Hernando County is opening a shelter in Brooksville for people escaping the high water of the Withlacoochee River. Residents along the river, near Trilby in eastern Hernando County, have been asked to voluntarily evacuate.
The host shelter is at the Enrichment Center in Brooksville, located at 800 John Gary Grubbs Blvd.
National Weather Service Meteorologist John McMichael says the river has already altered the terrain.
"Now at about fifteen and a half feet, waters two to three feet over the bridge at Clay Sink Road and State Road 575. Riverdale Trailers have flooded, that area, river roads east of the river are flooded...the Florida campground is flooded as well," McMichael said.
"Again, the river itself is going to be slowly falling over the next several days, but remaining in major flood through early next week," McMichael said.
That's only if there's not a lot of rain in the next several days.
If you need assistance following Hurricane Irma, Hernando County wants you to call their emergency operations center at 352-754-4083.
