternoon.

Emergency Operations Manager Megan Milanese says crews worked through the weekend to remove debris from Hurricane Helene but there's still some out there.

She's asking residents to put the debris in a garage, a shed or their backyard out of the wind.

“It's because anything that's smaller like that can be picked up by the wind as they start to pick up as Milton comes through, and they become projectiles,” Milanese said. “And that's what's going to cause some of the damages that we might see across the county both to private and commercial properties.”

She said Lake County will likely start seeing those high winds beginning this afternoon by 3 or 4 o'clock.

The National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch for most of Central Florida until 9 p.m. Wednesday.

That includes Orange, Lake, Seminole, Osceola, Volusia, Brevard and Sumter counties.

The tornado threat is expected to build northward through the afternoon and evening, according to the weather service.

The tornado risk is increasing from a line from Orlando to as far south as Miami.

"Sunshine has broken through some of the cloud cover, and this will lead to a quickly unstable air mass and allow for the possibility of EF 3 to EF 4 tornadoes to develop," according to meteorologists with the Florida Public Radio Emergency Network. "These types of tornadoes are something very rare for the state."

They're more common in the Midwest. The risk will remain for several hours Wednesday afternoon.

People are encouraged to have multiple ways to receive weather alerts.

Florida Channel

Governor Ron DeSantis said Florida is ready for the worst with Hurricane Milton.

DeSantis said the Florida National Guard, Florida State Guard, Florida Fish and Wildlife and the Florida Highway Patrol have activated additional personnel ahead of the storm.

He said there are 26 Florida-based search and rescue teams embedded in potential impact sites, along with 34 search and rescue teams from other states.

And he said 6,000 Florida National Guardsmen and 200 Florida State Guardsmen, along with 3,000 National Guardsmen from other states will be deployed.

“This is the largest Florida National Guard search and rescue mobilization in the entire history of the state of Florida,” said DeSantis.

In total, DeSantis said the state has 10 maritime crews, three high water UTVs, 60 Black Hawk helicopters, four drone teams, 15 cut and toss crews, and two amphibious rescue crews on hand.

Over 50,000 lineman will be in the state, some coming from as far away as California.

Watch the governor's full press conference ahead of Milton:

DeSantis said the state of Florida has also opened six state-run shelters ahead of Hurricane Milton as of Wednesday, October 9.

These shelters can house thousands of people.

He said people need to go to a shelter now.

Those state-run shelters are: Wiregrass Sports Complex in Wesley Chapel, the Seminole Tribe Event Center in Tampa, City Furniture in Plant City, Babcock Ranch in Punta Gorda, BayCare in Tampa, and Life Science Logistics in Lakeland.

“They do have generators, so you will have access to power. They've got Starlink internet. So look, it's not the Four Seasons, but there are some things there that will make it tolerable to be able to get through the next 24 to 36 hours,” said DeSantis.

The addresses of those sites are:

• The Seminole Tribe Event Center, 5223 Orient Road, Tampa
• City Furniture, 3205 South Frontage Road, Plant City
• BayCare, 11921 N. Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa
• Life Science Logistics, 310 North Galloway Road, Lakeland
• Babcock Ranch, 43281 Cypress Parkway, Punta Gorda
• Wiregrass Sports Complex, 3021 Sports Coast Way, Wesley Chapel

The Wiregrass Sports Complex has special needs capacities.

DeSantis said a seventh state-run shelter will open later Wednesday.

Brevard, Lake, Marion, Orange, Osceola, Polk, Seminole, Sumter, and Volusia all have shelters open as of Wednesday. Uber is providing free rides to shelters. Use promo code #MiltonRelief.

Click here for a list of local shelters.

Seminole County issued an evacuation order Wednesday morning for residents in mobile homes and flood-prone or low-lying areas and those with special needs as the impacts of Hurricane Milton are expected to begin this afternoon.

The county is directing residents who may need a place to go to a list of eight emergency shelters that opened at 8 a.m. today.

You can find more information on the county website.

The National Weather Service says the storm's rainfall "will increase in coverage and intensity through the day Wednesday and into the night. ... Significant flash flooding could develop into Thursday morning, especially near and along the I-4 corridor and the Greater Orlando area."

NWS graphic

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NWS

Here are the Seminole County shelters:

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

The county says cots are not provided at the general population shelters and that shelter clients will be assigned a 3-by-7-foot space. Their belongings have to fit in that space.

Osceola County says last night’s southward shift in Hurricane Milton's forecast track has increased the area’s potential rainfall amounts and the risk of flash flooding.

The 10 to 15 inches of rain predicted in Osceola County makes "life-threatening flash flooding and flooding in our urban areas likely," according to a county news release.

Officials are urging people living in low-lying, flood-prone areas, mobile or manufactured homes, and houses with structural issues to seek alternate shelter by noon Wednesday.

General public shelters are opening at 8 a.m.

Here's the list:

• 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 Rd., 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 especially for residents of the Good Samaritan Village opened Tuesday at Central Avenue Elementary - 500 W Columbia Ave, Kissimmee.

And a special medical needs shelter is open at the Osceola Council on Aging - 700 Generation Point, Kissimmee.

>> Find other shelter locations in Central Florida.

In Orange County, the National Weather Service in Melbourne now forecasts peak winds of 45-60 mph for Wednesday evening through Thursday afternoon along with flooding.

The forecast track for the center of Hurricane Milton has dipped southward to Melbourne, but Orlando remains within the possible path. Heavier rainfall amounts are predicted north of the storm -- and that includes the Interstate 4 corridor and Orlando.

The weather service forecasts 8 to 12 inches of rain in the Orlando area, with even more in some places.

Officials are told to plan for extreme flooding. And a flood watch is in effect. Conditions will also be favorable for tornadoes.

Official graphic

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NOAA

In a key message posted on Facebook, the National Hurricane Center said: "Heavy rainfall across the Florida Peninsula through Thursday brings the risk of catastrophic and life-threatening flash and urban flooding along with moderate to major river flooding, especially in areas where coastal and inland flooding combine to increase the overall flood threat."

County officials said to not wait until the last minute for assistance with transportation or evacuation. A bulk of the concern is for residents in low-lying areas, campsites and manufactured or mobile homes – who are all a part of a countywide evacuation notice.

Votran buses will provide residents rides to and from storm shelters at no cost.

Additionally, Volusia County Schools will aid the city of Pierson. Two school buses will be sent to the town center on the corner of First and Center Street for anyone who needs help getting to the DeLand High School shelter. The bus will arrive shortly before 9 a.m. Wednesday.

County Manager George Recktenwald said if a resident experienced flooding during Hurricane Ian, they’re in danger of flooding again. The storm surge and high tide will reduce drainage system effectiveness. Hurricane Milton could bring up to fifteen inches of rain to certain parts of the county.

Residents are encouraged to prepare for the possibility of widespread power outages and a potential curfew extension into Thursday night.

For those unsure if they are in an evacuation zone, there is a link provided at volusia.org to check. If still unsure, residents can call the Citizens Information Center at 866-345-0345. The center is open until 7 p.m. Tuesday and will reopen at 7 a.m. Wednesday.

As of 2 p.m. Tuesday, as Hurricane Milton continued to approach the peninsula, the National Weather Service in Melbourne forecasted significant flooding of the St. Johns River in several parts of Central Florida, including:

• Astor (Lake/Volusia counties): Flood Watch in effect until further notice. Major flooding is forecasted; minor flooding has already been observed.
• Lake Harney (Volusia/Seminole counties): Flood Watch in effect through Thursday morning. Moderate flooding is forecasted.
• DeLand: Flood Watch in effect through Thursday morning. Moderate flooding is forecasted.
• Sanford: Flood Watch in effect through Thursday morning. Minor flooding is forecasted.

>>>Read more about the Central Florida flooding forecast

Lake County has issued a “Voluntary Evacuation Order” for people in manufactured homes, RVs, mobile homes, and low-lying or flood-prone areas.

County officials encourage residents who are feeling unsafe to seek shelter with family or friends or at one of Lake County's 15 shelters.

Special needs residents who need help getting to a shelter can call the Citizens Information Line at 352-253-9999.For others, LakeXpress, Lake County’s fixed-route bus system, will be providing free rides to a shelter on Wednesday.

Find shelter information in this article: Shelters opening in Central Florida ahead of Hurricane Milton

Florida Channel

The state of Florida has opened two-state-run shelters ahead of Hurricane Milton.

Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie said those shelters can house thousands of people.

“Two of those shelters that we have already opened are Wiregrass Sports Complex in Wesley Chapel, Florida, and the Seminole Tribe Event Center in Tampa, Florida. I want to thank both of those private sector entities for their support in helping us protect Floridians,” said Guthrie.

Learn more, by watching the governor's full press conference from Ocala:

Another shelter is expected to open in Polk County.

All tolls have been lifted in Central Florida, West Central Florida and Alligator Alley, and 595 Express, and shoulders are open in those areas to expedite evacuations.

For a list of county-run shelters that are open in Central Florida click here.

Seminole County is preparing for intense flooding, winds and possible tornadoes ahead of Hurricane Milton.

Alan Harris, the Emergency Management Director for Seminole County, said residents can drop off any yard debris at the landfill until 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at no charge. Tuesday will be the last day for trash collection.

“We ask that you secure your yard waste so it does not become a flying missile during the event,” Harris said. “We were hoping to pick up all yard debris, but there was just so much out there, our haulers could not get to all of it in time. So, please secure your yard waste.”

The county has distributed over 200,000 sandbags to residents. Harris said it's the most sandbags given out in a decade.

Residents using Seminole County shelters must prepare and pack essential items like bedding and clothing as well as any entertainment items for children

“They are not glamorous,” Harris said. “They are not cruise ships. This is a lifeboat. So if you do need to come to a shelter, the accommodations are not like a cruise ship, but we will do our best to make sure that you are as comfortable as possible.”

Harris also advised people bringing animals to the pet friendly shelters to pack any medicine, crates and bedding the pet would need. You must register for any special needs shelters.

For any questions about shelters, transportation or general information about the storm residents can call the Citizens Information Hotline at 407-665-0000.

Shelter information can be found here.

The United States Department of Transportation is playing a key role in Florida as Hurricane Milton approaches Florida.

Speaking with WLRN, Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg said as soon as ports can receive gasoline shipments again, he would like to see those back online.

“Sometimes we can also work with pipeline operators with regulatory relief to help make sure any pipelines that have been impacted and get back up and running as quickly as possible,” Buttigieg told WLRN’s Tom Hudson.

The department has been able to provide regulatory relief on service deliveries to help people as they need gas during the evacuation.

Along I-4 and I-75, clearance has been provided to allow the shoulder lane to be used as people evacuate.

Tolls are also suspended throughout Central Florida as people evacuate.

The department is also monitoring any increased airline fees so the seats are affordable and can be used as an evacuation route before some of the Florida airports close.

“We are seeing some indications that some airlines will implement a price cap,” Harris said. “All of them should be prepared to do that.”

The department has been able to provide regulatory relief on service deliveries to help people as they need gas during the evacuation.

Ahead of Hurricane Milton, a fleet of emergency vehicles are staging at the Orange County Convention Center Tuesday and are on standby, according to Katrina Do Santos, a convention center spokesperson.

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The fleet includes supply trucks as well as vehicles for debris removal.

Dos Santos said the center is expecting more vehicles to arrive throughout the day with more arriving on Wednesday.

Brevard County leaders don’t expect to issue a curfew or evacuation orders.

Hurricane Milton is expected to lose intensity after landfall on the west coast, but it could still bring tropical storm or hurricane force winds to the Space Coast. Emergency Management Director John Scott said those in mobile homes and flood-prone areas may get the worst of the county’s impact.

Three shelters will open Wednesday at 9 a.m. for people who are power dependent or live in mobile manufactured homes and flood-prone areas, but they are open to any residents who feel unsafe.

Those shelters are:

• South Mainland Community Center at 3700 Allen Ave., Micco
• Walter Butler Community Center at 4201 N Cocoa Blvd, Cocoa
• Wickham Park Community Center at 2815 Leisure Way, Melbourne

Residents will need to bring their own supplies like bedding, personal hygiene items and needed medication.

For those attempting to travel or go home after, causeways will be closed immediately following the storm to assess damages and check for potential danger like downed power lines and septic issues. They will not be shut down before or during the storm.

Residents with more questions can call the Community Information Hotline at 2-1-1.

Source: LYNX

Transportation authorities across Central Florida are issuing updates ahead of Hurricane Milton.

Orlando International Airport announced it’s suspending its flights as of 8 a.m. Wednesday.

Melbourne International Airport will be shutting down at 2 p.m. Wednesday, with plans to reopen Friday at 9 a.m.

Sanford and Daytona Beach International Airports have not yet announced closures. People should check with their airlines to monitor any flight changes.

Mathers Bridge in Merritt Island closed to boating traffic as of 2 p.m. Tuesday. Brevard County causeways don’t close during storms, but Sheriff Wayne Ivey said they will close temporarily after the storm to assess damages.

Florida Fish and Wildlife officials are urging caution when boating but said they don’t have specific laws against being out during storms. They said local or state mandates dictate whether there will be restrictions or not. Volusia County has issued a strict curfew as of 8 p.m. Wednesday.

Port Canaveral remains open land-side and is preparing to stop vessel and waterside operations. Officials have advised the public to remain clear of the area, unless they have official business there and will continue updates as the storm gets closer.

LYNX and Votran bus systems will cease operations once wind speeds hit 35 miles per hour. Space Coast Area Transit buses will not run all day Wednesday or Thursday.

Marion Transit will close Wednesday and resume operations Monday. Flagler County will run any scheduled services for Saturday before resuming rides next week.

In Ocala, SunTran services will be suspended starting as of 3 p.m. Wednesday and are anticipated to resume operations Friday, when conditions are deemed safe for travel.

Lillian Hernández Caraballo is a Report for America corps member.

Osceola County is preparing for intense flooding and winds as Hurricane Milton approaches Florida.

Bill Litton, the Emergency Management Director for Osceola County, said residents need to use Tuesday night to make any final preparations ahead of the storm’s landfall and advised that residents should not be on the road past noon Wednesday.

“We're looking at plus 75 miles per hour in some of the rain bands that will be going across on the I-4 corridor will be over 100 miles power gust.”

In addition to rain and wind, people should be prepared for tornadoes. Because of the rain, Litton said there is “a high threat as well as the squall bands come through for additional tornadoes as well added into those bands.”

For questions, residents can reach out to the Citizen Information Center at 407-742-0000. For text updates, text “alertOsceola” 888-777.

SeaWorld Orlando

Theme parks are closing ahead of Hurricane Milton.

Walt Disney World’s parks and Disney Springs will close early Wednesday, starting at 1 p.m. and remain closed Thursday.

Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure and Universal CityWalk will also close early Wednesday starting at 2 p.m. and remain closed until Thursday. Volcano Bay, the resorts water park, will be closed all day Wednesday and Thursday

Gatorland, LEGOLAND, and SeaWorld in Orlando will all close on Wednesday, October, 9 and Thursday, October 10 because of the storm.

Peppa Pig Theme Park Florida is closed today, Tuesday, through Thursday, October 10 also because of the storm.

Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex will close Wednesday and Thursday.

If you need to stay in a hotel while evacuating check out reduced price hotels here.

Nemours

Nemours Children’s Hospital in Orlando has canceled all specialty care clinic appointments, imaging exams, surgeries and procedures for Wednesday, October 9 and Thursday, October 10 due to Hurricane Milton.

All Nemours Central Florida primary care, specialty care and urgent care locations will be closed on Wednesday, October 9 and Thursday, October 10 as well.

AdventHealth Central Florida said it had stockpiled thousands of gallons of water and generators to run its hospitals on emergency power as of Tuesday, October 8.

Hospital officials are reminding residents that hospital parking garages are not public shelters. Although people may want to visit loved ones in the hospital, it’s best to stay off the roads and remain at home until the storm has passed.

Central Floridians who need non-urgent medical care can take advantage of complimentary video visits with medical providers at AdventHealth Centra Care from Wednesday, October 9, at 8 a.m. to Thursday, October 10, at 8 a.m. by using the code Milton.

Video visits are available 24/7.

If you are experiencing a medical emergency dial 9-1-1.

Lillian Hernández Caraballo

Bracing for Hurricane Milton, homeless services are working with local governments and organizations to coordinate shelter for unhoused people.

The Homeless Services Network of Central Florida is the agency in charge of mobilizing a network of partners that come together to find, inform, and help people on the streets.

Though homeless shelters are operating at capacity, organizers are opening access to other areas, such as dining halls, gyms, and chapels, to maximize their intake of clients.

People experiencing homelessness with their pets or who cannot get into full homeless shelters can go to their county emergency shelters without fear of discrimination, Director of Communications Kate Santich said.

Osceola County will open seven emergency weather shelters starting at 8 a.m. Wednesday, plus one for people with special medical needs at the Osceola Council on Aging at 3 p.m. Tuesday.

Orange County said they want to open at least 11 general population shelters by 6 p.m. Tuesday, six of them pet friendly.

Seminole said their shelters are on standby and will be announced as they open.

Exact locations and details on county shelters can be found here when announced.

LYNX bus systems will be offering free bus rides to homeless shelters and county emergency shelter locations to all who need it and until it is no longer safe to do so.

Though not overnight shelters, the Samaritan Resource Center in East Orlando and the Christian Service Center in West Orlando will provide storage space to hold on to people’s private and personal property, as long as they can get their things in by Tuesday at 4 and 5 p.m., respectively.

Lillian Hernández Caraballo is a Report for America corps member.

The Salvation Army of Orange and Osceola Counties is getting ready to provide essential services to Central Floridians as Hurricane Milton approaches.

The group will provide access to shelter, food and emergency assistance as needed.

The Women's and Children’s Shelter and the Men’s Shelter in Orlando will remain open 24/7, offering emergency shelter for the homeless. The shelters have distributed shelter bags to those in need, with essential supplies which can help people weather the storm.

The Women’s and Children’s Shelter is located at 400 West Colonial Drive, Orlando, FL 32804.

The Men’s Shelter is at 624 Lexington Ave., Orlando, FL 32801.

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Central Florida residents will also be able to get warm meals and access to showers at the Salvation Army if they lose power.

Once Hurricane Milton has passed over Central Florida, and it is safe, Emergency Disaster Services teams will be mobilized to the hardest-hit areas.

Mobile canteens and rapid response vehicles will be able to hand out 1,500 meals a day.

These teams will also have toiletry kits on hand and can provide spiritual care to those who are interested.

Nonprofit Farm Share is also preparing its Hurricane Milton response efforts. It is staging food, water and other emergency supplies throughout Central Florida for after the storm.

To help those evacuating the Gulf Coast, Florida has implemented the Emergency Shoulder Use strategy on Interstate 75 and a portion of Interstate 4 through Polk County.

The Florida Department of Transportation uses the strategy to create an extra lane, to add capacity and increase traffic flow, and to keep travel going in both directions.

Where ESU is being used, motorists can use the designated shoulder as a travel lane, according to FDOT. Large trucks, buses and trailers are excluded.

Drivers enter and exit the shoulder at designated locations where law enforcement officers and signage indicate.

FDOT

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via Facebook

The state has also suspended tolls on roads throughout Central Florida.

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The state of Florida plans to open four large state-run shelters later Tuesday, October 8, to help evacuees ahead of Hurricane Milton.

Governor Ron DeSantis said one of these shelters can hold tens of thousands of people, and one will be in Polk County.

“These are designed to be a shelter of last resort, and so they are going to be adjacent to some of the evacuation routes. We're going to have some in Polk County, close to I-4, and then we're going to have some in Hillsborough and Pasco County, not too far from I-75 North,” said DeSantis.

DeSantis said the goal is to make it easy for motorists to pull over for shelter if they get stuck and don’t want to go further as they evacuate for Milton.

“But it could be a situation where, if you're trying, you know tonight, you're on the road, traffic's bad. You say, hey, there's a shelter here in Lakeland I can go to and be able to ride out the storm and then go back. That is an absolutely safe option to do, and we encourage if that is necessary for folks,” said DeSantis.

Additionally, county-run shelters are opening throughout Central Florida ahead of Hurricane Milton.

Lake, Marion, Orange, Osceola, and Polk counties will open shelters today, Tuesday, October 8. Seminole and Volusia counties will open shelters on Wednesday, October 9.

All the counties listed will open their general population, special needs and pet-friendly shelters.

View a full list of the shelters in Central Florida here.

Many sandbag distribution sites around Central Florida will be shutting down today, many of them at noon.

The list on our website has been updated with the latest.

>> Read the full story.

Florida Channel

Despite reports of long lines at gas stations, and some without fuel, Governor Ron DeSantis said there is no shortage of gas in Florida.

Speaking from Tallahassee Tuesday, October 8, the governor said the state has a contingency plan in place in case the Port of Tampa Bay takes a hit from Hurricane Milton.

He said 27 fuel trucks were escorted by the Florida Highway Patrol to deliver more fuel to stations on Monday night, and the state is working with RaceTrac, Wawa, Shell and Walmart to ensure fuel trucks are working 24/7.

“We currently have 268,000 gallons of diesel, 110,000 gallons of gasoline. Those numbers are less than what they were 24 hours ago, because we've put a lot in, but we have an additional 1.2 million gallons of both diesel and gasoline that is currently enroute to the state of Florida,” said DeSantis.

The governor said 1,200 truckloads of debris have been removed ahead of Hurricane Milton, and 37,000 lineman will be in place by today.

Some lineman are coming from as far away as California.

Julio Cortez, AP

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AP

He said other states have provided support to our state, including sending Chinook helicopters and search and rescue personnel.

DeSantis said the state has requested an EMAC, or emergency management assistance compact, which allows states to share relief and aid with one another.

“We have already 34 different search and rescue aircraft. We've never had this many resources prior to a storm. We have had what's called EMAC requests that get sent out to other states, and we've had a tremendous response from other states, just like we responded to North Carolina when they needed us,” said DeSantis.

DeSantis said four larger state-run shelters that can hold thousands of people will be announced later on Tuesday. One will be in Polk County.

He said people looking for free rides to shelters can use Uber, promo code #MiltonRelief.

Watch the governor's full press conference on Milton, from gas and tolls, to search and rescue:

Power companies in the path of Hurricane Milton are arming themselves to battle widespread outages and damage.

Customers are urged to have patience and practice safety.

OUC

The Orlando Utilities Commission wants customers to know that extended power outages are expected following Hurricane Milton.

OUC Vice President Luz Aviles said restoration efforts will be five times greater than normal. But the recent devastation caused by Hurricane Helene could have impacts here.

"Because many crews throughout the Southeastern U.S. are in the Carolinas helping to restore electric infrastructure and water infrastructure for those devastated by Hurricane Helene," she said Monday, "our mutual aid is constrained. ... Therefore, mutual aid resources are traveling from states farther away to assist us than we normally call from."

Aviles urges customers to prepare for multiple days of outages and to be patient with OUC crews in their neighborhoods. To restore service in an orderly fashion they have to evaluate damage, and that can take some time.

The Orlando Utilities Commission provides a checklist with steps and safety concerns before during and after the storm.

Three in a row

For power companies in Florida, it's a hurricane triple whammy: Debby two months ago, Helene two weeks ago and now Milton.

But the companies are getting ready with their employees and line workers borrowed from other states.

Duke Energy Florida says more than a million of its customers could lose power. It's deploying 10,000 workers, including crews from the Midwest.

"It is like staging an army," said Duke State President Melissa Seixas, "because you have to keep them safe, you have to have a place for them to sleep, you have to feed them, you have to do their laundry. So it is a very detailed operation, which is why we prepare all year long.

She said this storm appears to be the one long feared in Tampa Bay.

"Hurricane Milton," she said, "is a powerful storm that none of us have seen here in Florida, certainly in our lifetime."

On Saturday, Duke finished restoring the 800,000 outages from Helene, completing a rebuild of equipment destroyed by storm surge on Pinellas County's barrier islands.

The islands had particular vulnerability to storm surge from Helene.

"It wasn't trees knocking down overhead line and poles," Seixas said. "It was storm surge. It was sand. It was the power of the water that completely pushed transformers off the pad, mounted concrete. ... We had equipment that was floated away, pushed away, upside down in the middle of Gulf Boulevard. I mean, just the sheer power of that water."

Now, Seixas says Milton will be “Helene all over again, but worse.”

Central Florida residents looking to stock up on their prescriptions can get refills in advance due to emergency provisions in light of Hurricane Milton.

On Sunday, Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency in most counties throughout Florida. As a result of the declaration, residents are to receive early prescription refills if authorized prescription refills are remaining, according to the Florida Department of Health.

The refill is for at least a 30-day supply. The waived time restriction applies to all Central Florida counties under Florida’s state of emergency.

The state of emergency covers all Central Florida counties.

Volusia and Marion counties have announced mandatory evacuations due to possible impacts of Hurricane Milton.

In Volusia County, the evacuation takes effect beginning 8 a.m. Wednesday. It applies to all areas east of the intracoast waterway, all manufactured and mobile homes, all low-lying areas and other areas areas prone to flooding, and all campsites and RV parks.

The Volusia County announcement says: "Hurricane Milton poses a significant threat of heavy rainfall, flooding, and damaging winds and gusts. Evacuees are encouraged to seek short-distance evacuations to a nearby location, stay with friends or family, or visit www.volusia.org to find local shelters and help minimize traffic congestion."

In Marion County, the evacuation order takes effect at 6 p.m. Tuesday. It applies to "those living in mobile homes, RVs, modular-type homes, and any structure in which the resident feels unsafe."

In making the announcement of Facebook, the Sheriff's Office says: "Those living in these homes should know that if they remain in these locations, emergency personnel will not respond to their location until it is deemed safe to do so."

The county also announced that several shelters will open at 6 p.m. Tuesday.

Find the Marion and Volusia shelters HERE.

As of 5 p.m. Monday, a hurricane warning has been issued for most of Central Florida, from Sumter, Lake and Marion counties eastward to Seminole, Orange and Osceola.

Brevard and Volusia counties are now under a hurricane watch.

A hurricane warning means that sustained winds of 74 miles per hour or higher are expected within the next 36 hours.

Hurricane Milton is forecast to make landfall on the west coast of Florida as early as Wednesday evening and cross the state on Thursday. Orlando is at the center of the forecast cone.

Source: County of Volusia's YouTube page

Volusia County officials have issued 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.

Shelters in the county will begin opening Wednesday at 9 a.m.

In a press conference Monday afternoon, Clint Mecham of Emergency Management said the county’s expecting about a foot of rainfall, localized flooding, Category 1 storm winds, and widespread power outages.

He said he wants to see people taking this seriously.

“This is a substantial threat, not only to Volusia County, but to many areas across the state of Florida. Don't be fooled or get complacent with the reports that this storm will lose its intensity by the time it reaches us, we're still going to get hit very, very hard,” Mecham said.

The county also announced the institution of a curfew beginning at 8 p.m. Wednesday.

Sheriff Mike Chitwood said the curfew will be strictly enforced.

“There's a reason why we're telling you to evacuate. It's not because we're on a power trip. It's because we might not be able to get to you. And we've had people you know, just look around at the folks who didn't evacuate during Helena were asked to evacuate. So please use a little common sense here,” Chitwood said.

Volusia schools will have early release Tuesday and be closed Wednesday and Thursday. Friday is yet to be determined.

Lillian Hernández Caraballo is a Report for America corps member.

Rosen Hotels

Governor Ron DeSantis said the shoulders are now open on I-4 and I-75 ahead of Hurricane Milton.

DeSantis said this will help to make evacuations quicker. Tolls have also already been lifted on those roads to expedite and encourage evacuations.

“The Florida Department of Transportation is opening roadway shoulders as necessary to facilitate evacuations and ease congestion on I-4 and I-75 so the shoulder is completely open all the way until SR 417, in Central Florida,” said DeSantis.

The governor said hotels like Rosen properties, Red Roof Inns, Aloft Hotels, La Quinta, Motel Six, Best Western, and Holiday Inn are all offering reduced rates for people evacuating from Hurricane Milton.

The state agency Visit Florida is curating a list of hotel properties offering reduced rates for evacuees.

“Visit Florida has emergency accommodation modules on Expedia, Priceline and Booking.com for those evacuating, these modules will continue to provide real time hotel availability and lodging resources. We're working with the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association to continue to, as is standard in these emergencies, encourage hotels to reduce pressure prices,” says DeSantis. 

Hurricane Milton is expected to make landfall Wednesday night.

Watch the governor's press conference where he talks about reduced rates here:

Seminole County is preparing for intense winds, flooding and damage from Hurricane Milton.

Alan Harris, the Emergency Management Director for Seminole County, said the county has been working with debris contractors ahead of the storm. Forecasts show that the storm could create up to 10 million cubic yards of debris.

“To put that into Disney terms, that is 33 Spaceship Earths at Epcot Center,” Harris said. “That's a lot of debris to pick up; 33 spaceship Earths. It is going to take us a long, long time to pick up debris.”

Residents that still have trash or debris from Hurricane Helene can take it to Seminole County landfills. Regular trash pickup is still scheduled for Monday and Tuesday.

Along with debris, the county is seeing historically high levels of groundwater. Seminole County residents have been raising concerns about flooding as Hurricane Milton approaches Florida.

The county has distributed over 40,000 sandbags so far and has planned to give out more tomorrow. Sandbag locations in Seminole County close at noon Tuesday. .

“The slowing of the storm has actually helped us a little bit community wide,” Harris said. “Helps us to prepare a little bit more.”

Seminole County Government will be closed on Wednesday and Thursday. As the storm approaches, the county urges residents to take precautions.

“Residents should have several days worth of food and water,” Harris said. “We know that power will be out for a while. We know the communication systems may be down for a while. So please prepare the families. You can stay up to date on all things hurricane Milton related for here in Seminole County, again, by going to our Prepare Seminole website.”

Residents can sign up for emergency text alerts by texting Storm 2024 to 888-777. Seminole County’s assistance information line is 407-665-0000.

There will be no flights out of Orlando International Airport Wednesday, October 9 as the airport will pause commercial operations Wednesday morning ahead of Hurricane Milton.

Orlando International Airport and Orlando Executive Airport will ground all passenger and private flights out of the airports on Wednesday morning.

The airport itself will remain open to accept emergency aid and relief flights as part of hurricane recovery.

Orlando International Airport

Commercial operations will resume as soon as possible after a damage assessment can be conducted.

Passengers should check their individual airlines for flight updates.

The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority says the airport is not an authorized shelter and cannot be used to accommodate any residents or passengers during severe weather like hurricanes.

GOAA officials say they will continue to monitor the storm and deliver updates as needed.

The City of Orlando and Mayor Buddy Dyer said four downtown parking garages will have fees waived for residents who wish to leave their car in the covered garages.

Those parking garages are:

• Central at 53 W Central Blvd
• Jefferson at 62 W Jefferson Street
• Orange County Administration at 300 Liberty Avenue
• Library at 112 E Central Blvd

The fee-free parking will begin Wednesday at 6 a.m. and end Friday at noon – depending on weather and road conditions.

The Orlando Utilities Commission also said those in its service area should prepare to be without power for multiple days.

Service restoration will be assessed immediately following the storm, but it will take about 48 hours to provide estimated restoration times. OUC said restoration will be based on priority.

“Critical areas” like hospitals, police and fire stations will take priority. Restoration to the most amount of people in the most efficient way will follow.

Residents are reminded to stay wary of dangers like drowned power lines and fallen trees – as well as the danger of using a generator inside or in a garage.

Residents can check if their contact information is up to date at my.OUC.com

As of 1:30pm Monday, the National Weather Service was forecasting that some kind of mitigation action would be necessary to prepare for “significant hydrologic activity” at four St. Johns River monitoring gauges in east Central Florida: near Astor, DeLand, Lake Harney and Sanford.

At the Astor gauge in Lake County, a flood warning was in effect until further notice, impacting Lake and Volusia counties. Minor flooding was already occurring at that portion of the river, with water levels reaching 2.84 feet (above Astor’s flood stage of 2.3 feet), and moderate flooding of 3-4 feet predicted by later on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the river’s Lake Harney gauge recorded water levels of 5.91 feet Monday afternoon, inching close to 6 feet: the marker for when mitigation action is necessary for that part of the river, per NWS. Minor flooding of 8.3 feet was predicted for that part of the river by Saturday morning.

Read more about the potential for flooding and the precautions water managers are taking.

A hurricane watch is in effect for most of Central Florida, from Sumter and Marion counties east to Orange, Seminole and Osceola.

"So everyone in this area is at risk of seeing damaging hurricane force winds during Wednesday into Wednesday night," said National Hurricane Center Director Michael Brennan in a briefing after the 11 a.m. update. "We're likely to see these hurricane watches extended eastward, over to the east coast of Florida later today."

The watches mean Hurricane Milton poses a possible threat of hurricane force winds (sustained winds of 74 mph or higher) in the next 48 hours.

And the rainfall could be impactful, too.

"Milton is going to be moving relatively quickly, but we're still going to see the potential for some very heavy rainfall," Brennan said. "Widespread rainfall totals of five to 10 inches, isolated totals as high as 15 inches, especially into the north of the track. ... There could be considerable flash and urban flooding, moderate to major river flooding in this area from Wednesday all the way into Thursday morning."

Here’s update from NHC Director Brennan:

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Schools are closing in Central Florida ahead of Milton.

Brevard, Seminole and Volusia County Schools will have an early release day on Tuesday, October 8.

Brevard, Flagler, Lake, Marion, Orange, Osceola, Polk, Seminole and Volusia County Schools will be closed on Wednesday, October 9 and Thursday, October 10.

Rollins College has closed Monday, October 7.

AdventHealth University, Barry School of Law, Daytona State College, Embry Riddle, Florida Tech, Lake-Sumter State College, Nova Southeastern University, Stetson and UCF are closed starting Tuesday, October 8.

For a full list of school closures in Central Florida, click here.

Governor Ron DeSantis says he will not extend voter registration deadlines ahead of Hurricane Milton making landfall in Florida.

The deadline to register to vote is Monday, October 7.

Florida Channel

Voter rights groups had called on the governor to extend the deadline due to stormy and rainy weather ahead of the hurricane.

DeSantis says he might sign an executive order after the storm, as he did after Hurricane Helene, to change polling locations if there is damage to sites.

Watch the governor’s full press conference where he discusses important Milton updates:

Need to register to vote? Click here.

In response to possible flash flooding, counties throughout the region have opened sand bag locations. Typically, residents are asked to fill the bags themselves, though assistance is available at some locations.

You'll find a list of sites in this article, As Milton approaches, Central Florida sandbag locations open. The article is being updated as more locations are announced.