TAMPA -- Less than two weeks after Hurricane Helene flooded much of the Tampa Bay area, local officials are getting ready for Hurricane Milton, forecast to make landfall somewhere on Florida's west coast are getting ready for Milton, expected to make landfall somewhere along Florida's west coast Wednesday.
Evacuations are now in place for these areas:
Pinellas - long term care, assisted living and hospitals in Zones A, B and C.
Pasco - Mandatory in Zones A and B starting 10 a.m. Monday. Voluntary in Zone C. Also mobile homes, RVs, and low-lying areas not included in a zone that are prone to flooding.
Manatee - Level A and B, as well as mobile homes and RVs
Sarasota - None announced yet, but expected in Zone A and possibly B Monday morning
Here's how things stand with Tampa Bay school districts:
Hillsborough - closed Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday
Pinellas - closed Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday
Pasco - closed Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday
Hernando - closed Tuesday and Wednesday
Manatee - closed Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday
Sarasota - closed Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday
Polk - closed Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
The University of South Florida has announced no on-campus classes Monday. Campuses will be closed Tuesday and Wednesday.
Saint Leo University is canceling classes Monday through Thursday at its campuses in Tampa, Pasco County, and Pasco-Hernando State College. The Key West campus will provide its own instruction to students.
Government:
Pinellas County government offices, including the Clerk of Courts, Property Appraiser and Tax Collector, will close Monday through Wednesday. The Supervisor of Elections office will open Monday to wrap up voter registration for the November election, then close Tuesday and Wednesday.
The opening of a disaster recovery center scheduled for Monday at the Florida Botanical Gardens has been postponed.
All Hillsborough parks, preserves and recreation centers will close Monday.
Sandbags:
Largo is NOT handing out sandbags.
Dunedin: 8 a.m. until 6:30 p.m., at the Jerry Lake Recreation Complex at 1601 Virginia St.
Hillsborough County has three sandbag sites open Monday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.:
• E.G. Simmons Conservation Park, 2401 19th Ave. NW, Ruskin, FL 33570 (Park will be closed to the public on Saturday)
• Ed Radice Sports Complex, 14720 Ed Radice Drive, Tampa, FL 33626 (Park will remain open to the public on Saturday)
• Larry Sanders Sports Complex, 5855 S. 78th St., Tampa, FL 33619
Polk County has sandbag sites at these locations:
- Mulberry/South Lakeland – Loyce E. Harper Park, 500 W. Carter Road, Mulberry
- Lakeland – 8970 N. Campbell Road, Lakeland
- Fort Meade – 1061 NE 9th St., Fort Meade
- Frostproof – 350 County Road 630A, Frostproof
- Auburndale – 1701 Holt Road, Auburndale
- Dundee – 805 Dr. Martin Luther King St. SW, Dundee
- Poinciana Park – 5109 Allegheny Road, Kissimmee 34759
Sarasota County, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday:
- Ed Smith Stadium, 2700 12th St.
- Twin Lakes Park, 6700 Clark Road, Sarasota
- South County Fleet Services, 4571 SR 776/Englewood Road, Venice
Helene Debris Collection/Drop-Off:
Local authorities are expediting debris removal to keep piled-up wreckage from becoming flying objects during Milton. As a result some other services may be affected:
Sarasota County: All disposal areas at the Central County Landfill are open* Monday, Oct.7 and Tuesday, Oct. 8:
Monday, Oct. 7, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 8, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sarasota County crews are focusing all efforts on removing Hurricane Helene debris and curbside materials from our community areas in Level A. All recycling collections are suspended through the week of Oct. 7. For community areas not in Evacuation Level A, all regular garbage, yard waste, and bulk collections are suspended through Wednesday, Oct. 9.
Other:
Monday's Tampa Bay Lightning preseason game vs. Nashville, rescheduled from an earlier date due to Helene, has been CANCELLED.
Watch for updates to this list.
Photo: Getty Images
