Storm-battered Tampa Bay braces for Hurricane Milton
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The Gulf Coast is once again hunkering down, this time ahead of Hurricane Milton's expected mid-week landfall.
- Pinellas County residents in zones A, B and C are urged to evacuate, with mandatory orders likely to come early this week.
- Mandatory evacuations have already been announced for long-term care facilities, assisted living facilities and hospitals in those zones.
The latest: Milton is forecast to become a major hurricane — possibly a Category 4 — before striking Florida's west coast on Wednesday afternoon.
- The exact timing and landfall location remain shifting targets, but officials stress that the powerful storm will bring flooding and wind damage virtually statewide.
Here are some important local updates
Water and sewage services in St. Pete Beach will be shut off on Tuesday to protect the infrastructure, officials announced Sunday.
Schools in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Manatee and Sarasota counties are closed through Wednesday. Many will serve as storm shelters.
The University of South Florida canceled classes and closed all campuses for Tuesday and Wednesday, and is not holding in-person classes Monday.
- Saint Leo University's Tampa Bay area locations are also closed through Thursday.
Sandbag sites are open throughout the region. Here's a roundup of local sites and their hours from the Tampa Bay Times.
In St. Petersburg, residents can take storm debris from Helene to the former Raytheon facility at 7401 22nd Ave N.
Get prepared: The state created a disaster supplies checklist that includes food and water, first aid supplies, insurance documents, flashlights, batteries and medicine.
- You can find almost everything at your local Walmart. Yacob managed to find 30 items on the list for under $200.