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County-by-county evacuations and shelters across Tampa Bay

Continue to update this page in the days and hours leading up to the storm for the latest, county-by-county notices.
Hurricane evacuation route sign, stock image.

TAMPA BAY -- Evacuation notices are coming down in advance of Hurricane Irma to the Florida coast.

This page will be updated in the days and hours leading up to the storm for the latest, county-by-county notices and orders.

Track the tropics: Download the 10News app

More: CHECKLIST: Your hurricane season supply kit

Don't know your zone? Check out this page for more.

CITRUS COUNTY

A mandatory evacuation is in effect for people who live west of U.S. 19.

General population: Lecanto Middle School, located at 3800 West Educational Path, Lecanto.

Pet-Friendly: Lecanto Primary School located at 3790 West Educational Path, Lecanto.

Special Needs Shelter: For those persons registered as Special Needs in accordance with the State of Florida, go to the Renaissance School located at 3630 West Educational Path, Lecanto. West Educational Path is approximately 2.5 miles south of the intersection of Hwy 44 and Hwy 491.

NOTE: If you are going to a shelter, bring a small bag with clothing, toiletries, medicine, pillow and blanket or sleeping bag. Pack light with essential items as space per person is extremely limited. For more information on what to bring to the pet-friendly shelter, visit sheriffcitrus.org and click on the emergency management tab and then pet.

General Population Shelters
• Central Ridge Elementary School:
Located at 185 W Citrus Springs Blvd, Citrus Springs.
• Lecanto High School:
Located at 3810 W Educational Path, Lecanto.
• Forest Ridge Elementary School:
Located at 2927 N Forest Ridge Blvd, Hernando

HERNANDO COUNTY

A mandatory evacuation order goes in effect for residents in zones A and B, plus all mobile homes county wide.

Here is a list of shelters

Hernando High School and D.S. Pattott Middle School are at capacity.

• Challenger K-8 School of Sciences and Mathematics
13400 Elgin Blvd., Spring Hill, FL 34609
ACCEPTING SPECIAL NEEDS ONLY

Explorer K-8
10252 Northcliffe Blvd., Spring Hill, 34608

Nature Coast Technical High School
4057 California St., Spring Hill, FL 34604
Nature Coast Technical High School is at FULL FOR PETS ONLY.

West Hernando Middle School
14325 Ken Austin Parkway, Brooksville, 34604 - Now accepting pets

Nature Coast Technical High School, located at 4057 California St. in Spring Hill, will open a section of the school away from other evacuees for pet sheltering. You must bring your own portable carrier or kennel.

Tips for shelter residents

* Bring identification.

* Eat prior to arrival. The first meal will be dinner.

* Bring air mattress or sleeping bag, cots will not be provided.

* Bring medicines, blanket/sheet, snacks, water and personal hygiene products.

* Call the special needs registry at (352) 754-4083 to request transportation.

* Make every effort to carpool due to limited parking at schools.

* The Challenger K-8 special needs shelter does not accept pets unless they are certified service animals. If you are evacuating to the special needs shelter and have a pet(s), Hernando County Animal Control will transport your pet(s) to Hernando County Animal Services. Please call (352) 754-6830 to arrange transportation of your pet(s).

HIGHLANDS COUNTY

The following shelters are open

AVON PARK
Avon Park Recreation Center
207 East State Street

LAKE PLACID
Lake Placid High School
202 Green Dragon Drive

SEBRING
Highlands County Fair Convention Center
781 Magnolia, Avenue

SPECIAL NEEDS
Bert J. Harris Agri-Civic Center
4509 George Blvd., Sebring

PET SHELTERS (Not County Maintained)
Just Like Home Pet Hotel (Pets Only)
3479 Davis Citrus Road
Avon Park, FL 33825
(863) 784-4066

Dog Design by Dana (Pets Only)
701 Thunderbird Hill Road
Sebring, FL 33872
(863) 314-9883

Dawg House (Pets Only)
69 Dawg House Drive
Lake Placid, FL 33852
(863) 465-9674

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY

A mandatory evacuation order is issued for Tampa residents living in Zone A.

The following shelters are open:

  • Armwood High School, 12000 U.S. 92 (wheelchair accessible)
  • Barrington Middle School, 5925 Village Center Drive, Lithia (wheelchair-accessible)
  • Bartels Middle School, 9020 Imperial Oak Blvd., Tampa (pet-friendly)
  • Benito Middle School, 10101 Cross Creek Blvd., Tampa (wheelchair-accessible)
  • Bevis Elementary School, 5720 Osprey Ridge Drive, Lithia
  • Bloomingdale High School, 1700 East Bloomingdale Ave., Valrico
  • Cannella Elementary School, 10707 Nixon Road, Tampa
  • Carrollwood Elementary School, 3516 McFarland Rd., Tampa (wheelchair-accessible)
  • Chiles Elementary School, 16541 Tampa Palms Blvd. W, Tampa
  • Cimino Elementary School, 4329 Culbreath Road, Valrico
  • Collins Elementary School, 12424 Summerfield Blvd., Riverview
  • Cork Elementary School, 3501 N. Cork Rd., Plant City
  • Heritage Elementary School, 18201, East Meadows Road, Tampa
  • Knights Elementary School, 4815 N. Keene Road, Plant City
  • Lake Magdalene Elementary School, 2002 Pine Lake Drive, Tampa
  • Marshall Middle School, 18 South Maryland Ave., Plant City
  • (wheelchair-accessible)
  • McKitrick Elementary School, 5503 Lutz Lake Fern Road, Lutz
  • McLane Middle School, 306 N. Knights Ave., Brandon
  • Mulrennan Middle School, 4215 Durant Road, Tampa (wheelchair-accessible)
  • Nelson Elementary School, 5413 Durant Road, Tampa
  • Newsome High School, 16510 Fish Hawk Blvd., Lithia (wheelchair-accessible)
  • Pride Elementary School, 18271 Kinnan St., Tampa
  • Reddick Elementary School, 325 West Lake Drive, Wimauma (wheelchair-accessible)
  • The Regent, 6437 Watson Road, Riverview (special needs only)
  • Sessums Elementary, 11525 Ramble Creek Drive, Riverview
  • Sgt. Paul Smith Middle School, 14303 Citrus Pointe Drive, Tampa (pet friendly)
  • Stowers Elementary School, 13915 Barrington Stowers Drive, Lithia
  • Tomlin Middle School, 501 N. Woodrow Wilson, Plant City (wheelchair-accessible)
  • Wilson Elementary School, 702 English St., Plant City

MANATEE COUNTY

A mandatory evacuation is in effect and applies to people living in mobile homes and anyone in the county's evacuation Level A. There is now a voluntary evacuation issued for Level B.

Emergency shelters:

• Myakka Elementary School, 37205 Manatee Ave., Myakka City
• Braden River High (pet friendly), 6545 SR 70 East, Bradenton Full
• Manatee High School (pet friendly), 1000 32nd Street West, Bradenton
• Mills Elementary (pet friendly)
• Nolan Middle School (pet-friendly, special needs) – 6615 Greenbrook Boulevard in Lakewood Ranch), 7200 69th Street East, Palmetto
• Bayshore Elementary
• Braden River Middle
• Buffalo Creek Middle
• Daughtrey Elementary
• Freedom Elementary
• Gullett Elementary
• Haile Middle (pet friendly)
• Kinnan Elementary
• Lee Middle
• McNeal Elementary
• Oneco Elementary Full
• Prine Elementary
• Rogers Garden-Bullock Elementary
• Seabreeze Elementary
• Tillman Elementary
• Williams Elementary (pet friendly)
• Willis Elementary
• Witt Elementary

Many schools at or near capacity. Room available at Williams and Witt.

Anyone with questions about shelters in Manatee County is encouraged to call Emergency Management at 941-748-4501.

Those with special needs should contact the county's special needs registry hotline at 941-745-2397.

PASCO COUNTY

Pasco County Schools shelters are locked down and secured. No one will be turned away, but many shelters are at capacity and placing evacuees in non-hurricane-hardened spaces.

People with special needs, live in Zone A, Zone B and anyone living in mobile homes are under a mandatory evacuation order.

A voluntary evacuation has been ordered for the remainder of all evacuation zones.

OPEN SHELTERS WILL ACCEPT PETS THAT ARE BROUGHT WITH FOOD, WATER AND A CRATE OR OTHER MEANS OF CONTROL.

Shelters are out of pet crates. If you don’t have a crate, your pet must be on a leash and stay with you the entire time. There is no weight/size limit for dogs. If you have an aggressive dog (or any pet with previous aggression issues), please think twice about using the shelter or make sure the pet is muzzled. Cats and other small pets must be in secured in a crate or other means of control.

Connerton Elementary, 9300 Flourish Drive, Land O' Lakes
Double Branch Elementary, 31500 Chancey Rd, Wesley Chapel,
New River Elementary, 4710 River Glen Blvd, Wesley Chapel
Oakstead Elementary (at capacity for pets) 19925 Lake Patience Road Land O Lakes
Odessa Elementary, 12810 Interlaken Rd, New Port Richey
Pine View Elementary (at capacity for pets) 5333 Parkway Blvd, Land O Lakes
Sanders Elementary 5126 School Rd, Land O Lakes
Seven Oaks Elementary, 27633 Mystic Oak Boulevard Wesley Chapel
Veterans Elementary, 26940 Progress Pkwy, Wesley Chapel
Weightman Middle School, 30649 Wells Rd, Wesley Chapel
Mitchell High School, 2323 Little Rd, New Port Richey
Sunlake High School (at capacity for pets) 3023 Sunlake Blvd, Land O Lakes

Wiregrass is also sheltering sex offenders in a separate building, watched by armed guards.

As of 1:30 am on 9/10 there were 16,714 people in shelters, with 58% capacity remaining

John Sexton Elementary is currently the county’s only shelter at capacity.

PINELLAS COUNTY

Level A, Level B and mobile home residents in any zone are under mandatory evacuation. Level A primarily includes coastal residents and those in low-lying areas, plus all mobile homes in the county.

According to the county, additional evacuations up to Level C might be ordered to start on Saturday.

These emergency shelters will open at noon on Friday. Open shelter locations will be as follows:
• Tarpon Springs Middle School (501 N. Florida Ave., Tarpon Springs)
• Palm Harbor University High School (1900 Omaha St., Palm Harbor)
• Dunedin Highland Middle School (70 Patricia Ave., Dunedin)*
• Oak Grove Middle School (1370 S. Belcher Road, Clearwater)
• Largo High School (410 Missouri Ave., Largo)
• Gibbs High School (850 34th St. South, St. Petersburg)
• John Hopkins Middle School (701 16th St. South, St. Petersburg)*

Additional emergency shelters have been made available as follows, and will open at 9 a.m. today (9/9):
- Carwise Middle School (3301 Bentley Drive, Palm Harbor)
- Dunedin Elementary School (900 Union St., Dunedin)
- Clearwater Fundamental Middle School (1660 Palmetto St., Clearwater)
- Ross Norton Recreation Center (1426 S. Martin Luther King Jr., Ave., Clearwater)
- Sexton Elementary School (1997 54th Ave. N., St. Petersburg)
- Lealman Innovation Academy (4900 28th St. N., St. Petersburg)
- New Heights Elementary School (3901 37th St. N., St. Petersburg)
- St. Petersburg High School (2501 5th Ave. N., St. Petersburg)
- Campbell Park Elementary School (1051 7th Ave. S., St. Petersburg)
- Boca Ciega High School (924 58th St. S., Gulfport)
The following shelters also remain open:
- Palm Harbor University High School (1900 Omaha St., Palm Harbor)
- Largo High School (410 Missouri Ave., Largo)
- Gibbs High School (850 34th St. South, St. Petersburg)
- Oak Grove Middle School (1370 S. Belcher Road, Clearwater) *No longer accepting pets
- Dunedin Highland Middle School (70 Patricia Ave, Dunedin) - pet-friendly shelter
- John Hopkins Middle School, (701 16th St. S., St. Petersburg) - pet-friendly shelter
Oak Grove, Dunedin Highland and John Hopkins middle schools shelters are also equipped for residents with special needs.

*Special Needs/Pet-Friendly Shelter

Oak Grove Middle School is no longer accepting pets.

Those with special medical needs should call 727-464-4333 to register with the county.

Pinellas County Human Services is coordinating with local partners to distribute evacuation transportation information for homeless residents. Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) will provide transportation for homeless individuals to local emergency shelters. There is no fee for this service.

Transportation services will take place on Friday from 2 to 7 p.m. and again on Saturday from noon to 5 p.m., to any of the following locations:

Clearwater
• St. Vincent de Paul – 1345 Park St.
St. Petersburg
• Salvation Army – 1400 4th St. S.
• Solid Rock Church – 4224 28th St. N.
• St. Vincent de Paul – 384 15th St. N.
Tarpon Springs
• St. Timothy Lutheran Church – 812 E. Tarpon Ave.
• The Shepherd Center – 304 S. Pinellas Ave.

POLK COUNTY

People who live in mobile homes or flood-prone areas are under a mandatory evacuation order.

Polk County is opening the following shelters at 7 a.m. Saturday:

Auburndale High School, 1 Bloodhound Trail, Auburndale
Bartow High School, 1270 S. Broadway, Bartow
Haines City High School, 2800 Hornet Drive, Haines City
George Jenkins High School,6000 Lakeland Highlands, Lakeland
Sleepy Hill Elementary, 2285 Sleepy Hill Drive, Lakeland
Phillip O’Brien Elementary, 1255 E. Lime Street, Lakeland
R. Bruce Wagner Elementary, 5500 Yates Road, Lakeland

These shelters will open at 8 a.m. Saturday:

• Lake Region High School, 1995 Thunder Road, Eagle Lake
•Tenoroc High School, 4905 Saddle Creek Rd., Lakeland
• Spook Hill Elementary, 321 Dr. J.A. Wiltshire Ave., E., Lake Wales
• Mulberry Middle School, 500 Martin Luther King Ave., Mulberry
• Lake Marion Creek Elem., 3055 Lk. Marion Creek Rd., Poinciana
• Horizons Elementary, 1700 Forest Lake Drive, Davenport
• Chain of Lakes Elementary, 7001 CR 653, Winter Haven
• Davenport School of the Arts, 4751 N CR 547, Davenport
• Donald Bronson Community Center, 124 Bronson Trail, Polk City
• Kathleen High School, 1100 Red Devil Way, Lakeland

The only pet-friendly shelters are Phillip O'Brien and Lake Region High School. Pet owners must bring shot records, a carrying case or crate and pet food.

“Special Needs” Shelters will also open at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 9, for those residents with special medical needs. Polk County Emergency Management Special Needs Program is designed to provide shelter and/or transportation for residents with medical or physical conditions and/or dependent on medical electrical equipment who require assistance during an emergency. The “Special Needs” Shelters are located at:

• Polk Co. Health Department, 1255 Brice Blvd., Bartow
• Ridge Community H. S., 500 W. Orchid Dr., Davenport
• McKeel Academy, 1810 W. Parker St., Lakeland IS NOW AT FULL CAPACITY.

SARASOTA COUNTY

A mandatory evacuation notice is issued for people in Zone A, the barrier islands and those who live in mobile homes.

There are roughly 10,000 people currently in Sarasota County shelters and room for about 6,500 more.

The five following locations are still open:

- Atwater Elementary School in North Port

- Woodland Middle School in North Port, Pet-friendly

- Phillippi Shores Elementary, Sarasota

-Gulf Gate Elementary, Sarasota

-Heron Creek Middle, North Port, Pet-friendly

Residents are asked to bring their own food and other supplies, including linens. For more information, check out the Sarasota County website or call (941) 861-5000.

SUMTER COUNTY

Wildwood Elementary School was added as another shelter opening noon Saturday.

The following Sumter County Shelters will be open to the public Saturday.

2017 starting at noon:

General public: Wildwood Elementary School

300 Huey Street

Wildwood, FL 34785

General public (Pet Friendly): Sumter County Fairgrounds (opened at 2 p.m. Friday)

7620 SR 471

Bushnell, FL

Special needs: Wildwood Community Center

6500 Powell Road

Wildwood, FL 34785

General public: Webster Elementary School

349 S Market Blvd. SR 471

Webster, FL 33597

General public (Pet Friendly): South Sumter High School

706 N. Main St., SR 475

Bushnell, FL 33513

- If you need transportation, please call the Citizens Information Center at 352-569-3190.

- If you evacuate to a shelter you need to bring:

Bedding, snacks, extra clothes, toiletries, any necessary medications

For pets, bring food, a crate, medications, leash, and any necessary material

SPECIAL NEEDS SHELTERS

Assistance at special needs shelters include:
• Basic medical monitoring
• Back-up electricity for lighting
• Cots may not be available for everyone
• There are nurses and other medical personnel on site
• Oxygen is available
• Air conditioning may not be available if power is interrupted
• They do not have hospital beds
• They cannot assist those with acute medical problems

What to bring:
• At least 2 weeks supply of medications
• Any portable equipment or supplemental supplies such as oxygen concentrator, cannulas, tubing, etc.
• If you have a special diet, be sure to pack your own special non-perishable food
• For your own comfort, bring bedding such as pillows, blankets, and sheets, but cots are not guaranteed
• Wear and pack comfortable clothing and “sturdy” shoes
• Have a list of contact numbers and a copy of your personal medical information/medical alert tags with special instructions written out

Additional suggested items:

Wheelchairs:

  • A patch kit and extra inner tubes
  • Gloves in case of broken glass or debris
  • An extra battery and/or a converter for charging

Visual impairments:

  • Talking or Braille clock
  • An extra white cane, magnifier and glasses
  • Mark your disaster supplies with fluorescent tape

Hearing or speech impairments:

  • Extra batteries for hearing aids
  • Pencil and paper for communicating emergency information
  • Power converter for your laptop
  • Preprinted key phrases you would use in an emergency

Personal supplies:

  • Two-week supply of dressing materials, nasal cannulas or suction catheters
  • Cooler for refrigerated medications
  • Flashlight and extra batteries – no candles!
  • Enough cash on hand to purchase special supplies

It is important to note while models have trended in taking Irma east of the bay, there remains some uncertainty still several days out.

Watch the conversation here between meteorologists Bobby Deskins and Grant Gilmore explaining what the notice means if you cannot see the player below:

Photos: Hurricane Irma damage and destruction

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