GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The University of Florida will close its offices and cancel classes, including online classes, beginning at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday and continuing through Thursday because of Hurricane Milton.
All academic and student-related activities, including online classes and exams, will also be canceled during that time.
Notices of any other scheduling changes can be found on the UF home page and through official channels. Visit UF’s emergency updates page for additional details and information.
Hurricane Milton has rapidly strengthened into a major hurricane as it makes its way toward Florida’s west coast. Neighbors should prepare themselves, their families and their property as this storm is expected to bring 4-8 inches of rain to the Gainesville area.
Alachua County
In preparation for Hurricane Milton, Alachua County staff will distribute sandbags (10 bags per vehicle) at Alachua County’s Wayside Park (11855 NW U.S. 441). Distribution begins Monday from noon until 5 p.m.
Times will be announced for sand bag distribution on Tuesday.
After staffed hours, sand, bags and shovels will be available for self-service.
Directions to Wayside Park
Northbound on U.S. 441 (from Gainesville): Turn right onto County Road 237 (at Dollar General), then right onto Northwest 126th Avenue, and right again onto Northwest 59th Terrace to access Wayside Park (located at the Mobile convenience store).
Southbound on U.S. 441 (from Alachua): Turn left onto County Road 237 (at Dollar General), then right onto Northwest 126th Avenue, and right again onto Northwest 59th Terrace to access Wayside Park (located at the Mobile convenience store).
Other locations
The City of Gainesville is distributing sandbags today, from noon until 5 p.m., at City of Gainesville Public Works and Citizens Field. Each person is limited to 10 sandbags.
Pre-made sandbags are available at Public Works (405 N W 39th Ave.). To best manage traffic to the Public Works facility, city officials ask neighbors to adjust their routes and drive north on NW Sixth Street, turning right (east) on NW 39th Ave.
Self-serve sandbags are available at Citizens Field (1000 NE Waldo Rd.). Please access the site from NE 12th Avenue via Waldo Road or travel south on NE 15th Street via NE 16th Avenue.
The City of High Springs has sandbags available from noon to 6 p.m. at Memorial Park, 17380 NW US HWY 441. This is a self-serve site with a limit of 10 bags. Folks should bring their own shovels.
Micanopy has sandbags available self-serve at 706 NE Cholokka Blvd, Micanopy (behind the Town Hall building).
Special Needs Registry
Alachua County Emergency Management encourages those with special needs to register online for the Special Needs Registry Program. The Alachua County Special Needs Registry is specifically targeted at individuals who have certain physical or medical conditions and no options to shelter at home, with friends, family, or elsewhere during a disaster.
The Registry enables Alachua County Emergency Management and Alachua County Department of Health staff to coordinate needs with registrants in advance of tropical weather or other incidents requiring sheltering.
Preparing for the storm
Stay updated on real-time weather developments by texting “Alachua” to 888-777 and following the Alachua County Facebook page. The Alachua County Ready website is also a valuable resource for storm information.
Alachua County residents are urged not to underestimate the potential impact of this storm. Take precautions now to ensure the safety of your family and property. Make sure your hurricane kits and emergency plans are ready.
Important actions to take include:
- Secure loose items around your home that could be carried by strong winds.
- Protect properties in flood-prone areas.
- Trim tree limbs around windows and clear debris.
- Move vehicles away from trees.
- Ensure all family members are familiar with your emergency plan.
- Prepare for possible extended power outages.
- Refill essential prescription medications.
- Create a plan for pets.
- Check in on neighbors, particularly those with special needs.
For the latest storm track and updates, click here.
Sign up for text alerts by texting the word ALACHUA to 888-777 to stay fully informed of any disaster-related information related specifically to Alachua County.
311 line activated
To aid residents as the storm approaches, Alachua County has activated the 311 Emergency Information Line (352-264-6557 if 311 is unavailable in your area). This is for questions and rumor control. If you have an actual emergency, call 911.
Gainesville
Hurricane Milton preparations are also underway in the city of Gainesville and residents are encouraged to:
- Sign up for email, phone and text notifications at www.alertgnv.org.
- Refill needed prescriptions. All health insurers, managed care organizations, and other health entities must comply with the state statute which allows for early prescription refills under the Governor’s executive order.
- Review your family emergency plan and stock your emergency preparedness kit, including nonperishable foods for your family and pets, flashlight batteries, etc. Visit ready.gov for helpful emergency supply lists.
- Now is the time to secure your property in areas that are prone to flooding, and bring inside any loose objects in your yard that could be picked up by strong winds.
Helene yard debris management
- Alachua County is allowing residents to dispose of vegetative waste free of charge at the Leveda Brown Environmental Park (5115 NE 63rd Ave., Gainesville), and is lifting the volume limit on yard debris accepted at its five Rural Collection Centers. (The opportunities to drop off yard debris are only for the time leading up to the impact of Hurricane Milton and will not extend beyond its arrival.)
- Please make sure your current debris piles do not block storm drains, streets, driveways, sidewalks, drainage ditches, storm inlets or other water runoff infrastructure.
- The city’s disaster debris contractor continues to collect debris left by Hurricane Helene and has collected 3,300 cubic yards of yard waste to date (more than 150 standard truckloads). It is expected to take several weeks to collect all the debris and the contractor will make several sweeps through neighborhoods.
Sandbag operations
- Pre-made sandbags will be available until 5 p.m. today, Oct. 7, and 8 a.m.-5p.m. tomorrow, Oct. 8 at the Public Works Center, 405 NW 39th Ave. A limit of 10 filled sandbags per vehicle can be picked up at this location. To ease traffic flow, arrive at this location via northbound NW Sixth Street and then turn east (right) onto NW 39th Ave.
- Bags and sand to make self-serve sandbags will be available until 5 p.m. today, Oct. 7, and 8 a.m.-5p.m. tomorrow, Oct. 8 at Citizens Field, 1000 NE Waldo Rd. Please bring a shovel or trowel to fill sandbags at this location. Assistance is available for those in need. A limit of 10 bags for filling will be provided per vehicle. To ease traffic flow, access the site from NE 12th Ave. via Waldo Road, or travel south on NE 15th Street via NE 16th Ave.
- For information about sandbags outside Gainesville city limits, contact your local municipality or visit the Alachua County Ready website.
Facilities
- Colclough Pond Nature Park; San Felasco Nature Park; and Split Rock Conservation Area remain closed. Evergreen cemetery remains closed.
- All other active parks and nature parks remain open at this time. Visitors to city parks are asked to remain vigilant and storm-aware as weakened limbs or trees may still fall
- Report downed trees and limbs at the myGNV app or on myGNV.org.
- The city is working to secure all municipal facilities in advance of H. Milton, including protecting the roof of the Thelma Boltin Center from the heavy rain expected in the coming days.
Refuse Collection
- Residential trash and recycling pickup continues normal operations at this time. Service is suspended once area winds reach 35 mph.
Regional Transit System (RTS)
- Bus service continues normal operations at this time. Service will be suspended once area winds reach 35 mph. Visit www.go-rts.com for additional information.
Additional resources
- Visit GRU.com/StormCentral for a list of important phone numbers in the event of service emergencies, as well as a link to the Gainesville Regional Utilities outage map with estimated time of restoration.
- Visit www.safeGNV.org for all emergency management updates and additional preparedness tips.