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DeSantis: Idalia to be 'powerful' hurricane
Gov. Ron DeSantis is urging Floridians to prepare now as Tropical Storm Idalia is forecast to become a major hurricane before making landfall in Florida this week.
ORLANDO, Fla. - Hurricane Idalia formed early Tuesday morning in the Gulf of Mexico on its way to Florida's Gulf Coast, where it's expected to rapidly intensify and become a major hurricane before making landfall in the Big Bend region.
Emergency shelters have begun opening in Central Florida ahead of Hurricane Idalia's arrival. Here is a list of shelters by county.
Brevard County Emergency Shelters
None open as of Tuesday morning, according to Brevard County's website.
Citrus County Emergency Shelters
- Central Ridge Elementary School (General Population) - 185 West Citrus Springs Blvd., Citrus Springs, FL 34434
- Citrus High School (General Population) - 600 West Highland Blvd., Inverness, FL 34452
- Citrus Springs Middle School (General Population) - 150 W Citrus Springs Blvd, Citrus Springs, FL 34434
- Central Ridge Elementary School (General) - 185 W Citrus Springs Blvd, Citrus Springs, FL 34434
- Forest Ridge Elementary School (Special Needs) - 2927 North Forest Ridge Blvd., Hernando, FL 34442
- Renaissance Center (Pet Friendly) - 3630 W Educational Path, Lecanto, FL 34461
- College of Central Florida (last resort option) - 3800 S Lecanto Hwy, Lecanto, FL 34461
Dixie County Emergency Shelters
Shelters will open at 9 a.m. at Dixie County High School and Bell Middle/High Schools (shelter needs), according to Dixie County Fire Rescue.
Flagler County Emergency Shelters
None open as of Tuesday morning, according to Flagler County's website.
Lake County Emergency Shelters
Lake County will open two shelters at 3 p.m. on Tuesday. Both can assist general population, those with special needs, and those with pets.
- Villages Elementary – 695 Rolling Acres Road, Lady Lake
- Lost Lake Elementary – 1901 Johns Lake Road, Clermont
Levy County Emergency Shelters
- Bronson Elementary School, 400 Ishie AveBronson, FL 32621
- Bronson Middle School, 351 Ishie Ave, Bronson, FL 32621
Marion County Emergency Shelters
West Port High School will open as a special needs shelter starting at 5 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 28.
The following schools will open as shelters for the public on Tuesday, Aug. 29 at 8 a.m.:
- Forest High School
- Horizon Academy at Marion Oaks
- Lake Weir High School (Pet-Friendly)
- North Marion Middle School
- Vanguard High School (Pet-Friendly)
The below general population shelters will open to the public on Tuesday, Aug. 29 at 8 a.m
- Forest High School, 5000 SE Maricamp Road, Ocala, FL
- Horizon Academy, 365 Marion Oaks Drive, Ocala, FL
- Lake Weir High School, 10351 SE Maricamp Road, Ocala, FL (Pet-Friendly)
- North Marion Middle School, 2085 W Highway 329, Citra, FL
- Vanguard High School, 7 NW 28th Street, Ocala, FL (Pet-Friendly)
Orange County Emergency Shelters
Shelters will open by 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 29. All shelters are considered to be pet friends, officials said.
- Barnett Park & Gym, 4801 W Colonial Dr, Orlando, FL 32808
- South Econ Recreation Center, 3800 S Econlockhatchee Trail, Orlando, FL 32829
Special/Medical Needs Shelters (Call 311 or 407-836-3111)
- Silver Star Recreation Center, 2801 N Apopka Vineland Rd, Orlando, FL 32818
- Goldenrod Recreation Center, 4863 N Goldenrod Rd, Winter Park, FL 32792
Osceola County Emergency Shelters
None currently open, according to Osceola County Emergency Management's website.
Polk County Emergency Shelters
General population shelters will open at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, according to Polk County Emergency Management's website.
- Tenoroc High School – Pet Friendly - 4905 Saddle Creek Rd. - Lakeland
- Mulberry Middle School - 500 Martin Luther King Ave. - Mulberry
- Horizons Elementary - 1700 Forest Lake Drive - Davenport
- Chain of Lakes Elementary - 7001 CR 653 - Winter Haven
- Spessard L. Holland Elementary - 2342 EF Griffin Road - Bartow
- George Jenkins High School - 6000 Lakeland Highlands Road - Lakeland
Shelter needs: If you need transportation, you need to call (863) 298-7027 on Tuesday between 7 a.m. - 10 a.m.
- Department of Health-Polk County Specialty Care Unit, 1255 Brice Blvd., Bartow
Seminole County Emergency Shelters
None open as of Tuesday morning, according to Seminole County's website.
Sumter County Emergency Shelters
Sumter County will open shelters at 4 p.m. on Tuesday:
- Sumter Fairgrounds, 7620 SR 471. Webster, FL 33597
Special Needs
- Wildwood Community Center, 6500 Powell Road, Wildwood, FL 34785
Volusia County Emergency Shelters
General Population
- Volusia County Fairgrounds, 3150 E New York AveDeLand, FL 32724
Special Needs
- Florida Department of Health, 1845 Holsonback Drive, Daytona Beach
Homeless
- Hester Building, Volusia County Fairgrounds, 3150 E New York AveDeLand, FL 32724