BROOKSVILLE, Fla. — As Hurricane Helene continues its trek in the Gulf, more residents in the Tampa Bay area are taking precaution.

What You Need To Know

  • Evacuation shelters have opened up across the Tampa Bay area as Hurricane Helene barrels thru the Gulf toward Florida

  • West Hernando Middle School opened in Hernando County today, offering residents a place to stay safe

  • The shelter has food as well as kennels for pets, but residents will need to bring chairs, bedding, pillows, and all other necessities with them

  • Those with the shelter say they will remain open, taking in as many homeowners and pets as they can

Evacuation shelters are open all along the coast for those evacuating their homes after being ordered to do so by county officials.

In Hernando County, a shelter opened early Wednesday, with the goal of offering residents a place to stay safe from Helene.

On a normal day, West Hernando Middle School would be home to students. But this week, it’s serving as Hernando County’s emergency evacuation shelter.

“In Hernando County, if you’re evacuating and you need a place of last resort to come to, the shelter is here and we’re open,” said Ray Pinder, Superintendent of Hernando County Schools.

The school is offering a place for those to rest and, importantly, have a roof over their head.

“We have meals and snacks, but we don’t provide anything else,” said Pinder. “So if you’re coming to a general population shelter, you need to provide any chairs, bedding, pillows, any special medication, all of those things on the list they tell you to bring, you need to bring here.”

It’s also a place for those with four legs can stay. Rows of kennels have been made up, along with food, for pets.

“We also have, in case they don’t bring their own bedding, we even have a little bit of bedding here for the dogs,” said Jaiden Carvalho, a veterinary assistant. “If people need it, we can put it in the kennels for them.”

There’s also free transportation being offered to those who need to evacuate. Taking residents to-and-from their home to the shelter. The middle school is currently the only shelter open in the county. But, that could change, depending on the need.

“If we need more shelters, the EOC will let us know and we’ll open other shelter locations and schools,” said Pinder.