CITRUS COUNTY, Fla. — As the Tampa Bay area braces for Hurricane Milton, local officials are issuing county-by-county guidance for residents who will be affected by the storm.
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 the storm develops. Here's what you need to know for Citrus County:
FORECAST
Timing: 8 p.m. Wednesday through 8 a.m. Thursday. See the latest forecasts for the area here.
Impact:
- Winds: 60-80 mph
- Rain: 6 to 10 inches
- Surge: 5 to 10 feet
EVACUATIONS
A mandatory evacuation is in order for all residents in Citrus County in Zone A or who is residing in campers, mobile homes, manufactured homes or any structure not capable of withstanding sustained winds of up to 110MPH, beginning 8 a.m. Tuesday. You can find your evacuation zone here.
SHELTERS
You can find the latest shelter information here. County officials say it's important to be sure a location is open before arriving since they operate on an as-needed basis. Citrus County Transit provides free rides to shelters - call (352) 527-7630.
"Special needs only" locations are for "residents whose medical condition may require the use of electrical equipment, oxygen, dialysis, or individuals with physical, cognitive, or medical conditions that may require assistance from medical professionals." These locations do not provide continuous bedside nursing.
The following locations are being used as shelters.
Pet friendly:
- Central Ridge Elementary School 185 West Citrus Springs Blvd., Citrus Springs FL 34434
- Renaissance Center 3630 W Educational Path, Lecanto, FL 34461
Not pet friendly:
- Citrus High School 600 West Highland Blvd., Inverness, FL 34452
Special Needs:
- Forest Ridge Elementary School 2927 North Forest Ridge Blvd., Hernando, FL
POWER
Duke Energy: You can find the latest power outages on the website here.
SECO Energy: You can find the latest power outages on the website here.
Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative: You can find the latest power outages on the website here.
CLOSINGS
Schools
You can find the latest school closings on the Florida Department of Education's website here.
County offices
Closed Tuesday and Wednesday. The County landfill will close Wednesday at noon.
