Counties in Northeast Florida are preparing for Hurricane Milton’s impact as the Category 5 storm aims at the Gulf Coast.
Some counties have issued mandatory or voluntary evacuation orders.
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Residents should bring all items such as medications, pet supplies, food and other essentials.
COUNTY-BY-COUNTY: Northeast Florida begins preparations ahead of Hurricane Milton | School closures ahead of Hurricane Milton
Putnam County
Putnam County recommends that residents in Zones F and A evacuate because of possible flooding concerns from the high river levels.
Shelters opened Tuesday at 6 p.m.:
- (Pet-friendly location) Ochwilla Elementary - 299 State Road 21 in Hawthorne
- (Special needs location) Kelley Smith Elementary - 141 Kelley Smith School Road in Palatka
- Jenkins Elementary - 251 County Road 315, San Mateo
- Browning Pearce Elementary - 100 Bear Boulevard, San Mateo
- Middleton Burney Elementary - 1020 Huntington Road - Crescent City
Check your evacuation zone here. For storm-related questions, call the Citizen Information Call Center at 386-329-1904 between Oct. 7 from noon to 8 p.m. and Oct. 8 at 8:30 a.m.
Marion County
Marion County has called for a mandatory evacuation of mobile homes and homes built before 1994. If residents are unable to evacuate, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office encourages them to seek shelter with family or friends or at one of the locations provided by the county. The order begins Tuesday, Oct. 6 at 6 p.m.
Shelters opened at 6 p.m. Tuesday:
- Belleview Middle School - 10500 SE 36th Avenue, Belleview
- Forest High School - 5000 SE Maricamp Road, Ocala
- Fort McCoy School - 16160 NE Highway 315, Fort McCoy
- Horizon Academy at Marion Oaks - 365 Marion Oaks Drive, Ocala
- Liberty Middle School - 4773 SW 95th Street, Ocala
- Madison Street Academy - 401 NW Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, Ocala
- North Marion Middle School - 2085 W Highway 329, Citra
- (Special needs location) West Port High School - 3733 SW 80th Avenue, Ocala (pets of special needs residents allowed)
- (Pet-friendly location) Lake Weir High School - 10351 SE Maricamp Road, Ocala
- (Pet-friendly location) Vanguard High School - 7 NW 28th Street, Ocala
- (MCSO Sexual Offender and Predator Unit) 3300 NW 10th Street, Ocala
Clay County
Clay County shelters opened Wednesday at 6 a.m.
- (Pet-friendly location) Keystone Heights Elementary - 335 SW Pecan S, Keystone
- (Pet-friendly location) Orange Park High - 2300 Kingsley Ave, Orange Park
- (Special needs location) Lake Asbury Junior High - 2851 Sandridge Road, Greencove Spring
- Wilkinson Elementary - 4965 County Road 218, Middleburg
Duval County
Duval County opened shelters on Wednesday at 8 a.m.
- (Special needs & pet-friendly location) Atlantic Coast High School - 9735 R. G. Skinner Parkway
- (Pet-friendly location) Landmark Middle School - 101 Kernan Blvd. N
- (Special needs & pet-friendly location) The Legends Center - 5130 Soutel Dr.
- Chaffee Trail Elementary - 11400 Sam Caruso Way
- LaVilla School of the Arts - 501 N. Davis Street
- Arlington Middle School - 8141 Lone Star Road
Alachua County
Alachua County has opened three emergency shelters in response to Hurricane Milton, including two general population/pet-friendly shelters and one special needs shelter.
General Population/Pet-Friendly Shelters:
- Martin Luther King Jr. Multipurpose Center 1028 NE 14th St., Gainesville
- Easton-Newberry Sports Complex 24880 NW 16th Ave., Newberry
Special Needs Shelter:
- Alachua County Senior Recreation Center 5701 NW 34th Blvd., Gainesville
St. Johns County
Three shelters opened at 8 a.m. Wednesday as evacuations begin:
- Special medical needs shelter at Freedom Crossing Academy: 1365 Shetland Dr, St Johns, FL 32259
- Pet-friendly shelter at South Woods Elementary: 4750 FL-206, Elkton, FL 32033
- General population: Pedro Menendez High School: 600, 580 FL-206 West, St. Augustine, FL 32086
Residents who require transportation to a storm shelter should call the Emergency Management Citizen Information Hotline at 904-824-5550. Transportation will be provided for those in need.
Flagler County
Flagler County Emergency Operation Center opened a public Hurricane Evacuation Shelter at 8 a.m. Wednesday in conjunction with a mandatory evacuation order.
- Residents can go to Rymfire Elementary School at 1425 Rymfire Dr. in Palm Coast. This pet-friendly shelter will serve as both a general population and special medical needs shelter.
- The shelter will also accommodate residents who are from an area under an evacuation order and have no other place to go.
- Dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, rodents and turtles - are the allowed pets. There is a four-pet maximum. Pet owners should bring current vaccination records and supplies, including crates/cages, and medications.
Nassau County
If you do not have a safe location to shelter, a shelter is available at Wildlight Elementary, 550 Curiosity Ave., Yulee, FL 32097.
This shelter will accept the general population, special needs residents, and pets with Rabies vaccinations.
If you intend on going to the shelter, ensure you bring the following items with you:
- Blankets & pillows
- Clothing
- Mobility equipment
- Medications
- Food and snacks
- Personal hygiene items
Pet owners should bring:
- Secure crate
- Pet food and bowls
- Leash, collar or harness
- Litter box
- Proof of rabies vaccination
If you have any questions, need assistance locating your zone or need transportation to the shelter, contact the Emergency Operations Center at 904-548-0900.