VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – Volusia County announced on Monday that it has enacted an evacuation order for Hurricane Milton ahead of the storm’s landfall in Florida.
In a release, county officials said that the evacuation order will begin on Wednesday at 8 a.m. for the following places:
- All areas east of the intracoastal waterway
- All manufactured and mobile homes
- All low-lying areas and other areas prone to flooding
- All campsites and RV recreational parks
- Residents east of Ridgewood Avenue/US-1 in Daytona Beach and Holly Hill
- Residents east of US-1 in Edgewater and Oak Hill
- Residents north of State Road 44 and east of Mullinax Ford in New Smyrna Beach
- Residents east of Bulow Creek State Park and any locations east of US-1 before it (crosses the Tomoka River in Ormond Beach and Ormond-by-the-Sea)
- Residents along the Spruce Creek River between State Road 44 and South Nova near Trailwood Drive
- Residents adjacent to Spruce River River in Port Orange, South Daytona and Daytona Beach Shores
Officials say impacts from Milton could include up to 12 inches of rainfall, with higher localized amounts possible, and tropical storm to Category 1-strength winds.
“Hurricane Milton poses a significant threat of heavy rainfall, flooding, and damaging winds and gusts,” the release reads. “Evacuees are encouraged to seek short-distance evacuations to a nearby location, stay with friends or family, or visit www.volusia.org to find local shelters and help minimize traffic congestion.”
[READ: What do evacuation zones mean? Here’s what you need to know]
In addition, county officials said that a curfew has been scheduled for Volusia County beginning at 8 p.m. on Wednesday. It is set to last through 8 a.m. on Thursday to “discourage unnecessary traffic” as the storm passes through Central Florida.
However, this curfew does not apply to the following groups:
- Regular members of law enforcement bodies
- Regular employees of businesses, industries, or government entities while traveling for their job
- All emergency workers
Anyone who knowingly violates the curfew can face a fine of up to $500 and imprisonment in the county jail for up to 60 days.
Volusia County will also open multiple emergency shelters at 9 a.m. on Wednesday. They are located at the following locations:
- Creekside Middle School, 6801 Airport Road, Port Orange
- Deland High School, 800 N. Hill Ave., Deland (pet-friendly)
- University High School, 1000 W. Rhode Island Ave., Orange City
- Mainland High School, 1255 W. International Speedway Blvd., Daytona Beach (pet friendly)
- Volusia County Fairgrounds, 3150 E. New York Ave., Deland (pet-friendly)
Special needs shelters will include:
- Galaxy Middle School, 2400 Eustace Ave., Deltona
- David C Hinson Sr Middle School, 1860 N., Clyde Morris Blvd. Daytona Beach
As Hurricane Milton continues to rage in the Gulf of Mexico on a projected path to Florida — with Orlando in the center of the forecast track — WKMG-TV will provide extended coverage to help keep the Central Florida community informed and safe.
As of Monday, Milton was expected to strike the Tampa Bay area as a Category 3 storm before crossing over the Orlando area as a Category 2 hurricane.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency for 51 counties ahead of the storm. As a result, school districts, universities and the Orlando International Airport have announced closures. Click here to see the school closures in your area.
Meanwhile, for a full list of emergency shelters open in Central Florida, click here.