JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – As Central and Southwest Florida evacuees make their way to safer grounds ahead of Hurricane Milton’s devastating landfall, Jacksonville is seeing a spike in traffic and hotel reservations.
Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan said Tuesday that she spoke with Tampa’s Mayor Jane Castor about the evacuees making their way to Jacksonville.
“A lot of those folks that are coming up here from the Tampa area will be coming into our hotels. So, please be accommodating to those folks,” she urged. “I am sure they’re scared and in need of a little comfort."
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Deegan said downtown hotels have reached full capacity, and she expects rooms at the beaches and surrounding areas to also become fully booked.
On Tuesday, Interstate 95, Interstate 295 and Interstate 10 were all jammed packed with traffic heading north.
Mayor Deegan asked for residents to avoid those highways, if possible.
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“It looks now like we may have some people that are out and about, and I’d love for you to stay off the roads," Deegan said during Tuesday evening’s update on the city’s preparations ahead of the storm.
The mayor emphasized that Duval County has not ordered any evacuations, but recommended residents in mobile homes, trailer parks or low-lying areas with heavy tree canopies to seek shelter with a friend or at one of the six locations across the city.