HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. — Hurricane Milton made landfall as a Category 3 storm near Siesta Key on Florida's Gulf Coast on Oct. 10.
10 Tampa Bay is compiling this guidance and other local information into county-specific guides. We will keep you updated with the latest information as recovery in the area continues.
In Hillsborough County, a state of local emergency has been extended through Oct. 27 while the community begins to clean up and recover.
Here's what you need to know:
FORECAST
See the continuing forecast for the area here. Find the latest weather alerts here.
EVACUATIONS
There are no active evacuation orders for Hillsborough County.
Following the storm, the City of Tampa re-entry map showing residents if their area is cleared to return is available here. Currently, every area is cleared for re-entry.
Flood warnings
Although Milton came and went, rivers across the Tampa Bay area are still experiencing flooding, adding another headache to residents who are already displaced.
Flood warnings were issued in parts of Hillsborough County on Friday, Oct. 11. According to the county, warnings remain in effect for the following areas "until further notice":
- Hillsborough River Near Zephyrhills at Hillsborough River State Park
- Hillsborough River at Morris Bridge
- Alafia River from U.S. 301 to Lithia-Pinecrest Road
- Little Manatee River at Wimauma at U.S. 301
WATER SERVICE
The Hillsborough County government says the drinking water system is operational but that power outages are impacting pump stations and customers should limit their water use to essential needs. Residents are also being asked to reduce wastewater, especially if your pump station is not yet operational.
You can find out more in a post from the county made on Thursday, Oct. 10.
Boil water notices
According to the county's website, there are no current boil water notices.
RECOVERY CENTER
Several Multi-Agency Recovery Centers opened across Hillsborough County. To find which ones are still open, click or tap here.
FEMA
FEMA is opening new assistance centers starting Wednesday, Oct. 23 in Tampa.
The locations include:
- Copeland Park Center, 11001 N. 15th Street, Tampa, FL 33614
- Port Tampa Center, 4702 W McCoy St, Tampa, FL 33616
- Cyrus Greene Center, 2101 E. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd, Tampa, FL 33610
- Cordelia B. Hunt Center, 4810 N. Himes Avenue, Tampa, FL 33614
While no FEMA representatives will be onsite, Tampa officials will be available to answer general questions and provide access to computers only.
The centers are open Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to noon.
Residents will need to bring the following information to complete their applications:
- Address of your damaged home or apartment
- Names of people living in your household
- A description of your disaster damages
- Insurance information
- Social Security Number
- A telephone number where you can be reached or a message can be left
- Bank account information
- Email address
DAMAGE REPORTS
As of Friday morning, the county has released a form for residents and non-profit organizations to self-report damage to property.
"Residents and nonprofit organizations, including houses of worship and agricultural/aquacultural entities, are encouraged to complete the form."
DISTRIBUTION POINTS
For the latest in distribution sites, please click or tap here.
FREE SUPPLIES, RESOURCES, DONATION DROP-OFFS
As Tampa Bay communities start to recover from Hurricane Milton, free supplies have been made available. Here's where you can get free supplies in Hillsborough County:
Click or tap here for the latest information.
Donation Drop Offs:
Beginning on Friday, October 18, and running through Friday, October 25, HCSO will collect donations of new clothes, new shoes, nonperishable foods, and hygiene items to assist local families as they rebuild and recover.
Donations can be dropped off at the following public HCSO locations:
- District 1: 14102 N 20th St, Tampa, FL 33613
- District 2: 2310 N Falkenburg Rd, Tampa, FL 33619
- District 3: 7202 Gunn Hwy, Tampa, FL 33625
- District 4: 508 33rd St SE, Ruskin, FL 33570
- District 5: 10128 Windhorst Rd, Tampa, FL 33619
- Courthouse: 800 E Twiggs St. Tampa, FL 33602
- Sheriff’s Operations Center (SOC): 2008 E 8th Ave, Tampa, FL 33605
SHELTERS
You can find an interactive map with the latest shelters and their status here. County officials say it's important to be sure a location is open before arriving since they operate on an as-needed basis.
You can check back on the county's interactive map here.
COMFORT STATIONS
Starting Monday, Oct. 21, eight comfort stations will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily in Hillsborough County:
- Wimauma Civic Center, 5705 Hillsborough St., Wimauma, FL 33598
- University Mall, 2200 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa, FL 33612
- Seffner Mango Park, 410 N. Kingsway Rd., Seffner, FL 33584
- 9851 S. U.S. 41, Gibsonton, FL 33534
- Keith Waller Park, 1318 Sydney Dover Rd., Dover, FL 33527
- University Area Community Development Corporation, Inc. (UACDC), 14013 N. 22nd St., Tampa, FL 33613
- Progress Village Senior Center, 8701 Progress Blvd., Tampa, FL 33619
- Hillsborough Avenue and Hanley Road in Town 'N Country, 7501 W. Hillsborough Ave., Tampa, FL, 33615
POWER
Tampa Electric officials said customers in Hillsborough should have power by 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, but many are expected to have power restored before then. You can find the latest power outages on the TECO website here.
CLOSINGS
Schools
You can find the latest school closings here.
County parks, preserves and recreation centers
Some county offices and facilities will reopen starting Tuesday, Oct. 15. A full list can be found on Hillsborough County's website.
Election offices resumed normal operations on Monday, Oct. 14.
Some parks, preserves, and county boat ramps are open. For the latest information regarding park openings, visit HCFL.gov/StaySafe and look for "Storm Related Parks Status." They will reopen one-by-one as damage is assessed and mitigated.
Trash collection and debris removal
Hillsborough County Emergency Operations suspended trash, recycling and yard waste operations for Tuesday. The county reported that curbside collection and storm debris collection resumed on Friday. For residents whose pick up was missed, collection service will resume on the next regularly scheduled day.
The county said it has resumed storm debris collection.
The following Hillsborough County Solid Waste Community Collection Centers will be open 24/7 starting at 7 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 15:
- Hillsborough Heights Solid Waste Facility — 6209 County Road 579, Seffner, FL 33584
- Hillsborough County's Resource Recovery Facility — 350 N. Falkenburg Road, Tampa, FL 33619
The following center will have extended hours from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. until further notice.
- Northwest County Solid Waste Facility - 8001 W. Linebaugh Ave., Tampa, FL 33625
- South County Solid Waste Facility - 13000 U.S. 41, Gibsonton, FL 33534
The City of Tampa Department of Solid Waste resumed residential garbage and recycling services on Monday, Oct. 14.
