TAMPA, Fla. — With the onset of winds from Hurricane Milton ahead of landfall, Hillsborough County said Wednesday afternoon that it’s no longer able to transport residents to shelters.
Milton came on the scene on Saturday as a tropical storm. Early Monday morning, Milton kicked off a rapid intensification starting as a Category 2 storm. By noon, the storm had strengthened to a large Category 5 hurricane, and has waffled between a Category 4 and 5 since.
The National Weather Service Wednesday afternoon asked Florida residents to shelter in place as tropical storm-force winds, flooding rains and tornadoes spread across inland Florida.
“Unless a life-threatening situation arises, stay indoors and follow updates,” the National Weather Service said in a social media post.
Parts of the Tampa Bay region have issued evacuation orders.
Here’s a list of shelters in Hillsborough County
- Burnett Middle School, 1010 N Kingsway Rd, Seffner (pet-friendly
- City Furniture 3205 Frontage Road, Plant City
- BayCare (old Barnes and Noble at 11802 N. Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa
- Collins PK-8 School, 12424 Summerfield Blvd., Riverview
- Durant High, 4748 Cougar Path, Plant City (pet-friendly) (at capacity)
- Erwin Technical College (2010 E Hillsborough Ave, Tampa) (special needs only, pet-friendly) (at capacity)
- Lockhart Elementary Magnet School 3719 N. 17th St., Tampa
- Middleton High School, 4801 N 22nd St, Tampa (pet-friendly)
- Mulrennan Middle School 4215 Durant Rd., Valrico
- Reddick Elementary School, 325 W. Lake Dr., Wimauma, FL 33598 (opens 7 p.m. Tuesday)
- Seminole Hard Rock Casino 5223 Orient Road, Tampa
- Shields Middle School, 15732 Beth Shields Way, Ruskin (at capacity)
- Sickles High School, 7950 Gunn Hwy, Tampa (pet-friendly)
- Sumner High School (10650 Co. Rd. 672, Riverview) (special needs only, pet-friendly)
- Steinbrenner High School, 5575 W. Lutz Lake Fern Rd., Lutz, FL
33558 (pet-friendly) - Strawberry Crest High School (4691 Gallagher Rd., Dover) (special needs only, pet-friendly) (nearing capacity)
For a full list of shelters, click here.
