PASCO COUNTY, Fla. — In a Wednesday evening plea to its coastline residents ahead of Hurricane Helene's impact, the Pasco County government called on people living inside Evacuation Level A to obey the mandatory evacuation orders.
"Time is running out to get to higher ground ahead of Hurricane Helene," Pasco County officials said Wednesday evening.
County officials asked people who live outside the boundaries of the evacuation order, Evacuations Level B and C, to also consider evacuating inland or moving into one of the county's six evacuation shelters.
A mandatory evacuation order was issued for the county's Evacuation Level A area ahead of Hurricane Helene's impact. Level A includes the entire coastline of Pasco County; towns like Hudson, Port Richey, parts of Beacon Square and Key Vista. Pasco County has an interactive map of all local evacuation zones on its website.
"It's time to leave," the Pasco County government told Evacuation Level A. "It is not safe to stay in homes along Pasco's coastline, which is expecting extremely dangerous storm surge starting Thursday morning."
Zones B and C, include New Port Richey, New Port Richey East, Jasmine Estates and Holiday. While B and C were not placed under a mandatory evacuation order Wednesday night, residents in these areas have been asked by Pasco County to consider evacuating.
"Please take these orders seriously," Pasco County leaders shared in a press release. "If you can't stay further inland with family or friends, or at a hotel, Pasco County has six shelters available."
Below are Pasco County's six evacuation shelter locations, all of which allow pets:
- Fivay High School -- Hudson
- Fasano Regional Hurricane Shelter -- Hudson
- River Ridge School -- New Port Richey
- Sunlake High School -- Land O' Lakes
- Winegrass Ranch High School -- Wesley Chapel
- Centennial Middle School -- Dade City
Sandbag locations are also featured on the interactive evacuation map on the county's website. All sandbag locations will close at 8 a.m. on Thursday.
County offices are closed Thursday and Friday because of Hurricane Helene. The county listed a a 24 hour customer service line at 727-847-2411.
The National Hurricane Center has issued hurricane and storm surge warnings for parts of Florida's Gulf Coast, including the Tampa Bay area. Read the latest on Hurricane Helene and its trajectory here.
We will continue to provide the latest information through your 10 Tampa Bay hurricane headquarters.
