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Tag: Hurricane Milton
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DeSantis Uses Hurricane To Damage Marijuana Initiative
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A second hurricane is less than 2 weeks is barreling down on Florida – the governor sees it as a chance to hurt the marijuana initiative
Hurricane Helene hit the Florida Big Bend causing havoc all the way to North Carolina with over 200 dead and thousands homeless. Now,Hurricane Milton hast targeted the Tampa area and, in a rarity, grown from a tropical storm to a category 5 storm in a matter of days. While people are prepping and worrying, DeSantis uses hurricane to damage marijuana initiative.
RELATED: Is New York Finally Getting Its Marijuana Act Together
Hurricane Milton strengthened to a powerhouse Monday, driving sustained winds of 180 mph as it headed to the Sunshine State. Tampa, Orlando and St. Petersburg are three of of 5 largest population centers and are targeted by the storm. With people either planning evacuation or prepping their home for the massive storm, DeSantis sees an advantage. The Governor has decided to not extend the voter registration deadline. He has stated there’s “nothing inhibiting” unregistered voters from registering ahead of the deadline. At the same time he is urging residents on the populated west coast to heed evacuation orders ahead of Hurricane Milton’s expected landfall on Wednesday.
as it
DeSantis has been concerned about the recreational marijuana initiative as public support and backing have been huge. The Governor has made it clear the voters are “confused” and “should leave decisions to him” around marijuana. He worked hard to block medical marijuana, but it passed with 71% of the states voters. He has worked hard to stop this one also, but with lackluster success. The PAC he encouraged to fight it has raised less than $20 million versus the pro group which has raised over $100 million. Even AARP has joined the fight with research seniors (a significant voter population in Florida) has accepted and starting consuming not just for fun but for chronic pain, inflammation, insomnia and more.
RELATED: Cannabis Can Help Soreness After Summertime Activities
With back to back storms, voting rights groups shared the current situation has the highest impact on residents who just moved to Florida or eligible voters who just turned 18 and likely haven’t registered. To show the concern over Hurricane Milton, Disney is considering closing, which has only happened 8 times previously in its history. Six times for a hurricane, 9/11 and Covid…and potential a 9th with Milton.
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Terry Hacienda
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South Beach Group Hotels Offers $75 Hurricane Rate for Tampa Residents Evacuating From Hurricane Milton
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Press Release
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Oct 7, 2024In response to the evacuation orders for Hurricane Milton heading toward the Tampa area, South Beach Group Hotels is extending a helping hand to those in need. Effective immediately, all 16 of our hotels offer a special $75 per night rate for evacuees.
MIAMI, October 7, 2024 (Newswire.com)
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We understand how difficult and uncertain this time is for Tampa residents, and we are committed to providing a safe and comfortable haven for individuals, families, and their pets. As part of this offer, we have waived our resort fees and offer highly flexible cancellation policies to accommodate any last-minute changes due to the evolving situation.Key Details:
- $75 per night for all evacuees from Hurricane Milton.
- No resort fees.
- Flexible cancellation policy to adapt to changing needs.
- All pets are welcome regardless of size and without a pet fee at any of our 16 hotels.
To learn more about our properties or to make a reservation, visit South Beach Group Hotels or contact our reservations team at bookings@southbeachgroup.com
About South Beach Group Hotels
South Beach Group Hotels is a leading hospitality company with 16 boutique properties across Miami Beach. Known for our commitment to customer care, we offer stylish, affordable accommodations paired with exceptional service.Source: South Beach Group
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Tampa International Airport Suspends Operations Ahead of Hurricane Milton
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Tampa International Airport (TPA) will suspend all commercial and cargo operations ahead of Hurricane Milton, beginning at 9am on Tuesday.
The Tampa airport will remain closed to the public until it can assess any damage after the storm. TPA plans to resume services as soon as it is safe to do so later this week, but passengers should check with their airlines regarding flight schedules.
Tampa International Airport and its partners will use the time ahead of the suspension to prepare the airfield and terminals, including the securing of jet bridges, ground equipment and any remaining aircraft before the storm arrives. The three other public airports managed by the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority – Peter O. Knight, Tampa Executive and Plant City Airports – will also close in a similar timeframe.
TPA, including the Main Terminal and Airsides, will not be open for public use and is not equipped to function as a shelter for people or vehicles. The Airport is in an “A” evacuation zone and will not be staffed to assist others with supplies or assistance, nor will emergency services be able to respond to calls or transport individuals to or from the Airport.
For the same reason, parking garages will also be closed to the public during the suspension of operations, and people are asked not to bring vehicles to the Airport for parking.
Travelers are urged to heed emergency management advisories and pay close attention to public safety alerts. Currently, Hurricane Milton is forecast to bring potentially catastrophic storm surge, high winds and heavy rain to Tampa Bay and all of Florida’s Gulf Coast.
The Tampa airport anticipates reopening after Hurricane Milton once a damage assessment that will begin as soon as it is safe to do so. TPA will closely coordinate the reopening of the Airport with its partners, including the Transportation Security Administration and airlines, based on roadway safety, facility readiness and staffing. Any changes to the timing will be promptly communicated.
The airport provided these important reminders for passengers:
- Please contact your airline for the latest flight information. TPA will announce if flight operations are affected by the storm, but airlines are responsible for their schedules.
- Monitor the weather closely. Please stay up to date on forecasts for your area and any regions to which you may be traveling to or from.
- Follow TPA social media for the latest updates. Our account on X (formerly Twitter), @FlyTPA, will be the place to find the latest updates.
- TPA will notify the public of our timeline to reopen when the decision to do so safely has been made.
Orlando International Airport (MCO) and Orlando Executive Airport (ORL) will cease commercial passenger and private operations in advance of Hurricane Milton on Wednesday morning, October 9th.
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OCPS Announces Closure of Schools Due to Hurricane Milton
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Orange County Public Schools (OCPS) announced the closure of Orlando schools due to Hurricane Milton, as the school system continues to monitor and track the storm.
Based on the latest forecast, Orange County Public Schools announced that all after-school activities will be canceled beginning tomorrow, Tuesday, October 8th with the exception of after-school childcare. All OCPS schools and facilities will be closed on Wednesday, October 9th and Thursday, October 10th.
This is due to the projected impact of the hurricane in Orange County and some schools will be used as shelters.
Any decision on schools for Friday, October 11th will be determined by the impact on Orange County, according to officials.
The local school district’s Safety and Emergency Management team works closely with the Orange County Office of Emergency Management and other Central Florida officials to ensure the school district’s decision-making is aligned with local partners.
Many parents and families in Orange County were waiting for this announcement as Central Florida prepares for the incoming hurricane. While Florida’s west coast braces for impact, the National Weather Service in Melbourne has also issued several warnings and advisories for the Orlando area, adding “residents and visitors should be preparing for hurricane conditions across East Central Florida.”
OCPS will communicate all additional Hurricane Milton updates with families and employees through Connect Orange phone calls/emails/text messages, posts to OCPS social media pages and online.
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Biden appeals to those impacted by Helene
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President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden on Monday offered their sympathies to those impacted by Hurricane Helene and pledged that the federal government “has their back.”
The video message, shared on ABC’s “Good Morning America,” comes as falsehoods and conspiracies about the federal response to the storm — notably being echoed and amplified by Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump — threaten to disrupt recovery and relief efforts, officials say.
“The nation has your back,” Biden pledged to those in the path of the storm in North and South Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Virginia and Alabama.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency, the president said said, “is knocking on doors to sign up survivors for direct and immediate financial aid, because many of them need it now. And I’ve directed my team to stay there 24/7 with you, until this job is done.”
Helene, which made landfall in Florida last week as a Category 4 hurricane, has killed at least 230 people, with hundreds still unaccounted for, making it the deadliest mainland storm since Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
The president traveled to four of the impacted states last week — the Carolinas, Georgia and Florida.
“Last week I spent time in four states to see firsthand how you’re doing and to thank the first responders who run toward danger,” President Biden said. “I saw homes destroyed, businesses wiped out, bridges washed away, survivors in shock and families grieving.”
“We grieve with you,” the first lady added. “This is more heartache than any one community can bear.”
“In moments like this, there are no red or blue states,” President Biden said, with the presidential election less than a month away.
“No matter how you vote, we help each other when disaster strikes,” Dr. Biden said. “Because we are one United States of America.”
Misinformation about the storm — particularly taking aim at the federal response to it — is complicating relief efforts and forcing officials of both parties to take time to set the record straight.
Trump has charged that the Biden administration is withholding aid from Republicans.
“They’re being treated very badly in the Republican areas,” Trump said, without evidence, on Fox News. “They’re not getting water, they’re not getting anything.”
That claim has been echoed by right-wing figures like embattled North Carolina gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson, who has been dogged by his own scandals in recent weeks, and conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, who was found liable for more than $1 billion for false and defamatory claims about the Sandy Hook school shooting. But they have been debunked by governors in both parties, including Republican Govs. Henry McMaster of South Carolina and Brian Kemp of Georgia and Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper of North Carolina, who have praised the federal response to the storm.
Trump has also falsely accused FEMA of spending money on migrants who have entered the country illegally. Other critics have criticized spending on aid to Ukraine and Israel, despite the fact that Congress allocates those funds for specific and separate purposes. One lawmaker even posited that the path of the storm was manipulated to harm Republican voters in an effort to influence the 2024 presidential election.
FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell told ABC News on Sunday that false claims about storm recovery are “frankly ridiculous, and just plain false,” as well as “demoralizing” to aid workers and fear-mongering for those in need of aid.
“This kind of rhetoric is not helpful to people,” Criswell said. “It’s really a shame that we’re putting politics ahead of helping people, and that’s what we’re here to do.”
FEMA said Monday morning that federal support for Helene has surpassed $210 million, with hundreds of personnel on the ground to help with response efforts, including search and rescue. The agency said that it is prepared to continue response efforts while simultaneously bracing for Hurricane Milton, which strengthened to a Category 4 hurricane on Monday and is set to make landfall in Florida later this week.
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Justin Tasolides
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Biden appeals to those impacted by Helene
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President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden on Monday offered their sympathies to those impacted by Hurricane Helene and pledged that the federal government “has their back.”
The video message, shared on ABC’s “Good Morning America,” comes as falsehoods and conspiracies about the federal response to the storm — notably being echoed and amplified by Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump — threaten to disrupt recovery and relief efforts, officials say.
“The nation has your back,” Biden pledged to those in the path of the storm in North and South Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Virginia and Alabama.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency, the president said said, “is knocking on doors to sign up survivors for direct and immediate financial aid, because many of them need it now. And I’ve directed my team to stay there 24/7 with you, until this job is done.”
Helene, which made landfall in Florida last week as a Category 4 hurricane, has killed at least 230 people, with hundreds still unaccounted for, making it the deadliest mainland storm since Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
The president traveled to four of the impacted states last week — the Carolinas, Georgia and Florida.
“Last week I spent time in four states to see firsthand how you’re doing and to thank the first responders who run toward danger,” President Biden said. “I saw homes destroyed, businesses wiped out, bridges washed away, survivors in shock and families grieving.”
“We grieve with you,” the first lady added. “This is more heartache than any one community can bear.”
“In moments like this, there are no red or blue states,” President Biden said, with the presidential election less than a month away.
“No matter how you vote, we help each other when disaster strikes,” Dr. Biden said. “Because we are one United States of America.”
Misinformation about the storm — particularly taking aim at the federal response to it — is complicating relief efforts and forcing officials of both parties to take time to set the record straight.
Trump has charged that the Biden administration is withholding aid from Republicans.
“They’re being treated very badly in the Republican areas,” Trump said, without evidence, on Fox News. “They’re not getting water, they’re not getting anything.”
That claim has been echoed by right-wing figures like embattled North Carolina gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson, who has been dogged by his own scandals in recent weeks, and conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, who was found liable for more than $1 billion for false and defamatory claims about the Sandy Hook school shooting. But they have been debunked by governors in both parties, including Republican Govs. Henry McMaster of South Carolina and Brian Kemp of Georgia and Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper of North Carolina, who have praised the federal response to the storm.
Trump has also falsely accused FEMA of spending money on migrants who have entered the country illegally. Other critics have criticized spending on aid to Ukraine and Israel, despite the fact that Congress allocates those funds for specific and separate purposes. One lawmaker even posited that the path of the storm was manipulated to harm Republican voters in an effort to influence the 2024 presidential election.
FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell told ABC News on Sunday that false claims about storm recovery are “frankly ridiculous, and just plain false,” as well as “demoralizing” to aid workers and fear-mongering for those in need of aid.
“This kind of rhetoric is not helpful to people,” Criswell said. “It’s really a shame that we’re putting politics ahead of helping people, and that’s what we’re here to do.”
FEMA said Monday morning that federal support for Helene has surpassed $210 million, with hundreds of personnel on the ground to help with response efforts, including search and rescue. The agency said that it is prepared to continue response efforts while simultaneously bracing for Hurricane Milton, which strengthened to a Category 4 hurricane on Monday and is set to make landfall in Florida later this week.
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Justin Tasolides
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SHELTERS: Cities, counties opening shelters ahead of Hurricane Milton
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Counties across the Tampa Bay area are opening emergency shelters ahead of Hurricane Milton. We’ll post them below and update the list as we get new information.
PINELLAS COUNTY
Pinellas County is opening six emergency shelters in advance of Hurricane Milton. Effective at noon today, Monday, Oct. 7, the following shelters will be open:
– Largo High School (general population and pet friendly), 410 Missouri Ave. N., Largo
– Gibbs High School (general population and pet friendly), 850 34th St. S. St. Petersburg
– Palm Harbor University High School (general population and pet friendly), 1900 Omaha St, Palm Harbor
– Palm Harbor University High School Bldg. 19 (special needs), 1900 Omaha St., Palm Harbor
– Dunedin Highland Middle School (special needs), 70 Patricia Ave., Dunedin
– Oak Grove Middle School (special needs), 1370 S. Belcher Road, ClearwaterFor more information, click here.
PASCO COUNTY
Pasco County is opening hurricane shelters for anyone who needs to leave their home ahead of Hurricane Milton and has nowhere else to stay. All shelters are accepting family pets.The following shelters will open Monday, October 7, 2024, at noon:
- Centennial Middle School, 38505 Centennial Road, Dade City
- Fivay High School, 12115 Chicago Avenue, Hudson
- Wesley Chapel High School, 30651 Wells Road, Wesley Chapel
- River Ridge Middle and High Schools, 11646 Town Center Road, New Port Richey
- Fasano Regional Hurricane Center, 11611 Denton Avenue, Hudson (Special Needs Only)
Learn more about what to bring if you’re sheltering with your pet: mypas.co/PetHurricanePrep
MANATEE COUNTY
The following locations will be opening emergency shelters Monday afternoon:
- Mills Elementary School (7200 69th St. E., Palmetto)
- Miller Elementary School (601 43rd St. W., Bradenton)
- Myakka Elementary School (37205 Manatee Ave., Myakka City)
A special needs shelter will also be opening for those who have pre-registered. If you haven’t registered yet, please do so at mymanatee.org/needs.
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY
Hillsborough County will open Middleton High School this afternoon as a safe haven in advance of inclement weather for residents who were impacted by Hurricane Helene.
Middleton High School will open at 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 6, at 4801 N. 22nd St., Tampa, Fla., 33610. The forecast calls for heavy rain and wind on Sunday afternoon through Sunday night.
Residents who need transportation assistance to Middleton High School should call 833-HC STORM or 833-427-8676 to make arrangements. The storm information and helpline is open until 7 p.m.
POLK COUNTY
Based on the current projections and estimated time of Hurricane Milton’s arrival to Polk County, the following public shelters will be open at noon on Tuesday, Oct. 8:
- Auburndale High School, 1 Bloodhound Trail, Auburndale
- Spessard Holland Elementary School, 2432 E.F. Griffin Road, Bartow
- Citrus Ridge Academy, 1775 Sand Mine Road, Davenport
- Horizons Elementary School, 1700 Forest Lake Dr., Davenport
- George Jenkins High School, 6000 Lakeland Highlands Road, Lakeland
- Highlands Grove Elementary, 4510 Lakeland Highlands Road, Lakeland
- Kathleen High School, 1100 Red Devil Way, Lakeland
- R. Bruce Wagner Elementary School, 5500 Yates Road, Lakeland
- Sleepy Hill Elementary School, 2285 Sleepy Hill Road, Lakeland
- Mulberry Middle School, 500 S.E. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., Mulberry
- Lake Marion Creek Middle School, 3055 Lake Marion Creek Dr., Poinciana
- Chain of Lakes Elementary School, 7001 Hwy. 653, Winter Haven
- Winter Haven High School, 600 6th St. S.E., Winter Haven
Three pet friendly shelters will also be open noon on Tuesday, Oct. 8.
They are located at:
- Haines City High School, 2800 Hornet Dr., Haines City
- Lake Region High School, 1995 Thunder Road, Eagle Lake
- Tenoroc High School, 4905 Saddle Creek Road, Lakeland
Pet owners must bring shot records for their pets, an airline-approved carrying case or crate and pet food.
Special Needs shelters will also open at 7 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 8, for those residents with special and/or medical needs. Special needs shelters are temporary emergency facilities capable of providing care to residents whose medical condition(s) may require the use of electrical equipment, oxygen or dialysis, or individuals with physical, cognitive or medical conditions who may require assistance from medical professionals. Although special needs shelters provide more care than a general shelter, they do not provide the level of care found in a medical facility.
The Special Needs shelters are located at:
- FDOH Polk Specialty Care Unit, 1255 Brice Blvd., Bartow
- Ridge Community High School, 500 W. Orchid Dr., Davenport
- McKeel Academy, 1810 W. Parker St., Lakeland
For the most up-to-date information, please monitor your local news media or call the Citizen’s Information Line at (863) 298-7500 (locally) or toll-free 866-661-0228.
HERNANDO COUNTY
No shelter information at this time.
CITRUS COUNTY
No shelter information at this time.
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Spectrum News Staff
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Hurricane Milton affects tolls, transportation, services and events
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Transit Operations
Toll Roads
Tolls on roads on the Gulf Coast, in Central Florida and along Alligator Alley have been suspended to ease evacuation ahead of Hurricane Milton, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Monday.
Pinellas Suncoast Transit Association
Beginning Monday, Oct. 7, all routes, including PSTA Access, will run as scheduled fare-free to assist with evacuation operations. These evacuation services will run until winds reach a sustained 40 mph. Routes will continue to run fare-free as scheduled until 2 p.m. Tuesday. After 2 p.m., PSTA will continue running specific evacuation services at the direction of the Pinellas County government. These evacuation services will run until winds reach a sustained 40 mph.
PSTA services will be suspended on Wednesday, Oct. 9. The administrative office will be open on Monday but closed on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Entertainment
The Straz Center is closed Oct. 8-10 in anticipation of Hurricane Milton. The scheduled performances of “The Man Who Love Batman” are canceled, and ticket-holders will be contacted.
Amalie Arena
The Tampa Bay Lightning-Nashville Predators preseason game on Monday, originally re-scheduled from Sept. 27 due to effects from Hurricane Helene, has been canceled as the Tampa Bay region prepares for Hurricane Milton, the team announced Sunday. Single-game ticket-holders inquiring about refunds for Monday’s game should contact their original point of purchase. Bolt for Life Members will receive additional information from their account executives.
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Spectrum News Staff
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Tampa Bay-area cities, counties rush to pick up storm debris ahead of Milton
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PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — Cities and counties around Tampa Bay are rushing to remove as much storm debris as possible before Hurricane Milton approaches Wednesday.
A major concern for officials and residents alike is that storm debris left curbside from Hurricane Helene will cause serious damage if taken by the wind during the approaching storm.
In response to an executive order signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis over the weekend, many Tampa Bay area debris management and dump sites are open 24/7, so those looking to dump their storm debris can do so.
Early Monday morning, some residents reported waiting three to four hours in line overnight at the Pinellas County Solid Waste Disposal Facility.
DeSantis says he’s pouring all available state resources into debris pick up in the coastal areas of Pinellas and Manatee counties, as well as other affected spots.
“All assets that can help with debris removal are being marshaled to help remove the debris,” he stated Sunday. “So, if FDOT has dump trucks in Seminole County that can be used to help remove debris on the barrier islands, then they’re going to do that. We’re using everything at our disposal to help get the debris off.”
In Pinellas County, 24-7 free access to disposal sites will continue until Hurricane Milton arrives. Additional public works teams will pick up debris from unincorporated areas alongside the contracted debris removal company.
Officials in Pinellas County say they’re also working on coordinating with FDOT and the Florida National Guard on a special mission to remove debris from the barrier islands and other hard-hit areas.
In Tampa, Mayor Jane Castor said Sunday the city is struggling to find enough manpower.
“Our contractor was supposed to be here Saturday morning with 20 trucks and showed up with three. Fortunately, the state has allowed us to go outside of contracts and allow any and everybody to pick up that household debris,” she explained.
The city is now looking for any and all licensed and insured contractors to assist in debris removal.
Tampa’s solid waste director is advising that any debris not picked up by the end of the day on Tuesday to keep it as contained as possible behind your home.
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Angie Angers
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PSTA to run fare-free to help with evacuations due to Milton
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TAMPA, Fla. — The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority announced on Sunday that they will continue to run until winds reach 40 mph. All routes will also be fare-free to help assist with the evacuation process.
The administration building will be open on Monday, but will close Tuesday and Wednesday.
In the event of a hurricane, the PSTA will work alongside the Pinellas County Emergency Management team to provide transportation to a list of the shelters. There are also several locations where passengers can transfer and ride to a shelter with available space. The transfer locations are: Park Street Terminal, Grand Central Station, Westfield Countryside Mall, Tyrone Square Mall and Pinellas Park Transit Center.
Pets are permitted on evacuation busses as long as they are in a pet carrier. If you are going to a shelter that accepts pets, you must pre-register with the Pinellas County Animal Services by calling 727-582-2600.
If you need transportation to a special needs shelter, you must pre-register with Pinellas County Emergency Management by calling 727-464-3800.
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Spectrum News Staff
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Tampa Bay area schools to close this week ahead of Hurricane Milton
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TAMPA, Fla. — Some Tampa Bay area counties have announced school closures in anticipation of Hurricane Milton.
The list will be updated as more school closures are announced.
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY
Hillsborough County Public Schools will be closed Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday (Oct. 7 – 9) to prepare for the impacts of the approaching storm. School district officials said the decision allows the county to convert schools into shelters for those needing to evacuate and gives families and district staff time to prepare their own storm plans.
Get more information on the district’s website and social media channels.
In addition, Westminster Academy will also be closed Tuesday and Wednesday, Oct. 8 – 9. Monday will be a normal day, but no afterschool care will be provided, officials said.
PASCO COUNTY
Pasco County Schools announced that all schools and district offices will be closed on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday (Oct. 7 – 9). All extracurricular activities, athletic events, and after-school programs are also canceled for these days. The district said it will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as needed.
Families and staff are encouraged to follow the district’s website and social media channels for the latest information.
PINELLAS COUNTY
All Pinellas County Schools and offices will be closed from Monday, Oct. 7 through Wednesday, Oct. 9. All sports and school activities scheduled for those dates are also canceled. No decision has been made for the end of the week due to the uncertainty of the storm’s path.
Updates will be posted on the district website and social media channels.
POLK COUNTY
In a statement, the system said: “Based on the most current forecast, we do not expect significant weather in Polk County tomorrow, Monday, Oct. 7. Consequently, all PCPS schools and offices will remain open during regular hours tomorrow.
However, we will be canceling or rescheduling Monday’s after-school programs and sports. For specific information about rescheduled events, we encourage you to reach out to your child’s school directly.
Please be advised that all PCPS schools and offices will be closed on Tuesday, Oct. 8, Wednesday, Oct. 9, and Thursday, Oct. 10, in response to this storm.”
Click here to read the full statement.
MANATEE COUNTY
In a statement, the school system said: “All School District of Manatee County Schools will be closed Monday, October 7th through Wednesday, October 9th. All school activities, including athletics, are cancelled Monday through Wednesday.
“Information regarding the remainder of the week will be communicated after the storm passes, shelter operations conclude, and teams have had an opportunity to assess the condition of district campuses.
HERNANDO COUNTY
In a statement, the system said: “This afternoon, the Hernando County Emergency Operations Center activated local agencies to prepare for Tropical Storm Milton. As a result, all Hernando schools and district offices will be closed Tuesday and Wednesday (Oct 8-9) with a decision for reopening expected midweek. During this closure, all before and after-school care services will be suspended, and all after-school activities and athletic events are cancelled or will be rescheduled.”
CITRUS COUNTY
In a statement, the system said: “As a result of the impending storm, school will be cancelled for Tuesday, October 8th and Wednesday, October 9th. All after-school extracurricular activities on Tuesday and Wednesday are also canceled. School will be in session for tomorrow, Monday, October 7th. After school activities, YMCA before and after school programs, and sports will run as normal on Monday, October 7th.
SARASOTA COUNTY
All traditional public schools will be closed from Monday, Oct. 7, through Wednesday, Oct. 9, in preparation for possible shelter openings. District officials said to look out for e-mails and text messages for any updates.
Track announcements on its social media channels.
COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES
Saint Leo University will be closed and classes will be canceled Monday, Oct. 7, through Thursday, Oct. 10, at its Tampa area locations:
- University Campus (33701 County Road 52, St. Leo, FL 33574)
- Tampa Education Center (1403 N. Howard Ave., Tampa, FL 33607)
- Center for Adult Learning (University Campus and Pasco-Hernando State College locations)
All Saint Leo employees are to report to work on Monday to prepare their workspaces for the storm, university officials said.
In a statement, the school said: “The University of South Florida is continuing to closely monitor Hurricane Milton. Based on the latest weather information, the university today announced that on Monday, Oct. 7, no in-person classes will be held. Classes will only be delivered asynchronously, which means students will not have to meet and will receive an assignment from their instructor that does not have to be completed on Monday or while the university is closed.
In addition, on Monday, Oct. 7 all campuses will be closed. Normal USF business operations will continue remotely.
On Tuesday, Oct. 8, and Wednesday, Oct. 9, all classes are canceled, and all campuses will be closed.
A decision about resuming classes, reopening campuses and returning to normal business operations for Thursday, Oct. 10, will be made a later time.”
In a statement, the school said: “The College will remain open on Monday, Oct. 7. All campuses and offices will be closed from Tuesday, Oct. 8 through Wednesday, Oct. 9.
The SPC Board of Trustees meeting will be held on Oct. 8, but all other scheduled events and activities are canceled.
We will continue monitoring this storm closely and will provide an update by Monday afternoon regarding any other potential closures for the rest of this week.”
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Spectrum News Staff
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‘Here we go again’: Milton becomes a hurricane and is expected to strengthen as Floridians reel from Helene
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(CNN) — Florida is bracing as Hurricane Milton rapidly intensified into a Category 1 storm on Sunday, days before it’s expected to make landfall on the state’s Gulf Coast while communities are still dealing with the effects of Hurricane Helene.
While the state is clearing debris from Helene — which made landfall September 26 on Florida’s Big Bend as a Category 4 and created a 500-mile path of destruction with catastrophic flooding and damaging winds — it will now contend with Milton.
The storm is boasting top sustained wind speeds of 80 mph, according to the 2 p.m. ET advisory from the National Hurricane Center. At that time, the storm was about 815 miles west-southwest of Tampa, Florida.
It is expected to make landfall on Wednesday on the Gulf Coast of Florida as a destructive and life-threatening Category 3 with 120 mph winds between Cedar Key and Naples, which includes the entire Tampa Bay area. Hurricane and storm surge watches will likely be issued for parts of the western Florida coast on Sunday — with dangerous storm surge expected for some areas just slammed by Helene.
Miami, Orlando and Tampa are each forecast to receive four to eight inches of rain through Thursday. That would be the equivalent of an entire month’s worth of rain for Miami, two months’ worth of rain for Orlando and three months’ worth of rain for Tampa. Locations within the state’s interior could see more than 10 inches of rain total.
Milton formed in the western Gulf on Saturday morning, just hours after it became a tropical depression, the National Hurricane Center said in a special alert. The 13th named storm is running weeks ahead of schedule, as it doesn’t usually occur until October 25.
With very low vertical wind shear and incredibly warm sea-surface temperatures, Milton will be able to gain steady to rapid strength over the next few days.
Officials prepare for more impacts and evacuations
While it’s only been a little over a week since Helene slammed the state, officials across Florida are already asking residents to prepare for another potentially life-threatening storm as many are still in recovery mode.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency Sunday for 51 of the state’s 67 counties, up from 35 on Saturday.
The Florida Division of Emergency Management is preparing for the largest evacuation since 2017, Director Kevin Guthrie said at a news conference with DeSantis on Sunday.
“I urge Floridians to finalize your storm preparations now, enact your plan. I highly encourage you to evacuate,” Guthrie said.
That sentiment was echoed by Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody, who in a separate news conference with state officials Sunday told residents who choose to ignore evacuation orders they should take steps to help authorities identify them if they perish.
“You probably need to write your name in permanent marker on your arm, so that people know who you are when they get to you afterwards,” Moody said.
Manatee County’s Anna Maria Island announced a mandatory evacuation order for its residents starting Monday at noon. County officials said Sunday they will begin evacuations for areas A and B on Monday at 2 p.m. ET. And more than 500,000 people in Pinellas County could be ordered to evacuate Monday, according to officials there.
Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri indicated officials plan to be “more assertive” about enforcing evacuation orders in the wake of Hurricane Helene, which killed twelve people in the county and prompted more than 1,500 calls for help when it was too late for authorities to respond.
“In the past, mandatory evacuation orders have been issued, and bars stay open, restaurants stay open, people are just going about their business in stores,” he said. “That’s not going to happen this time, and we’re going to shut you down, because we can’t have the tragedy that we had a week and a half ago.”
State authorities are also anticipating Milton could cause widespread power outages, DeSantis said.
“This is something that potentially would be greater power outages than what we just saw with Hurricane Helene,” the governor said, noting the state’s residents still have a couple of days to get ready. “So Floridians should just be prepared for that. Know if you’re anywhere near that cone, certainly you should prepare to have power interruptions.”
Milton could also cause greater storm surge in the Tampa Bay area than it saw in Helene, DeSantis added, describing efforts to deploy hundreds of feet of flood protection systems.
The town of Fort Myers Beach warned residents to be prepared and said they could pick up sandbags at the town hall. “Do not wait until it is too late” to evacuate, it added.
“Here we go again,” said the police department in Naples, adding that heavy rainfall and flooding concerns will increase starting Sunday through the middle of next week. Authorities urged residents not to drive on streets with water over them.
The city of Sanibel warned residents and business owners in a news release Saturday to begin preparing for impacts from the storm “as soon as possible.” Since Helene hit the city, crews have worked throughout the island to clear storm drains and debris and manage weirs to increase storage capacity of storm water, the city said. Sanibel officials encouraged residents to clear debris from drainage areas near their homes or businesses before any heavy rainfall.
Florida hurries to make progress on Helene cleanup
DeSantis has also ordered all disaster management sites to remain open 24/7 as the state rushes to remove debris left in the wake of Helene. State personnel and assets — including the Florida Department of Transportation, the Florida National Guard and the Florida State Guard — have been directed to work around the clock to assist local efforts to clean up and dispose of the debris, which could pose a hazard in the event Milton hits the state, DeSantis said Sunday.
“I’ve seen progress just by going around and visiting, but you also have some areas where there’s a lot of debris that’s there,” the governor said. “So you get hit with a major hurricane, what’s going to happen to that debris? It’s going to increase the damage dramatically.”
More than 800 guardsmen are currently deployed for debris removal, but DeSantis said there would soon be up to 4,000 available. Assets deployed to assist with Hurricane Helene recovery in Tennessee and North Carolina have also been ordered back to Florida, DeSantis said.
President Joe Biden has also been briefed on the storm, according to a statement issued Sunday.
“As these communities brace for potentially yet another catastrophic storm, and as part of my Administration’s solemn obligation to stand with impacted communities as they rebuild their lives, we will continue working hand-in-hand with local and state leaders – regardless of political party and no matter how long it takes,” Biden said.
Tampa area schools announce closures
Some schools in the Tampa area have announced they are closing close ahead of Tropical Storm Milton’s expected arrival.
Schools in Hillsborough County, Pinellas County and Pasco County announced schools will be closed and other activities canceled Monday through Wednesday, as a precaution. Hillsborough County Schools said the decision allows the county to convert its schools into evacuation shelters.
“Given the recent impact of Hurricane Helene, many in our community are still recovering and may find it unsafe to remain in their homes. Additionally, we anticipate an influx of evacuees from coastal areas. If you are in an evacuation zone, please consider using one of our school shelters,” the district said in a statement.
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Anna Maria Island under mandatory evacuation due to Milton
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MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — Anna Maria Island officials have announced that a mandatory evacuation order will be in effect starting Monday, Oct. 7 at noon in anticipation of Tropical Storm Milton’s landfall.
The storm is expected to become a hurricane with landfall by midweek. The worst of the impacts will be felt most of the day on Wednesday, if not late Tuesday and early Thursday as well.
MANATEE COUNTY
Manatee County Emergency Managers have called for evacuations of all persons in Level A and B – and all residents or visitors in RVs or Mobile Homes – ahead of Hurricane Milton beginning at 2 p.m. Monday Oct. 7. If you haven’t done so, learn your evacuation level by clicking here.
“We do not issue evacuation orders lightly,” said Manatee County Public Safety Director Jodie Fiske. “Milton is anticipated to cause more storm surge than Helene. So, if you stayed during Helene, and got lucky, I would not press my luck with this particular system.”
The following locations will be opening emergency shelters Monday afternoon:
- Mills Elementary School (7200 69th St. E., Palmetto)
- Miller Elementary School (601 43rd St. W., Bradenton)
- Myakka Elementary School (37205 Manatee Ave., Myakka City) A special needs shelter will also be opening for those who have pre-registered. If you haven’t registered yet, please do so at mymanatee.org/needs.Debris pick up from Helene has shifted into high gear. Extra collection vehicles are being dispatched to Manatee County to speed Helene clean-up to completion. These crews will work as long as conditions allow to safely remove and dispose of this debris. It’s very important that once the debris has been picked up in your area, you do NOT put any additional debris at the roadside. Any debris left near the curb as Milton comes through can clog drain or become a projectile during high winds.
Debris pick up from Helene has shifted into high gear. Extra collection vehicles are being dispatched to Manatee County to speed Helene clean-up to completion. These crews will work as long as conditions allow to safely remove and dispose of this debris. It’s very important that once the debris has been picked up in your area, you do NOT put any additional debris at the roadside. Any debris left near the curb as Milton comes through can clog drain or become a projectile during high winds.
PINELLAS COUNTY
Pinellas County has issued mandatory evacuation orders for long-term care facilities, assisted living facilities and hospitals in evacuation zones A, B and C due to the threat posed by Hurricane Milton. This impacts six hospitals, 25 nursing homes and 44 assisted living facilities, totaling about 6,600 patients.
The mandatory orders are only for these facilities, but Pinellas County is encouraging voluntary evacuation for residents in Zone A, B and C and mobile homes in advance of possible mandatory orders Monday. At-risk residents can evacuate only a few miles to higher ground and safe structures outside of Zone C. If evacuations are ordered, the County will open emergency shelters.
PASCO COUNTY
In a statement, the county said: “The Pasco Board of County Commissioners has issued a Local State of Emergency for Pasco County ahead of Hurricane Milton. This allows the County Administrator and Emergency Management Director to waive everyday procedures and do what they believe is necessary to ensure the health, safety and welfare of our community.
Mandatory evacuations will go into effect Monday, October 7, at 10:00 a.m. for the following:
- Evacuation Zones A and B
- Everyone living in a manufactured home, mobile home or RV anywhere in Pasco
- Everyone in low-lying areas or areas prone to flooding
- Everyone in an area ordered evacuated by local authorities due to life-safety hazards
Voluntary evacuations will go into effect Monday, October 7, at 10:00 a.m. for the following:
- Evacuation Zone C
- Everyone registered with Pasco as a Special Needs Resident
- Everyone who would be vulnerable in the event of a power loss
Know your evacuation zone. Click HERE to enter your street address on an interactive map:
Pasco County is also opening shelters Monday, October 7 for anyone who needs to leave their home ahead of the storm and has nowhere else to stay. To view the locations, click here.
Pasco County Customer Service is open until 7 p.m. Sunday and will be open 24 hours beginning Monday, October 7 at 7 a.m. Call 727.847.2411.
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Spectrum News Staff
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Where to find gas for Milton preps
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Many Floridians are preparing for Milton, and soon many will be searching for gas as the storm gets closer.
With the GasBuddy Outage Tracker, drivers can search for gas stations nearby, as well as filter by the following criteria:
- Has Fuel & Power
- Has No Power
- Limited Fuel Options
- Has No Fuel & Power
Click/Tap on the image below to locate gas stations near you and check their status. For the best results, be sure to share you location. You can also track outages on your phone by downloading the GasBuddy app for Android or iOS.
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Spectrum News Staff
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Invest 92-L forms in Gulf of Mexico; Florida could see major rain event
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TWO NEWS ON CW 18 STARTS NOW. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR WESH TWO NEWS AT TEN. I’M JESSE PAGAN AND I’M LUANA MUNOZ. TROPICAL ACTIVITY IS RAMPING UP IN THE GULF AS WE NOW HAVE INVEST 92 L. THAT MEANS MORE DATA TO HELP BETTER FORECAST EXACTLY WHAT WE COULD BE SEEING HERE IN CENTRAL FLORIDA EARLY NEXT WEEK. A FIRST WARNING, CHIEF METEOROLOGIST TONY MAINOLFI HERE BREAKING DOWN THE NEW INFORMATION TONY. THAT’S RIGHT GUYS. SO WE’RE ENTERING A NEW PHASE NOW. NOW THAT WE HAVE AN INVEST. WE’VE GOT THE TROPICAL MODELS THAT ARE STARTING TO RUN. NOW. WE’VE GOT THE HURRICANE HUNTERS GOING IN TOMORROW MORNING. THEY’LL BE IN THERE SUNDAY AS WELL. AND AS WE DIGEST WHAT’S GOING ON DOWN IN THERE WITH THESE HURRICANE HUNTERS AND THROW THAT DATA INTO OUR MODELING SYSTEM, WE’RE GOING TO START TO GET MORE ACCURATE FORECASTS BECAUSE THE GLOBAL MODELS HAVE BEEN FLIP FLOPPING A BUNCH. AND IT’S IT’S NOT A GOOD THING. WE DON’T WANT THAT. SO LET’S TAKE A LOOK NOW AT THE UPDATE FROM HURRICANE CENTER. 30% CHANCE FOR DEVELOPMENT. NOW IN THE NEXT TWO DAYS. AND A 70% CHANCE FOR DEVELOPMENT OVER THE NEXT WEEK. THIS IS THE FIRST LOOK AT THE TROPICAL MODELS. AND THE FIRST ONE HISTORICALLY IS NOT A VERY GOOD RUN. SO WE’LL WAIT. OVERNIGHT TONIGHT WE START TO GET A FEW MORE OF THE MORE MATURE MODELS, THE MORE ACCURATE FORECAST TO COME ON IN, BUT YOU CAN KIND OF SEE THAT BAND OF THE TROPICAL AND YOU CAN KIND OF SEE THAT BAND ON THE GLOBAL MODELS, WHICH TONIGHT BY THE WAY, HAVE KIND OF BEEN FLIP FLOPPING. A FEW OF THEM ARE STRONGER, A FEW OF THEM ARE WEAKER. MOST OF THEM KEEP THE MAIN ENERGY, THOUGH. TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY. AND THE CORE OF THE MODELING IS ACROSS SOUTH AND CENTRAL FLORIDA. AND THERE’S A BIG DIFFERENCE IN RAINFALL AMOUNTS BETWEEN THE NORTHERN MODELS AND THE SOUTHERN MODELS. AND I’
Invest 92-L forms in Gulf of Mexico; Florida could see major rain event
Some models show as much as 18 inches of rain in parts of Central Florida.
Video above: Latest on tropics Invest 92-L formed in the Gulf of Mexico on Friday night, according to the National Hurricane Center, and could become a tropical depression early next week. It would be named Milton. While it’s still too early to know exactly what may form, models are consistent in moving this system through Florida. Formation chances slightly increased in the NHC’s 2 a.m. advisory, bumping the chance of formation over the next 48 hours to 50% and seven-day odds to 80%.Some models show as much as 18 inches of rain in parts of Central Florida. It comes right after Hurricane Helene slammed the Big Bend region as a monster Category 4 storm last week. Many Florida residents are still recovering from intense flooding, damaging storm surge and extreme wreckage from winds topping 140 mph.>> Chopper 2 video shows extensive Hurricane Helene damage in St. Pete Beach, Tampa Bay, Fort Myers>> Photos, videos show Helene’s eerie approach, intense impacts and devastating aftermath in FloridaAs hurricane season continues, the NHC is monitoring several systems, including major Hurricane Kirk and Tropical Storm Leslie. Click here for the latest.First Warning WeatherStay with WESH 2 online and on-air for the most accurate Central Florida weather forecast.RadarSevere Weather AlertsDownload the WESH 2 News app to get the most up-to-date weather alerts.The First Warning Weather team includes First Warning Chief Meteorologist Tony Mainolfi, Eric Burris, Kellianne Klass, Marquise Meda and Cam Tran.
Video above: Latest on tropics
Invest 92-L formed in the Gulf of Mexico on Friday night, according to the National Hurricane Center, and could become a tropical depression early next week. It would be named Milton.
This content is imported from Twitter.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.While it’s still too early to know exactly what may form, models are consistent in moving this system through Florida.
Formation chances slightly increased in the NHC’s 2 a.m. advisory, bumping the chance of formation over the next 48 hours to 50% and seven-day odds to 80%.
Some models show as much as 18 inches of rain in parts of Central Florida.
It comes right after Hurricane Helene slammed the Big Bend region as a monster Category 4 storm last week. Many Florida residents are still recovering from intense flooding, damaging storm surge and extreme wreckage from winds topping 140 mph.
>> Chopper 2 video shows extensive Hurricane Helene damage in St. Pete Beach, Tampa Bay, Fort Myers
>> Photos, videos show Helene’s eerie approach, intense impacts and devastating aftermath in Florida
As hurricane season continues, the NHC is monitoring several systems, including major Hurricane Kirk and Tropical Storm Leslie. Click here for the latest.
First Warning Weather
Stay with WESH 2 online and on-air for the most accurate Central Florida weather forecast.
Download the WESH 2 News app to get the most up-to-date weather alerts.
The First Warning Weather team includes First Warning Chief Meteorologist Tony Mainolfi, Eric Burris, Kellianne Klass, Marquise Meda and Cam Tran.
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