SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. – Seminole County could face weeks without power thanks to Hurricane Milton, according to Emergency Manager Alan Harris.
During a Tuesday afternoon news conference ahead of the storm’s arrival, Harris warned that up to 90% of the county could have its power knocked out as Milton passes through.
“After Hurricane Charley, those (who) were around Central Florida know that there’s going to be a major power outage,” he said. “In Irma, it was 75%, and that wasn’t a hurricane. So expect 80-90% of the power here in Seminole County to be out. Expect that for weeks, not days.”
In addition, Harris announced that flooding is going to be a huge concern, especially in areas of the county near the St. Johns River and its tributaries.
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“The time to relocate is probably now and a good portion of (Wednesday) before the weather gets really, really bad,” Sheriff Dennis Lemma said during the conference.
Seminole County leaders also cautioned residents that while the power is out, many traffic lights may not be functional.
As a result, drivers are urged to go slow, especially at night.
“And if you come up to an intersection that does not have an active signal, treat that as a four-way stop,” Lemma added.
Lemma also urged residents in Milton’s path to avoid getting intoxicated at a “hurricane party” in case of an emergency.
“I’ll just caution you: if you’re over 21, you can make your own decisions, but this is a storm that we don’t want to play around with,” he said. “We want to be safe. We want to be secure. And we want to be as accommodating as we possibly can.”
Current models show Milton traveling across the state through Central Florida along the I-4 corridor, with the worst weather expected late Wednesday night into early Thursday morning.
The Seminole County Office of Emergency Management is preparing to open shelters at 8 a.m. Wednesday.
Pet-friendly shelters are noted below. Not all shelters accept animals. Please ensure the shelter you use is pet-friendly before bringing along animals. All animals need to be in carriers, and owners are asked to bring their own crate/carrier.
GENERAL POPULATION:
- Lyman High School - 865 S Ronald Reagan Blvd., Longwood *Pet-Friendly*
- Crystal Lake Elementary School - 231 Rinehart Road, Lake Mary,
- Lawton Chiles Middle School - 1240 Sanctuary Drive, Oviedo
- Midway Elementary School - 2368 Brisson Ave, Sanford
- Winter Springs High School - 130 Tuskawilla Road, Winter Springs
Shelters should be used as a last resort alternative to evacuation or sheltering with friends or family. Cots are not provided at General Population Shelters.
Special-needs shelters are open to those who need electricity for medical devices or medication or have other qualifying specific medical needs. To register yourself or a loved one for the special needs shelter program, visit PrepareSeminole.org or call 407-665-0000.
SPECIAL NEEDS:
- Bentley Elementary School - 2190 S Oregon Ave., Sanford *Pet-Friendly*
- Highlands Elementary School - 1600 Shepard Road, Winter Springs
- Layer Elementary School - 4201 FL-419, Winter Springs