Window to evacuate for Hurricane Milton is closing — but it's not too late
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People line up in their cars for fuel at a gas station in Lakeland. Photo: MIGUEL J. RODRIGUEZ CARRILLO/AFP via Getty Images
The window is closing to evacuate before Hurricane Milton — but it's not too late.
State of play: Residents who live in areas under mandatory evacuation orders need to leave, local officials warned in no uncertain terms.
- "You are going to die," Tampa Mayor Jane Castor told CNN on Monday evening.
- "This is not survivable," Pinellas County emergency management director Cathie Perkins said during a Tuesday afternoon news conference.
- The region will begin experiencing tropical storm-force winds at about 3pm Wednesday. Conditions will worsen overnight and into Thursday morning.
Catch up quick: Mandatory evacuation orders remain in effect up and down the Gulf Coast from Collier to Levy counties. Shelters are open and have space. Many take pets and some can support special-needs residents.
- Pinellas: Mandatory evacuation orders are in effect for zones A, B and C and all mobile home residents. Find your zone here; full shelter info here.
- Hillsborough: Residents of Zones A and B are under a mandatory evacuation order, as are mobile home residents. Find your zone here; full shelter info here.
- Pasco: Residents in zones A, B or C, those in mobile homes and those in flood-prone areas are under orders to evacuate. Find your zone here. A list of shelters is available here.
- Find evacuation and shelter information for other Tampa Bay area counties here.
For those outside of the mandatory evacuation zones, hurricane-force winds and intense rainfall are still threats.
- Consider the age and elevation of your home, the quality of your windows and roof, whether you're near any bodies of fresh water, whether you have a generator and how stocked with supplies you are.
Transportation: Local and state officials have arranged several transportation options to get evacuees to shelters.
- A charter bus shuttle system is in place in counties with evacuation orders. Call 1-800-729-3413 between 7am and 7pm for the schedule.
- Use the code MILTONRELIEF to get an Uber ride for free.
- Both the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority and Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority are offering free rides to shelters. Find information on PSTA bus routes here and HART routes here.
Driving: Florida 511 has live traffic updates. Highways and interstates in the Tampa Bay area appeared mostly clear at about 4:30pm Tuesday. Check GasBuddy to find stations that still have gas.
- Leave as soon as possible to avoid being stuck in your car when storm conditions begin.
Bridges: The Sunshine Skyway Bridge will close when sustained winds reach 45 mph. State transportation officials expect that to happen Wednesday afternoon.
- The Howard Frankland, Gandy and Courtney Campbell bridges will also likely close Wednesday afternoon.
If you stay: Prepare to be without power and potentially drinking water for up to a week.
- The ability to flush toilets and take showers may also be limited depending on where you live. Pay attention to updates from your local governments.