Counties across the Tampa Bay area are opening emergency shelters ahead of Hurricane Milton. We'll post them below and update the list as we get new information.

PINELLAS COUNTY

Pinellas County is opening six emergency shelters in advance of Hurricane Milton. Effective at noon today, Monday, Oct. 7, the following shelters will be open:

- Largo High School (general population and pet friendly), 410 Missouri Ave. N., Largo
- Gibbs High School (general population and pet friendly), 850 34th St. S. St. Petersburg
- Palm Harbor University High School (general population and pet friendly), 1900 Omaha St, Palm Harbor
- Palm Harbor University High School Bldg. 19 (special needs), 1900 Omaha St., Palm Harbor
- Dunedin Highland Middle School (special needs), 70 Patricia Ave., Dunedin
- Oak Grove Middle School (special needs), 1370 S. Belcher Road, Clearwater

For more information, click here.

PASCO COUNTY

Pasco County is opening hurricane shelters for anyone who needs to leave their home ahead of Hurricane Milton and has nowhere else to stay.  All shelters are accepting family pets.The following shelters will open Monday, October 7, 2024, at noon:

Learn more about what to bring if you’re sheltering with your pet: mypas.co/PetHurricanePrep

MANATEE COUNTY

The following locations will be opening emergency shelters Monday afternoon:

  • Mills Elementary School (7200 69th St. E., Palmetto)
  • Miller Elementary School (601 43rd St. W., Bradenton)
  • Myakka Elementary School (37205 Manatee Ave., Myakka City)

A special needs shelter will also be opening for those who have pre-registered. If you haven’t registered yet, please do so at mymanatee.org/needs.

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY

Hillsborough County will open Middleton High School this afternoon as a safe haven in advance of inclement weather for residents who were impacted by Hurricane Helene.

Middleton High School will open at 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 6, at 4801 N. 22nd St., Tampa, Fla., 33610. The forecast calls for heavy rain and wind on Sunday afternoon through Sunday night.

Residents who need transportation assistance to Middleton High School should call 833-HC STORM or 833-427-8676 to make arrangements. The storm information and helpline is open until 7 p.m.

POLK COUNTY

Based on the current projections and estimated time of Hurricane Milton’s arrival to Polk County, the following public shelters will be open at noon on Tuesday, Oct. 8:

  • 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

Three pet friendly shelters will also be open noon on Tuesday, Oct. 8.

They are located at:

  • 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

Pet owners must bring shot records for their pets, an airline-approved carrying case or crate and pet food.

Special Needs shelters will also open at 7 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 8, for those residents with special and/or medical needs. Special needs shelters are temporary emergency facilities capable of providing care to residents whose medical condition(s) may require the use of electrical equipment, oxygen or dialysis, or individuals with physical, cognitive or medical conditions who may require assistance from medical professionals. Although special needs shelters provide more care than a general shelter, they do not provide the level of care found in a medical facility.

The Special Needs shelters are located at:

  • FDOH Polk Specialty Care Unit, 1255 Brice Blvd., Bartow
  • Ridge Community High School, 500 W. Orchid Dr., Davenport
  • McKeel Academy, 1810 W. Parker St., Lakeland

For the most up-to-date information, please monitor your local news media or call the Citizen’s Information Line at (863) 298-7500 (locally) or toll-free 866-661-0228.

HERNANDO COUNTY

Mandatory evacuation orders have been announced to start at 8am on Tuesday, October 8, 2024. Residents seeking safe shelter are encouraged to arrive at their planned location by 12pm on Wednesday, October 9, 2024. 

Mandatory Evacuations have been issued for all areas west of US 19, which includes evacuation zones A, B, and C. All residents living in coastal and low-lying areas, as well as manufactured homes county wide, are included. Shelters should be utilized as a last resort. Residents are advised to seek shelter with family or friends that reside in a safe structure. If this is not a possibility, public shelters will open at 8am on Tuesday, October 8, 2024 at the below addresses.

  • Challenger K-8
    13400 Elgin Blvd., Spring Hill, FL 34609

o    Special Needs Clients

o    General Population

o    Pet Friendly

  • West Hernando Middle School
    14325 Ken Austin Pkwy., Brooksville, FL 34614

o    General Population

o    Pet Friendly

  • Enrichment Center
    800 John Gary Grubbs Blvd., Brooksville, FL 34601

o    General Population

o    Pet Friendly

*If you are needing the Special Needs Shelter and have a pet, transportation from either your house or shelter location for your pet is done through Animal Control with Hernando County Sheriff’s Office. Please call Hernando County Public Information Center (PIC) at 352-754-4083 to arrange pick up. The PIC is open 8am-5pm on Monday, 7am on Tuesday and then open 24/7 until further notice..

CITRUS COUNTY

A 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗲𝘃𝗮𝗰𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 is in order for all residents in Citrus County residing in campers, mobile homes, manufactured homes, or any structure not capable of withstanding sustained winds of up to 110MPH, beginning 𝗧𝘂𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗢𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟴, 𝗮𝘁 𝟴𝗔𝗠. We encourage residents to prepare and take action NOW. There is still a 100-mile degree of error. Do not focus on the Tampa Bay area as the place of impact.

𝗦𝗛𝗘𝗟𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗦 𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗡 𝗔𝗧 𝟴𝗔𝗠 𝗧𝗨𝗘𝗦𝗗𝗔𝗬:

𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝗘𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 (General Population) - 185 West Citrus Springs Blvd., Citrus Springs, FL 34434

𝗖𝗶𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘀 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 (General Population) - 600 West Highland Blvd., Inverness, FL 34452

𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗥𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝗘𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 (Special Needs) - 2927 North Forest Ridge Blvd., Hernando, FL 34442

𝗥𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 (Pet Friendly) - 3630 W Educational Path, Lecanto, FL 34461

Citrus County Transit provides transportation at no cost to an open shelter or other safe location within Citrus County. To book transportation, please call: (352) 527-7630.