CENTRAL FLORIDA – As Hurricane Ian continues to move closer to Florida, it’s important to know where you can go in the event of an evacuation.
If possible, it’s recommended to go to the home of a friend or family member who lives outside of an evacuation zone, however, if you cannot do that there are other options.
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Some hotels offer ‘distress’ rates for those in need of a place to stay during weather emergencies. But, if worst comes to worst, it is important to know where the closest evacuation shelter is to you.
If you have to go to an emergency shelter, you should bring:
- Blankets and pillows
- Snacks
- Extra clothing
- Any necessary medications or oxygen supplies
- Toiletries
- Flashlight and batteries
- Electronic devices and charges
- Diapers and other infant necessities
- Important documents such as IDs, birth certificates and social security cards.
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You can see a full breakdown of the shelter information in your county below.
Brevard County:
Brevard County announced it will open three shelters at 10 a.m. Wednesday for residents living in flood-prone or low-lying areas.
The following shelters will be pet friendly and available for both those with special needs and the general population:
- Walter Butler Community Center: 4201 N. Cocoa Blvd., Cocoa
- Wickham Park Community Center: 2815 Leisure Way, Melbourne
- Max K. Rodes Community Center: 3410 Flanagan Ave., West Melbourne
The county’s website says Space Coast Area Transit will provide transportation to the shelters for registered special-needs clients.
You can find the latest information here.
Flagler County:
Flagler County will open its emergency shelters starting at 1 p.m. Wednesday.
Shelter locations are:
- Bunnell Elementary School - 305 N. Palmetto St., Bunnell (General Population and pets)
- Rymfire Elementary School - 1425 Rymfire Dr., Palm Coast (Special Needs)
Evacuees that need assistance with transportation to a shelter are asked to contact 386-313-4200 after 7 a.m. on Wednesday.
You can find the latest information here.
Lake County:
Lake County will open 11 emergency shelters for residents on Tuesday, Sept. 27.
The following shelters will be open to the public at 4 p.m., and all locations are pet-friendly:
- Villages Elementary: 695 Rolling Acres Road, Lady Lake
- Leesburg Elementary: 2229 South St., Leesburg
- Umatilla Elementary: 401 Lake St., Umatilla
- Lost Lake Elementary: 1901 Johns Lake Road, Clermont
- Astatula Elementary: 13925 Florida Ave., Astatula
- Treadway Elementary: 10619 Treadway School Road, Leesburg
- Spring Creek Charter: 44440 Spring Creek Road, Paisley
- Mascotte Charter: 460 Midway Ave., Mascotte (no longer accepting evacuees)
The following shelters will open to the public at 6 p.m. and are pet-friendly:
- Round Lake Charter: 31333 Round Lake Rd, Mount Dora
The following shelters open to the public at 5 p.m. and are NOT pet-friendly:
- Mount Dora High School: 700 N. Highland St, Mount Dora
- Leesburg High School: 1401 Yellow Jacket Way, Leesburg
The county will also open four non-pet-friendly shelters on Wednesday at 8 a.m.
- East Ridge High School: 13322 Excalibur Rd, Clermont
- East Ridge Middle School: 13201 Excalibur Rd, Clermont
- Lost Lake Elementary School: 1901 Johns Lake Rd, Clermont
- Tavares High School: 603 N. New Hampshire Ave, Tavares
Villages Elementary, Leesburg Elementary, Umatilla Elementary, Lost Lake Elementary and Astatula Elementary will also serve as special-needs shelters.
You can find the latest information here.
Marion County:
Marion County will open West Port High School in Ocala as a special needs shelter starting at 5 p.m. Tuesday. The address is 3733 SW 80th Ave.
Marion County will open six emergency shelters for residents on Wednesday, Sept. 28. The shelters will be open to the public at noon.
- Dunnellon High: 10055 SW 180th Avenue Road, Dunnellon
- Belleview Middle: 10500 SE 36th Ave., Belleview
- Fort McCoy School: 16160 NE County Road 315, Fort McCoy
- Hammett Bowen, Jr. Elementary: 4397 SW 95th St., Ocala
- North Marion Middle: 2085 W County Road 329, Citra
- Vanguard High: 7 NW 28th St., Ocala (pet-friendly)
Emergency management officials urge residents coming to the shelters to bring supplies that will last them for 24 to 48 hours.
You can find more information here.
Orange County:
Orange County will open five general population shelters, including three pet-friendly shelters, on Wednesday, Sept. 28 for people who need to evacuate because of Hurricane Ian.
People who need a special needs/medical shelter should call 311.
General population and pet-friendly
- Opening Wednesday, 8 a.m. — Apopka High School: 555 Martin Street, Apopka
- Opening Wednesday, 12 p.m. — Oak Ridge High School: 700 W. Oak Ridge Rd., Orlando (no longer accepting evacuees)
- Opening Wednesday, 12 p.m. — Timber Creek High School: 1001 Avalon Park Blvd., Orlando
Oak Ridge High School reached capacity just before 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
General population, no pets allowed
- Opening Wednesday, 12 p.m. — Ocoee High School: 1925 Ocoee Crown Point Pkwy., Ocoee
- Opening Wednesday, 12 p.m. — Dr. Phillips High School: 6500 Turkey Lake Road, Orlando
- Opening Wednesday, 5 p.m. — Timber Springs Middle School – 16001 Timber Park Lane, Orlando
- Opening Wednesday, 5 p.m. — Southwest Middle School – 6450 Dr. Phillips Blvd., Orlando
- Memorial Middle School: 2220 29th St, Orlando, FL 32805
For more information on shelters, call 311 or click here.
Osceola County:
Three Osceola County schools will open as general population shelters Tuesday at 2 p.m., with one pet-friendly shelter.
General population and pet-friendly
- Kissimmee Middle School: 2410 Dyer Blvd., Kissimmee
General population, no pets allowed
- Celebration High School: 1809 Celebration Blvd., Celebration
- Harmony High School: 3601 Arthur J. Gallagher Blvd., St. Cloud (now closed)
Special Needs Shelter — opening Tuesday at 2 p.m.
- Osceola Council on Aging: 700 Generation Point, Kissimmee
- Special needs individuals should bring all medicine and vital supplies. For more information, call the Osceola County Special Needs Hotline at 407-742-9001.
You can find the latest information here.
Polk County:
Polk County officials opened shelters starting Tuesday.
General population, no pets allowed
- Auburndale High School: 1 Bloodhound Trail, Auburndale
- Spessard L. Holland Elementary School: 2342 E.F. Griffin Road, Bartow
- Citrus Ridge Academy: 1775 Sand Mine Road, Davenport
- Horizons Elementary School: 1700 Forest Lake Drive, Davenport
- George Jenkins High School Freshman Academy: 6000 Lakeland Highlands Road, Lakeland
- Highlands Grove Elementary School: 4510 Lakeland Highlands Road, Lakeland
- Kathleen High School: 110 Red Devil Way, Lakeland
- Sleepy Hill Elementary School: 2285 Sleepy Hill Road, Lakeland
- R. Bruce Wagner Elementary School: 5500 Yates Road, Lakeland
- Mulberry Middle School: 500 S.E. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., Mulberry
- Lake Marion Creek Middle School: 3055 Lake Marion Creek Drive, Poinciana
- Chain of Lakes Elementary: 7001 Hwy 653, Winter Haven
- Winter Haven High School: 600 6th St S.E., Winter Haven
Special Needs Shelter
- Polk County Health Department: 1255 Brice Blvd., Bartow
- Ridge Community High School: 500 Orchid Drive, Davenport
- McKeel Academy of Technology: 1810 W. Parker, Lakeland
Seminole County:
Seminole County officials opened shelters on Wednesday at 8 a.m.
General population
- Lake Mary High School - 655 Longwood Lake Mary Rd, Lake Mary
- Lawton Chiles Middle School - 1240 Sanctuary Dr, Oviedo
- Lyman High School - 865 Ronald Reagan Blvd, Longwood
- Midway Elementary School - 2368 Brisson Ave, Sanford
- Winter Springs High School - 130 Tuskawilla Rd, Winter Springs
Special needs
- Bentley Elementary School - 2190 S Oregon Ave, Sanford
- Layer Elementary School - 4201 FL-419, Winter Springs
Sumter County:
Shelters will open in Sumter County starting Tuesday at 5 p.m. All of the shelters will be pet friendly, according to the county’s website.
General population
- Sumter Fairgrounds: 7620 State Road 471, Webster
- As of 5 p.m. Wednesday, occupancy is at 85 with capacity at 375
- South Sumter High School: 706 N. Main St., State Road 475, Bushnell
- As of 5 p.m. Wednesday, occupancy is at 109 with capacity at 335
Special needs
- Wildwood Community Center: 6500 Powell Road, Wildwood
- As of 5 p.m. Wednesday, occupancy is at 5 with capacity at 74
County officials said other shelters will open as needed.
They added as of 5 p.m., there is a tree down blocking northbound SR-471 half a mile south of SR-50 and the Florida Department of Transportation is in the process of resolving the issue.
For more information call 352-689-4400 or click here.
Volusia County:
Volusia County will open four shelters Wednesday at 10 a.m. According to the county’s website, all four will be pet friendly, though those staying with pets must bring their own necessary pet items and supplies.
General population
- Mainland High School: 1255 W. International Speedway Blvd., Daytona Beach
- DeLand High School: 800 N. Hill Ave., DeLand
Special Needs
- Atlantic High School: 1259 Reed Canal Road, Port Orange
- Galaxy Middle School: 2400 Eustace Ave., Deltona
Residents who believe they may need to use a shelter in the case of an evacuation are urged to call the Citizens Information Center at 866-345-0345.
If residents plan to stay in a special-needs shelter, they should register by calling 386-258-4088.
You can get more information on shelter openings and locations here.