Live updates on Milton

Thank you for checking out our Milton live blog. We hope you found the information useful as we kept up with Milton's progress, along with the storm's impact and recovery efforts across the greater Tampa Bay region.

This will be the last post. For updates from your area, we encourage you to click on the county emergency information links at the top of this page.

You can also follow your county's Facebook page for any additional information. Here are those links:

• Hillsborough
• Pinellas
• Pasco
• Hernando
• Polk
• Sarasota
• Manatee
• Citrus

Hillsborough County, Fla. (Oct. 20, 2024) - Hillsborough County will open four additional comfort stations on Monday. They will be open from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. until further notice, and offer showers, washers and dryers, and hot or boxed meals.

• Wimauma Civic Center, 5705 Hillsborough St., Wimauma
• University Mall, 2200 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa
• Seffner Mango Park, 410 N. Kingsway Rd., Seffner,
• 9851 S. U.S. 41, Gibsonton

 The existing comfort stations:

• Keith Waller Park, 1318 Sydney Dover Rd., Dover
• University Area Community Development Corporation, Inc.(UACDC), 14013 N. 22nd St., Tampa
• Progress Village Senior Center, 8701 Progress Blvd., Tampa
• Hillsborough Avenue and Hanley Road in Town 'N Country, 7501 W. Hillsborough Ave., Tampa

Hillsborough is closing its disaster recovery center at the Barksdale Center, 1801 N. Lincoln Ave. in Tampa, on Sunday, Oct. 20, at 7 p.m.

The site was originally scheduled to be open through Tuesday, Oct. 22, but is closing earlier than originally planned so that the facility can be transitioned to a polling location for the upcoming elections. A new location will be opened in the coming days.

Hillsborough County has opened a third multi-agency resource center that will be staffed with personnel from federal, state, regional partners, and nonprofit agencies to ensure residents have access to all available resources following the storms. It will e open daily from 9 a.m.-6 p.m.

• Ruskin Tax Collector's Office, 406 30th St SE, Ruskin

 It joins two other sites: 

• Town N Country Regional Public Library, 7606 Paula Dr. No. 120, Tampa (9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m).
• Florida Strawber4y Festival TECO Expo Hall, 2301 W. Oak Ave., Plant City (9 a.m. -5 p.m.)

Hillsborough County has opened two temporary sites where you can drop off yard debris. They will be open daily from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. until further notice. Residents must bring photo ID.

• Lake Park. 17302 N. Dale Mabry Hwy., Lutz
• Valrico County Spray Field, 14039 Sydney Rd. Valrico

The emergency management chief of the Florida county where Hurricane Milton made landfall earlier this month warned about reports of scammers in the area who are posing as Federal Emergency Management Agency officials and trying to get financial information from the storm's victims.

Sarasota County Emergency Management Chief Sandra Tapfumaneyi told residents on Thursday that some scammers with fake FEMA badges were asking residents for their bank account information, which they should never provide. Instead, hurricane victims seeking help should only share that on FEMA's online system, she said.

“Don't give out your bank account information to anyone who is knocking on your door,” Tapfumaneyi said. “That is not an indication that they are there to help you. Don't give cash to anyone who says they are from FEMA.”

Clearwater will open a site where residents can drop off yard debris. It will run from Oct. 19 through Nov. 2 from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.:

• Woodgate Park, 2495 Countryside Blvd.

Proof of Clearwater residence is required, along with a copy of a utility bill.

An initial report from the National Weather Service says St. Petersburg received more than 20 inches of rain during Milton, and almost 19 inches at Albert Whitted Airport. That breaks the previous 24-hour period record of 6.9 inches in 2001.

Also:

• The four comfort stations across the city will close Friday
• A multi-agency resource Center will be open daily from 9 a.m.-7 p.m. at Enoch D. Davis Center, 1111 18th Ave. S.

Click here for more on hurricane recovery in the city.

Hillsborough County is closing four points of distribution after serving more than 20,000 cars through Thursday night at four sites. They will operate until Friday at 7 p.m. or until supplies last:

• 431 19th Avenue NE, Ruskin (former Kmart parking lot)
• Elev8 Fun, Citrus Park Mall, 7902 Citrus Park Town Center Dr., Tampa
• HCC Brandon, 10451 Nancy Watkins Dr., Tampa
• Gibsonton Walmart, 9205 Gibsonton Dr., Gibsonton

Meanwhile, the county has closed the comfort station at the Skyway Sports Complex & Park, 3901 George Rd., Tampa.

It's opening two others from 7 a.m. to :

• Keith Waller Park, 1318 Sydney Dover Rd., Dover
• University Area Community Development Corporation, Inc. (UACDC), 14013 N 22nd St., Tampa\ 

Those are in addition to two comfort stations already opened:

• Progress Village Senior Center, 8701 Progress Blvd., Tampa
• Hillsborough Avenue and Hanley Road in Town N Country, 7501 W. Hillsborough Ave., Tampa

SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) recipients who lost food due to Hurricane Milton have until Sat., Oct. 19, to apply for food replacement.

Click here to submit your application.

While renewal dates have passed for some National Flood Insurance Program policyholders in Florida who were affected by Hurricane Milton, some policyholders may be able to take steps that will renew their policy and receive coverage for flood damage.

Certain NFIP policyholders in Florida affected by Milton now have until Dec. 10 to renew their policies without a lapse in coverage.

This extends the original 30-day renewal grace period.

Policyholders should be sure to ask their insurance agent or company about advance claims payments to help start their recovery. Advance payments may be available of up to $20,000 prior to a visit from an adjuster.

Click here for details.

If you're going to the USF football game Saturday at Raymond James Stadium, you can also help those affected by hurricanes Helene and Milton.

USF and Feeding Tampa Bay are hosting a food drive, according to a news release, starting three hours before kickoff.

If you donate three or more shelf-stable items, you'll get a coupon for two complimentary tickets to a 2024 home football game of your choice – including Saturday's game against UAB. Families are limited to four complimentary tickets.

You can drop off supplies at Bulls Bay, which is the south plaza outside the stadium. Items you can donate include:

• Canned food
• Dry goods
• Miscellaneous supplies such as hygiene items, disinfectant wipes, wrapped plastic utensils and trash bags

There will also be video board messages throughout the game showing how fans can donate to support those affected by the storms, according to the release. That includes the USF Foundation's United Support Fund, which helps USF students who have been impacted.

"In one way or another, these hurricanes have affected all of us in the Tampa Bay region, and we are proud to offer our support to all those affected," USF Vice President for Athletics Michael Kelly said in the release. "Our community is strong. I know we can make a significant impact to help those affected by Hurricanes Milton and Helene by working together. Together, we will rise!"

The game kicks off Saturday at 3:30 p.m.

Pinellas County is closing the residential storm debris drop-off site in East Lake, at the corner of Keystone Road and East Lake Road, on Sunday at 7 p.m. It will convert the site for contractor use on Monday to speed up the debris pickup process, according to a news release.

The county said the change was made because it can’t safely accommodate residential and large-scale debris drop-off at the same time.

The debris drop-off site at 13600 Icot Blvd. in Clearwater is still open. Its hours will expand to 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. starting on Monday.

For updates on storm debris collection, visit pinellas.gov/debris.

For post-storm questions, you can call the County Information Center at 727-464-4333 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. The center will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. starting on Saturday. Residents who are deaf or hard of hearing can contact the center via online chat at bit.ly/PinellasChat. 

The Florida Small Business Development Center at USF is stationed at the Sarasota Mobile Assistance Center from Thursday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. It will help businesses affected by Helene and Milton.

The center is located at:

• The Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce
  1945 Fruitville Road, Sarasota

Consultants will be at the center to help with the following recovery programs:

• SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL)
• SBA Physical Disaster Loan
• Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program

A new comfort station is available in Sarasota County:

• 262 S. Indiana Ave., Englewood

Other comfort stations throughout the county are available at:

• VFW, 832 E. Venice Ave., Venice
• George Mullen Activity Center, 1602 Kramer Way, North Port
• Trail Plaza, 3333 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota

You can access free resources at the stations 24 hours a day. Sarasota County asks people to bring their own laundry supplies such as detergent and dryer sheets. Each station has bathrooms, showers and laundry facilities. More comfort stations are being coordinated; the county said it will provide more information as details are finalized.

There is also a Meals and Food Drive-Thru available Friday from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.:

• Ringling Museum, 5401 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota

Tampa has launched an online tool for residents to get help with filing building permits.

The city is also waiving fees on storm-related damage permits.

"Q-Up Tampa" offers virtual appoints for permits and plan review consultations with members of the city's Construction Services staff.

The city reminds that the following repairs do not require a building permit:

• Any drywall repair 2 feet or less from the finished floor.
• New roof covering, or the recovering, re-roofing or repairing of an existing roof covering, either of which is five hundred (500) square feet or less.
• Painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, countertops, and similar finish work.
• Fence Repair & Replacement. 
• Repair of soffits & facia.
• Replacement of front and rear exterior doors (keeping existing framing).

More information can be found here.

The morning after Hurricane Milton crashed ashore, the roads of Bradenton Beach, about an hour's drive south of Tampa, were lined with sandbanks a couple of feet (less than a meter) high, surrounding some bungalows. The views of the Old Florida beach town were not unlike those after a blustery Midwestern blizzard.

“The best way to describe it, it’s like getting 4 to 6 feet (1.2 to 1.8 meters) of snow up north,” said Jeremi Roberts, a member of the State Emergency Response Team surveying the damage that day.

Another hour south, Ron and Jean Dyer said the storms blew about 3 feet (0.9 meters) of sand up against their condo building on Venice Island.

“The beach just moved over everything,” Ron Dyer said.

It had taken dozens of volunteers armed with shovels and wheelbarrows two days to dig all the sand out of the condo’s pool after Hurricane Helene, only to see Milton fill it back in, he said.

“They just kept digging and wheeling and digging and wheeling. … They were there for two days doing that,” he said. "We got to do it all over again."

Read more here.

If the recent hurricanes put you out of your home, FEMA might be able to cover your hotel bill.

The federal program is designed to provide short-term housing to survivors of a storm once it's been declared a disaster.

Gov. Ron DeSantis says the federal assistance is now activated in Florida.

"I'm also happy to announce that yesterday, FEMA approved Florida's request for what they call TSA, not the the bloated agency that it's at the airports, but transitional sheltering assistance," DeSantis said.

One catch though: You cannot apply for the program. FEMA is identifying and reaching out to displaced hurricane victims directly.

Gov. Ron DeSantis made stops on Thursday in Tampa and Sarasota to hand out super-sized checks to local organizations.

In Tampa, he announced $1 million would go to organizations providing hot meals and nonprofits that specifically serve mothers, foster children and the elderly.

In Sarasota, $100,000 each was awarded to the education foundations in five counties across the region: Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas, Sarasota and Manatee.

The money is from the Florida Disaster Fund, which is backed entirely by private donations.

It's designed to help local organizations continue recovery efforts in their communities.

The state is providing $15 million of the funds to help with hurricanes Helene and Milton.

Here's the $1.5 million breakdown of what the region is getting from the Florida Disaster:

• $1 million total announced in Town 'n' Country
  
  • $50K to Family Initiative, Inc. 
  • $250K (50k each) to organizations providing hot meals:
    
    • Operation BBQ, Mercy Chefs, Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee, All Faiths Food Bank and Our Daily Bread of Bradenton 
  • $300k ($50k each) to organizations serving mothers and children
    
    • Better Together, Stronger than the Storm, Clothes to Kids, A Door of Hope, Mothers Helping Mothers and Dream Center of Tampa Bay
  • $250k ($50k each) to organizations serving foster kids
    
    • Bridge of Life, Twig, Family Support System of Suncoast, Children’s Network of Hillsborough, Safe Children Coalition
  • $150k ($50k each) to groups serving elderly
    
    • AAA in Pasco-Pinellas
    • Senior Connections Center
    • Area Agency on Aging on Palm Beach and Treasure Coast.
• $500,000 total announced in Sarasota
  
  • 100k each to the education foundations of:
    
    • Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas and Sarasota counties

St. Petersburg has set up permitting sites to make it more convenient for homeowners who need to obtain permits for repairs. Application and inspection fees are waived over the next six months. They'll be open Monday-Friday from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

• Azalea Recreation Center, 1600 72nd St. N
• Enoch D. Davis Center, 1111 18th Ave. S
• Roberts Recreation Center, 1246 50th Ave. N

Residents in unincorporated Sarasota County, as well as the municipalities, can drop off vegetative debris Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.:

• Rothenbach Park, 8650 Bee Ridge Rd., Sarasota
• Jackson Road Transfer Station, 250 S. Jackson Rd., Venice

A disaster recovery center has opened. Hours are 7 a.m.-7 p.m. daily:

• Sarasota Municipal Auditorium, 801 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota

Points of distribution locations are open Thursday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. until supplies last. Thursday is the last day for these locations:

• Venice Community Center, 326 Nokomis Ave., Venice
• Englewood Sports Complex, 1300 S. River Rd., Englewood
• Bayside Community Church, 8200 Bee Ridge Rd., Sarasota
• Youth AThletic Complex, 2900 17th St., Sarasota

The location at Englewood Complex will be open Friday from 1-7 p.m. That will be the last day.

If you're still having trouble finding gas, these fuel distribution sites will be open Thursday:

• Central Lot: 800 1st Ave. S, St. Petersburg
• East Bay Raceway, 6311 Burts Rd., Tampa
• Gulf View Mall, 9409 US 19, Port Richey
• Wiregass Mall, 28211 Paseo Dr., Wesley Chapel
• Largo Mary Grizzle State Office, 11351 Ulmerton Rd.

Find all the fuel distribution sites here.

Federal lawmakers have allocated $20 billion to go toward hurricane relief efforts—including those in Florida.

U.S. Sens. Rick Scott and Marco Rubio announced legislation Wednesday that aims to replenish the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Disaster Relief Fund (DRF).

The bill comes just days after the Biden Administration said certain disaster loan programs were “running out of money.”

"Unfortunately, I am already hearing from local officials and families in Florida that are frustrated by the fact that these disasters have stretched FEMA’s current resources too thin. That is unacceptable," said Scott.

Read more here.

Cigna Healthcare is offering access to its help line, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, following hurricanes Helene and Milton. Clinicians will be on call to help people cope with anxiety, stress or other issues, according to Cigna.

If you’re a Cigna Healthcare customer, you can call 1-800-244-6224 or the number on your ID card.

If you’re not a Cigna Healthcare customer, you can call 1-866-912-1687.

The company said it’s also lifting certain medical and pharmacy benefit restrictions for its customers.

The county is offering emergency permitting for residential and commercial buildings in need of minor repairs that don’t require a plan review following Hurricane Milton.

To request a permit online, visit HillsGovHub. Permits are issued immediately after a finished application is submitted for work that doesn’t require a plan review, according to a news release.

If you don’t have internet access or if you need assistance, in-person help is available at:

• Frederick B. Karl County Center
  601 E. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa, FL 33602
  8 a.m.- 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.

If you have an active building permit that’s about to expire or has recently expired, you can request an extension or reissuance through HillsGovHub. Here are instructions on how to request a building permit extension or reissuance.

To see what repairs require a permit, visit Hillsborough County Disaster Declaration Permitting Special Processing Procedures.

The county also encourages residents and business owners to visit FEMA Disaster Recovery Reform Action Section 1206 to learn more about what’s eligible for reimbursement through FEMA's Public Assistance program. 

To learn more about the emergency permitting process, visit HCFL.gov/StormRecovery. If you have any questions, you can call 833-HC-STORM or 833-427-8676.

Pinellas County and the Florida Division of Emergency Management are opening a Multi-Agency Resource Center in Dunedin. Staff there will help residents impacted by hurricanes Milton, Helene and Debby access resources, according to the county.

The site will open Thursday at 1 p.m. and will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. It’s located at:

• Dunedin City Hall, 737 Louden Ave.

The county also opened a location in St. Petersburg Tuesday. It’s open daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.:

• Enoch D. Davis Center, 1111 18th Ave. S.

For expanded services, you can also visit the centrally located Disaster Recovery Center/MARC in Largo, open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily:

• Florida Botanical Gardens, Magnolia Room, 12520 Ulmerton Road

For updates to the schedules, visit disaster.pinellas.gov.

Residents at the centers can:

• Get help on applying for FEMA Individual Assistance.
• Get help from nonprofit and state partners for food, water, housing and more.
• Meet with a representative from the Agency for Persons with Disabilities for storm recovery resources for disabled people.
• Apply for a replacement driver’s license or ID.

Pinellas County advises bringing ID, proof of residence, insurance information, and any documentation related to your losses to speed up the application process and make sure you get the right assistance.

You can register for FEMA assistance at DisasterAssistance.gov, via the FEMA app or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (1-800-621-3362).

On "Our Changing State," Matthew Peddie speaks with Craig Latimer, supervisor of elections in Hillsborough County, on the impact of Hurricanes Milton and Helene on voting in the greater Tampa Bay region.

While Election Day is just weeks away, communities across the greater Tampa Bay region are still overcoming challenges in rebuilding from Hurricane Helene and Milton.

Power outages and coastal surges are just some of the difficulties faced by voting facilities. Despite tremendous impacts from both hurricanes, four out of five offices are open and well-staffed to serve voters as of Monday, Oct. 14.

“If they've relocated and want to get a vote-by-mail ballot, call our office at 813-744-5900 if you're a Hillsborough County voter, and we will help walk you through the process so that we can get that vote-by-mail ballot to you,” Latimer said.

Listen to the podcast here.

City of Tampa

/

Courtesy

After Hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton, many people are wondering about home insurance and how to proceed with fixing up damage. WUSF’s Kerry Sheridan spoke with Charles Gallagher, managing partner for Gallagher and Associates law firm in St. Petersburg, for some advice on common quandaries.

Read more here.

Stephanie Colombini

/

WUSF

Crews are working all over the region to clear massive amounts of storm debris from Hurricanes Milton and Helene. But they warn it could take months to collect everything.

“We already had unprecedented amounts of debris after Helene,” said Josh Bellotti, engineering and operations director with Hillsborough County Public Works. That damage largely stemmed from storm surge, he said, while wind and rain from Milton caused more widespread damage around the county, “adding exponentially” to what they’re now dealing with.

Hillsborough expects to collect about five million cubic yards of debris, enough to fill Tropicana Field past the roof, Bellotti said.

The county has contracted with four debris removal companies to support its own crews.

“We know residents are going through a lot right now and we recognize that and that's why everybody here is working so hard to try to clean up the community and get to everyone as fast as we can,” said Bellotti. “Recognize it's a very large county, over 900 square miles, so we have a lot of areas to get to.”

There will be multiple passes through the county. The contractors mobilized more than 150 specialized trucks that will double their debris collection capacity as they work seven days a week. This should allow more than 60,000 cubic yards – or 4,600 dump trucks -- to be collected each day, according to Hillsborough County.

Read more here.

Jessica Meszaros

/

WUSF

Residents of Hillsborough County's historically Black neighborhood, Progress Village, dealt with devastating flooding from Hurricane Milton last week.

They are no strangers to standing water, though, as the area has had drainage issues for years.

At a comfort station near the Progress Village Senior Center in Hillsborough County, Wilma Hobdy is carrying a full laundry basket and wearing a T-shirt that says "Be kind. Everyone is fighting a battle you know nothing about."

She has lived in Progress Village nearly 55 years, and during that time, she's witnessed what she calls a "really bad drain issue" there.

"I used to wonder why my stepfather used to sweep the drains all the time. And even with us sweeping and cleaning the drains, the water wasn't going anywhere," she said.

The rainwater builds up and just stays there, pooling. Then came Hurricane Milton, which she said was the worst flooding she's seen. The water rose around her home in the front and back yards and two feet into her house.

"Once the road started flooding and people was trying to drive that water was whooshing into the house, the backyard was even with the front yard. That's how bad it was," she said.

For at least two days, Hobdy had to wear rain boots to get in and out of her home.

"The water wasn't going anywhere. It was just right there, standing still on the curbs," she said.

Hobdy’s neighbors helped to drag wet items out of her house, and in return, she pulled out her rake and leaf blower to assist others.

"That's what we do, because you don't never know what somebody's is able to do, so you just go and help... And I just want to thank everybody that came out from across the country and stuff to help our community out. And that's just my heart," she said tearing up.

Read more here.

City of Tampa

The biggest spill reported was 20 million gallons into the Manatee River in Bradenton.

Wastewater treatment plants were offline, manholes overflowed and tons of waste contaminated waterways throughout the region.

Justin Tramble, executive director of Tampa Bay Waterkeeper, a non-profit conservation group, said these spills are no longer resulting from so-called 100-year rain events, and sewage treatment plants need to be upgraded - now.

"We need to reinvest in our infrastructure, or else every time we have these tropical events, we're going to be harming our watershed, which really hurts our economy. So we're playing with fire," he said.

Read a partial list of some of the sewage spills associated with Milton here.

Gov. Ron DeSantis and Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie announced several initiatives Tuesday aimed at helping Floridians recover from Hurricane Milton.

First, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Blue Roof program has officially been activated in Florida to help Floridians whose roofs were damaged during Milton.

Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie said the free service provides fiber-reinforced sheeting to cover damaged roofs until arrangements can be made for permanent repairs. Residents can sign up at blueroof.gov.

You can also call 888-766-3258 (888-ROOF-BLU).

Read more here.

Some Central Floridians are now in recovery mode after Hurricane Milton devastated parts of the area bringing tornadoes, strong winds, rain and flooding.

Estimated insured losses from the storm are more than 1.5 billion dollars according to the latest data from the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation.

Whether you’re filing a homeowner’s, renter’s, or auto insurance claim, it’s important to document everything, according to Lisa Miller, former state deputy insurance commissioner.

“Try to capture as much as you can, all the damage. And if you have to take 100 pictures. Take 100 pictures,” she said.

In addition, Miller stresses the importance of keeping a running log for damage that can occur days after.

“Every couple of days the damage can change, and you can write down, ‘in the kitchen this occurred or more water came out here.’ The more documentation, the better when the adjuster shows up,” she said.

Read more here.

Pinellas County will open a sand drop-off site starting Wednesday, Oct. 16, at 1 p.m. at Sand Key Park, 1060 Gulf Blvd., Clearwater, for all county residents and businesses looking to dispose of storm-related sand from their property.

The sand drop-off location will be operational from 1 p.m. - 7 p.m. on Oct. 16. Following the initial opening day of the site, it will be open seven days per week, 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.

 A contractor and Pinellas County inspectors will be present at the site to assist in coordinating operations.

 This drop-off site is for bulk sand only. Other types of debris including storm debris, vegetative, or construction or demolition debris are not to be disposed of at this location. For vegetative, and construction and demolition debris, residents should visit Pinellas.gov/debris for debris disposal sites.

 Sandbags will not be accepted. Residents are reminded to keep clean sandbags to reuse them future storms, as Hurricane Season runs until November 30. To dispose of clean sandbags, spread the sand on lawns or landscape beds. Do not dump sandbags onto the beach.

Hillsborough County has hired additional debris contractors in an effort to help residents recover from Hurricanes Helene and Milton. County staff and the contracted debris haulers are working throughout the county to collect yard waste and tree debris in addition to construction and demolition debris. There will be multiple passes throughout the county to collect storm debris.

The contractors mobilized over 150 specialized debris trucks that are collecting storm debris seven days a week.  These trucks are equipped with trailers that will double their collection capacity and allow more than 60,000 cubic yards or 4,600 dump trucks, to be collected each day.  Crews will be collecting debris as quickly as possible to help residents recover.

Starting Oct. 16, leaves and small twigs should be containerized or bagged for collection as part of regular weekly residential curbside yard waste collection. The storm debris contractors will only target loose yard waste and large piles of tree debris.

In addition to hiring outside contractors, the County has extended the hours at two sites where residents can now dispose of storm debris 24 hours a day. Residents can drop off storm debris at:

• Hillsborough Heights Solid Waste Facility, 6209 County Road 579, Seffner, FL 33584 (temporary entrance on Taylor Road) 
• Hillsborough County's Resource Recovery Facility, 350 N. Falkenburg Road, Tampa, FL 33619, at any time of the day or night. 

Both Hillsborough Heights and Resource Recovery Facility accept storm-related yard debris and construction and demolition debris, such as furniture, drywall, carpet, and fencing.

Other options for residents to dispose of storm debris include:

• Northwest County Solid Waste Facility - 8001 W. Linebaugh Ave., Tampa, FL 33625 
• South County Solid Waste Facility - 13000 U.S. 41, Gibsonton, FL 33534 

Both the Northwest and South County Solid Waste Facilities accept residential yard waste and wood disposal and a variety of household items, including furniture, couches, chairs, tables, mattresses, washers, dryers, tires, and microwaves. The centers also accept batteries, electronics, and paint.

Additionally, the Alderman’s Ford Solid Waste Facility, 9402 County Road 39, Plant City, FL 33567, and the Wimauma Solid Waste Facility, 16180 W. Lake Dr., Wimauma, FL 33598, accept a variety of household items, including furniture, couches, chairs, tables, mattresses, washers, dryers, tires, and microwaves. These centers accept batteries, electronics, and paint. They do not accept yard waste and wood disposal.

Disposing debris of any kind in County parks is prohibited.

Beginning Wednesday, Oct. 16, all solid waste sites will be for Hillsborough County residents only. Residents must present a photo ID showing the residential address of the property owner and a printed or digital copy of their current property tax bill. Commercial businesses will resume paying normal fees to utilize Solid Waste facilities.

 Temple Terrace's Utility Department has completed water sampling tests and the Hillsborough County Department of Health has confirmed the drinking water within the City's Utility Service area, except four neighborhoods, is safe for consumption.

The Utility Service Area would extend to any residence that receives a water bill from the City of Temple Terrace; if your residence does not receive water from the City, this notice does not pertain to you.

Therefore, Temple Terrace is rescinding the precautionary boil water notice for all communities except Terrace Ridge, the Primrose neighborhood, a portion of West River, and 17 homes located in the Ben Lomond Park area.

The locations and the corresponding addresses can be found here:

Out of an abundance of caution, these identified areas are to continue bioling water until sampling is completed and the Department of Health has approved their individual clearances, which is anticipated before the end of the week.

A Point of Distribution (POD) is now open at Ridge Manor Community Park, located at 34030 Ridge Manor Blvd, Ridge Manor, FL 33523. This essential resource center will be operational daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., providing vital recovery supplies to those in need.

The POD offers a convenient drive-through service for basic recovery supplies, making it easier for community members to access what they need.

Additionally, the American Red Cross is on-site providing hot meals daily from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., ensuring that residents have access to nutritious food.

In addition to food and recovery supplies, the POD features a comfort station equipped with showers, laundry facilities, free Wi-Fi, and charging stations, all designed to support the community during this challenging time.

The City of Tampa Parks and Recreation Department will be hosting “School’s Out, Camp’s In” for children 5-17 years old at 21 recreation centers on Wednesday, Oct. 16 from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

They must be dropped off by 10 a.m. The day camp will be free. All children will be supervised, entertained and fed lunch. Send them, if you can, with snacks and a refillable water bottle.

“Many Tampa parents are returning to work, but schools are not yet ready to reopen,” said Parks and Recreation Director Tony Mulkey. “It’s a challenge, and we hope that providing this ‘School’s Out, Camp’s In’ session will help support families.”

“School’s Out, Camp’s In” will be available at the following Tampa Parks and Recreation facilities:

• Benito, 10065 Cross Creek Blvd., 33647
• Copeland, 11001 N 15th St, 33612
• Cyrus Greene, 2101 E Dr Martin Luther King Jr Blvd., 33610
• Fair Oaks, 5019 N 34th St, 33610
• George Bartholomew, 8608 N 12th St., 33604
• Grant, 3724 N 54th St., 33619
• Gwen Miller, 6410 N 32nd St., 33610
• Highland Pines, 4505 E 21st Ave., 33605
• Jackson Heights, 3310 E Lake Ave, 33610
• Kate Jackson, 821 S Rome Ave., 33606
• Loretta Ingraham, 1615 N Hubert Ave., 33607
• Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., 2200 N Oregon Ave, 33607
• Port Tampa, 4702 W McCoy St., 33616
• Ragan, 1200 E Lake Ave., 33605
• Rey, 2301 N Howard Ave., 33607
• Rowlett, 2313 E Yukon St., 33604
• Riverfront, 1301 N Boulevard, 33607
• Springhill, 1000 E Eskimo Avenue, 33604
• Temple Crest, 8116 N 37th St, 33604
• Wellswood, 4818 N Mendenhall Drive, 33603
• Williams, 4362 E Osborne Ave., 33610

Five sites remain closed. They are listed here, with the recommended facility for children to attend:

• DeSoto (Cyrus Greene)
• Forest Hills (Copeland)
• Friendship (Kate Jackson)
• Kwane Doster (Port Tampa)

Call (813) 274-5132 for more information.

The Hillsborough Transit Authority will operate free until Oct. 21 to help provide transportation services.

Florida Division of Emergency Management Chief Kevin Guthrie says the state has put 20 pumps in place to get rid of some of the flood waters that Milton left behind in Pasco County.

But he said, they can’t start right now.

"The Hillsborough River, the Withlacoochee River and the Alafia River are in flood stage, so we're going to have to wait on those rivers to go down before we can actually start moving vast amounts of water," Guthrie said. "Once that happens, we will have all the necessary resources to go out there and get that job done."

Water management officials say they’re expecting major flooding along the Withlacoochee, and water levels are also rising in the Green Swamp, which is in the northeast corner of Pasco.

You an check river flood levels here.

Courtesy

/

The Florida Aquarium

The Florida Aquarium’s seven cownose stingrays returned safely home on Monday after weathering Hurricane Milton at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg.

When the storm ripped off the stadium’s fabric roof last Wednesday night, the stingrays remained safe in their 10,000 gallon, 35-foot habitat, which was located off right-center field.

Animal care experts with The Florida Aquarium successfully relocated the male stingrays from Tropicana Field back to the Aquarium in downtown Tampa.

Read more here.

The Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) announced that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Jacksonville District has opened Operation Blue Roof through Tuesday, Nov. 5.

Operation Blue Roof is available to impacted residents in Brevard, Citrus, Charlotte, DeSoto, Hardee, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lake, Manatee, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Lucie, Sumter and Volusia counties.

This program is a free service for homeowners and permanently occupied rental properties, providing fiber-reinforced, industrial-strength sheeting to protect storm-damaged roofs until homeowners can make permanent repairs.

Residents impacted by Hurricane Milton can sign up for this no-cost service by visiting blueroof.gov, calling 888-ROOF-BLU (888-766-3258), or visiting a Right of Entry (ROE) collection center throughout the affected areas. ROE collection center locations are listed on blueroof.gov, where residents can sign up for Blue Roof assistance using an ROE form, which gathers information about the residence.

As of Monday at 12:30 p.m., Duke Energy is reporting 45,212 customers still without power, including 38,103 in Pinellas.

TECO is reporting 100,338 without power.

Click here for the Duke Energy power outage map.
Click here for the TECO power outage map.

On Monday, Duke Energy said it expects the majority of service in Pinellas to be restored by midnight Tuesday.

TECO said customers in Hillsborough and Pinellas may have to wait until midnight Thursday to have power restored.

Hillsborough County is opening a disaster recovery center for residents seeking assistance in completing applications for FEMA aid. It will be open Tuesday from 1-6 p.m., and 7 a.m.-7 p.m. through Oct. 22.

• Barksdale Center, 1801 N. Lincoln Ave., Tampa
• More information is available on the FEMA website.

Hillsborough County has opened a second comfort station to help residents affected by the hurricanes. There, residents can access showers, restrooms, and do laundry. It will be open from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. until further notice.

• Skyway Sports Complex & Park, 3901 George Rd., Tampa

Hillsborough County Schools will reopen Thursday.

District officials say 35 schools still remain without power as of Tuesday morning, but they have been told their utility partners will get the power back by Thursday morning.

Pinellas, Pasco, Sarasota, and Polk County Schools are all closed Tuesday and are scheduled to reopen Wednesday.

Manatee and Hernando County Schools are open Tuesday.

The city of Gulfport has lifted its boil water notice. Residents are recommended to let water run for five minutes before using.

Mobile permitting sites will open Wednesday through Friday in St. Petersburg from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. It will make the permitting process faster for residents who need to make home repairs.

• Azalea Recreation Center, 1600 72nd St. N
• Enoch D. Davis Center, 1111 18th Ave. S
• Roberts Recreation Center, 1246 50th Ave. N

These sites will also serve as comfort and charging stations from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Azalea Recreation Center is also serving as a multiagency resource center, where residents ask questions about disaster recovery.

Hillsborough County is extending the hours at two sites where residents can dispose of storm debris 24 hours a day. It includes yard and construction debris.

• 6209 CR 579, Seffner
• 350 N. Falkenburg Rd., Tampa

Starting Wednesday, all solid waste sites will be for Hillsborough County residents only.

Other options for residents to dispose of storm debris:

• 8001 W. Linebaugh Ave., Tampa
• 13000 U.S. 41, Gibsonton

There are a number of mobile and fixed feeding sites available for residents impacted by Hurricane Milton.

These sites are managed by nonprofit partners of the Florida Division of Emergency Management and some of them will close once all food has been distributed.

Find a live map of locations here.

The Tampa Bay Lightning are calling on fans and community members to join their efforts in supporting local relief organizations by participating in a collection drive at two upcoming home games.

The drive will benefit three key community partners: Feeding Tampa Bay, Metropolitan Ministries, and the University Area Community Development Corporation (UACDC).

 Fans attending the Lightning games on Tuesday, Oct. 15 and Thursday, Oct. 17 can contribute by donating essential items pre-game, starting at 5 p.m., on Ford Thunder Alley, just outside AMALIE Arena. The collection will begin prior to each game and aims to provide critical support for local families and individuals in need.

 Donations of the following items are encouraged:

• Non-perishable food (canned fruits & vegetables, canned proteins, peanut butter, cereal & granola bars, family-sized juice, shelf-stable milk, dry goods)
• Manual can openers & wrapped plastic utensils
• Cleaning supplies (trash bags, sanitizing wipes, laundry detergent pods)
• Hygiene items

• Diapers & baby formula

  For more information on the collection drive and how to get involved, visit tampabaylightning.com/donate.

Morgan & Morgan will be distributing supplies and providing food Tuesday, OCt. 15 to support those impacted by Hurricane Milton from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Perry Sr Park, 1000 E Harrison St. Tampa. Look out for the blue and yellow M&M Truck and Trailer.

Essentials will include:

Comfort Items: Towels, Shirts/Hoodies/Shorts/Pants, Socks, Pillows, Flashlights, Draw String Bags, etc.

Baby & Hygiene: Diapers 1-5, Baby Wipes, Bars of Soap, Men’s and Women’s Deodorant, Toothbrushes, Toothpaste, Adult Diapers, etc.

Hot food: Canned Items and bagged snacks, various drinks and water

A majority of Polk County’s more than 100 parks and boat ramps are set to reopen Tuesday, Oct. 15. If a Polk County park or boat ramp is not listed below, it will reopen tomorrow, although there may be facilities within the parks that are closed for repairs.

 The following locations will reopen Wednesday, Oct. 16:

• Johnny and Freida Brooks Resource Center
• Mary Norma Campbell Resource Center
• Medulla Resource Center
• Wabash Resource Center
• Wilfred Smith Resource Center

The following locations will open on Friday, Oct. 18:

• Coleman Landing Campground
• Lake Arbuckle Campground
• Lake Hatchineha Campground
• Lake Rosalie Campground
• Saddle Creek Campground

The following locations are closed indefinitely:

• Alafia River Reserve
• Bone Valley ATV Park
• Circle B Bar Reserve
• Gator Creek Reserve
• Highland City Senior Field (Strickland Pit)
• Homeland Heritage Park
• Lake Hancock Boat Ramp
• Lakeland Highland Scrub
• Loyce E. Harpe Park
• Panther Point Trail
• Peace River Canoe Launch
• Peace River Hammock
• Rolling Hills Park
• Sherwood L. Stokes Preserve
• Walker Road Park
• All Stormwater Sites

Additionally, access to Simmers-Young Park will be from American Spirit Boulevard only. 

Polk County officials will be in contact with youth and adult leagues to discuss resuming league games and practices.

If you have questions about these closures, contact Polk County Parks and Natural Resources Division at (863) 534-7377.

All St. PEtersburg College classes and operations will resume virtually Wednesday, Oct. 16, through Saturday, Oct 19.

All on-campus activities and events are canceled. Students should remain off-campus while the college restores services.

 Students with specific questions about classes should contact their professors directly for further instructions.

 SPC’s Law Enforcement and Fire Academies will be operational on Tuesday, Oct. 15. Cadets should contact their training centers with any questions.

 Please check the SPC Emergency Preparedness site for additional details.

In the aftermath of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, the city of Clearwater will waive building plan review and permit fees for residents and business owners trying to make repairs after the storms.

 The waiver will be for those customers across the city who areimpacted.

 The city also will open a pop-up permitting site that will be located on the beach. That will make it easier for residents and business owners to talk with employees from the Planning and Development Department and begin the permitting process.

That site will be located at the Clearwater Beach Recreation Center, 69 Bay Esplanade, and will open at noon Tuesday, Oct. 15.

After that, it will be open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Contractors and residents can apply for building permits at the pop-up permitting site or at the Municipal Services Building, 100 S. Myrtle Ave., Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Planning and Development Department is located on the second floor. Contractors can also apply for permits online at MyClearwater.com/Permits.

 Residents or business owners who need repairs are reminded to always use licensed contractors.

 For more information on the permitting process, call 727-562-4567 or emailepermit@myclearwater.com

The School District of Manatee County will reopen to students tomorrow morning, Tuesday, Oct. 15.

"We are aware and understand that many of you – like many school district employees - continue to face challenges. Our hearts are with all of you and your families during these difficult times. It is our hope that a return to school can provide a sense of normalcy for your students and families and that this can be a significant step on the road to recovery," officials wrote in a news release.

As of this Monday afternoon, all of the county's schools have power, including Manatee Technical College.

Parents and students are being asked to "approach the reopening of school tomorrow as if it were the first day of school."

The timing of bus routes could be delayed and there could be unexpected outages of power or air-conditioning at various times and schools.

Pinellas County invites residents and business owners to join the Local Mitigation Strategy Workshop on Thursday, Oct. 17, from 6-7 p.m.

The LMS identifies natural hazards, such as floods and hurricanes, as well as man-made hazards, such as chemical spills and cyber attacks. It sets goals to reduce risks and minimize the loss of life, property and resources.

 
Open to all county residents, the workshop encourages attendees to share their feedback by completing a poll, reviewing updates to the plan and discussing hazards that affect their community. County staff will explain how the LMS is created and why it needs to be updated.

Register here.

National pet company "Chewy" is offering a deal for communities impacted by the recent hurricanes.

"The last thing we want is for you to stress about any health issues, behaviors, or symptoms your pets are exhibiting, so we are providing FREE virtual vet care to our pet parents in Florida, North Carolina & Georgia," the company wrote in a Facebook post Monday.

To get access to a free video consult with a Chewy vet (orig. $19.99), use promo code CHEWYHELPS at https://chwy.co/3zXayel through Oct. 25.

Representatives from Pasco County and the Federal Emergency Management Agency are hosting a town hall-style meeting tonight, Monday, Oct. 14 at 6 for Pasco residents impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

You can join the meeting virtually (http://mypas.co/FEMA_TownHall ) or in person at the Hudson Regional Library 8012 Library Road, Hudson.

All Pasco County residents impacted by the recent hurricanes are invited to attend either virtually or in-person to ask questions of FEMA and Pasco County officials.

FEMA will explain their Individual Assistance program for hurricane recovery and residents can register for assistance at the event.

Hudson Regional Library is hosting a Multi-Agency Resource Center daily from 8 a.m. – 7 p.m., so if you arrive early, you’ll also be able to speak with representatives from several state and local agencies.

Due to Hurricane Milton's significant disruptions to food supplies across Florida, the Sarasota County School system says it anticipates school menus will be incorrect and/or different from the original menus advertised for the next few weeks.

"Our Food & Nutrition Services team will do their best to accommodate students with special dietary needs. We understand the challenges this situation may create for students with food allergies and diabetes — we encourage families to make supplemental arrangements to ensure their child’s dietary needs are fully met," the school district wrote on X.

It said once the food supply stabilizes, they will return to normal operations.

Please contact Food & Nutrition Services with any concerns or questions at 941-486-2199.

Currently just over 100 out of 900 Hillsborough County wastewater pump stations are without electricity.

This is an improvement from the peak of over 700 pump stations without electricity immediately after Hurricane Milton moved through the area.

The remaining locations without power have generators or bypass pumps positioned at the neighborhood wastewater processing pump station to ensure continuous operations.

There is still the possibility of manhole overflows due to pipe blockage. If you see an active overflow, please report it by calling Hillsborough County Water Resources Customer Service at (813) 307-1000 or email WaterDept@HCFL.gov.

A comfort station is now available at the Ridge Manor Community Park.

It will have ice, water, tarps, MREs, showers, and laundry.

There are now 3 open stations:

• Ridge Manor Community Park, 34030 Ridge Manor Blvd, Ridge Manor
• 4054 Shoal Line Boulevard (old R Beach)
• Aripeka Baptist Church, 18731 Aripeka Road

USF has rescheduled homecoming week as a result of Hurricane Milton.

It's also postponing a groundbreaking for the new football stadium.

Homecoming week was scheduled to start Sunday with events scheduled at all three campuses, followed by Saturday's 3:30 p.m. game against UAB at Raymond James Stadium.

Homecoming week will now take place from Nov. 4-9, and details on the events will be announced at a later date.

The Bulls will play Navy in the homecoming game.

The groundbreaking was set to take place on Friday, and that also will be rescheduled.

The stadium is scheduled to open in time for the 2027 season.

Pinellas County has lifted the boil water notice from John's Pass to Tierra Verde. Water quality testing confirms water in this area now meets all federal and state drinking water standards. Homes and businesses should let the water run for at least five minutes before using.

The county is asking customers to continue to conserve water use to limit the amount of wastewater entering the sanitary sewer system. This will help prevent sanitary sewer overflows as crews continue their work of bringing pump stations back online.

Some properties from John's Pass to Tierra Verde are not adequately receiving drinking water due to damage on the customers' private side of the water service line. The county will be working with customers as they hire licensed plumbers to make the repairs on their private property during this phase of recovery.

 Hillsborough County, in conjunction with the National Guard, is set to open a comfort station to help residents affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton today.

The comfort station is located at the Progress Village Senior Center, 8701 Progress Blvd., Tampa, FL 33619.

The site opened at noon today, Monday, Oct. 14, and then will operate daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. until further notice.

The comfort station will offer showers, restrooms, washers and dryers for laundry, and a cooling tent. Hot food or boxed meals will be available at lunch and dinner times.

Residents who need transportation assistance to and from the comfort station should call (833) HC STORM or (833) 427-8676 daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Hernando County schools will reopen on Tuesday.

The school district says all schools and district offices now have power.

Some students' bus routes may be adjusted due to road closures in the eastern part of the county.

Staff will return tomorrow, Tuesday, Oct. 15 for a planning day, and students will return to school on Wednesday, Oct. 16.

Athletics and after-school programs will resume this week as safety allows.

Pinellas County Schools will remain closed for students on Tuesday, Oct. 15.

Schools will reopen for students on Wednesday, Oct. 16.

Sports and activities may resume practices with approval by the principal on Tuesday, Oct. 15.

The first quarter of the school year will now end on Friday, Oct. 18.

Free meals will be available today, Monday, Oct. 14, in the Zephyrhills and Port Richey communities for those impacted by Hurricane Milton and the recent river flooding:

• Alice Hall Community Center 38116 5th Ave Zephyrhills, FL 33542 Starting 12:30 p.m.
• Port Richey Waterfront Park 8119 Old Post Road, Port Richey Starting at 12 p.m.

Due to the instructional time lost from the recent hurricanes, Citrus County Schools will be now have full instructional days on:

• Monday, Oct. 21
• Monday, Nov. 11
• Friday, Dec. 20

"We recognize that October 21st was originally scheduled as Fall Break, and November 11th is Veteran's Day. However, we must meet the state's instructional hour requirements for the year," officials said in a news release.

"Please know that we deeply value our veterans, and we plan to honor them in meaningful ways in our schools on November 11th. Thank you for your understanding and support."

Activate Hope locations will be in Temple Terrace, St. Pete and Largo today, Monday, Oct. 14 with food, water, cleaning supplies, baby items and crisis counseling services.

Locations:

• Tangerine Plaza, 1794 22nd St. S, St. Pete, FL, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
• Mission Hill Church, 10002 N. 56th St., Temple Terrace, FL, 10 a.m. -3 p.m.
• Botanical Gardens (Magnolia Room), 12520 Ulmerton Rd., Largo, FL, 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.

“Activate Hope" is an expansion of Hope Florida to serve Floridians recovering from the impacts of disasters.

The expansion was announced in August.

If you live in unincorporated Pinellas County and have debris from Helene and Milton, having it picked up is going to be a long-term process.

During a media briefing Monday, county spokeswoman Barbra Hernandez said public works crews had been focused on making sure roads were passable following Milton.

She says they're now focused on picking up the 1 million cubic yards of residential storm debris that Milton left behind.

"This is a major operation," Hernandez said. "This is not something that's going to be solved in a week or two. We're looking at months of residential storm debris collections."

She said the county is bringing in more crews to help pick up the debris.

If you live in unincorporated Pinellas and would like to remove it yourself, the county has opened two drop-off sites:

• 13600 Icot Boulevard, Clearwater
• Corner of Keystone Road and East Lake Road, East Lake

Crisis Cleanup could connect you with volunteers who may be able to assist with:

• Cutting fallen trees
• Muck outs
• Tarping roofs

• Debris removal

  All services are free but not guaranteed.

Contact them at 844-965-1386.

Emergency distributions of food and resources following hurricanes Helene and Milton are happening today, Monday, Oct. 14, in Pinellas, Manatee, Hillsborough, Polk, and Pasco counties. (See below for locations).

If you are in need of meals or resources, visit > http://feedingtampabay.org/findfood

The boil water notice issued for Casey Key has been rescinded.

Siesta Key remains on a boil water notice as staff continues to sample water quality.

Beginning today, Monday, Oct. 14, Comcast will have a mobile unit stationed outside Selby Library, 1331 First Street, in downtown Sarasota offering free WiFi service to the public.

You do not have to be a Comcast customer to utilize this service – it is available for everyone.

When Selby Library reopens, free WiFi will be available to the public inside the Library as well. The mobile unit will remain onsite at least throughout the week, possibly longer.

The City of Sarasota also has restored the WiFi in the Parks program with free WiFi in the following City parks:

• Arlington Park: 2650 Waldemere St
• Dr. MLK , Jr. Park: 2523 Cocoanut Ave
• Payne Park: 2020 Adams Lane

Hillsborough County Public Schools will remain closed on Tuesday, Oct. 15, due to continued recovery efforts from Hurricane Milton.

• About 100 schools are without power as of Monday morning. 
• More than a dozen schools have standing water in them.
• Food deliveries for breakfast and lunch are delayed. 
• Many roads have hazards or traffic signals that are not working.

"At this time, our goal is to reopen on Wednesday. However, our decision on reopening will be based on power restoration," according to a news release.

Pasco County is providing food and water to Hurricane Helene and Milton victims at four locations throughout the county.

• Hudson Library Parking Lot | 8012 Library Rd, Hudson
• Dade City Fairgrounds Parking Lot | 36722 Co Rd 52, Dade City
• St. Vincent DePaul Parking Lot | 4843 Mile Stretch, Holiday
• Zephyrhills Location | 5435 Gall Blvd, Zephyrhills

All sites are open to drive-in customers daily, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., while supplies last:

Questions? Contact Pasco County Customer Service at 727847-2411 or chat online at MyPasco.net.

Water service was restored Monday morning to city of Sarasota customers on the barrier islands, including Bird Key, St. Armands Key, Lido Key and Siesta Key.

Utility crews have been working to repair a multitude of water lines damaged by Hurricane Milton.

The water distribution system on the mainland was stabilized to allow for water to be turned on for the barrier islands.

A precautionary boil water advisory is in place for approximately 72 hours, or until test results are clear.

Pasco County is providing water and food to those impacted by Helene and Milton. The drive-in locations will be open daily from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. while supplies last.

• Hudson Library Parking Lot, 8012 Library Rd., Hudson
• Dade City Fairgrounds Parking Lot, 36722 CR 52, Dade City
• St. Vincent DePaul Parking Lot, 4843 Mile Stretch, Holiday

As of Monday morning, a boil water notice has been lifted for St. Petersburg, Lealman, and South Pasadena. It's still in effect for Gulfport.

If you're still without power, both Duke and Tampa Electric say they're making progress in getting power restored across the region.

As of early Monday morning, Duke says 100,619 customers in Pinellas County remain without power.

It expects the majority of service there to be restored by midnight Tuesday, and service to other counties back by midnigh Monday.

TECO reported 188,571 without power, the majority in Tampa.

Customers in Pasco could have power restored Monday tonight in Pasco, and Tuesday in Polk.

Customers in Hillsborough and Pinellas may have to wait until midnight on Thursday.

Hillsborough and Pinellas counties are opening Multi-Agency Resource Centers. They'll have officials on hand to help residents access various services and information related to disaster recovery.

The Hillsborough location will be open Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.:

• Town N Country Regional Public Library, located at 7606 Paula Dr #120, Tampa

The Pinellas location will be open Monday from 1-7 p.m., and starting Tuesday from 9 a.m.-7 p.m.:

• Enoch D. Davis Center, 1111 18th Ave. S, St. Petersburg

City of Tampa

Hurricane Milton made landfall as a Category 3 storm on Oct. 9 near Siesta Key. And although the storm was not as catastrophic as many feared, strong winds, storm surge, river flooding, and tornadoes caused a lot of damage.

Check out the photos here

Steve Newborn

/

WUSF Public Media

President Biden got a first-hand look at storm-damaged areas of Tampa and St. Petersburg Sunday.

Biden landed at MacDill Air Force Base, and then took a helicopter tour of the damage before landing at Albert Whitted Airport in St. Petersburg. The motorcade then wound its way to the end of Corey Avenue in St. Pete Beach.

"Early this morning, I did an aerial tour of St. Petersburg and the battered coastline," Biden said in front of a storm-battered home one block from the beach. "I flew over Tropicana Field where the Tampa Bay Rays play and the roof is almost completely off. But thank God not many people were injured."

Read more here

AAA reports state officials say conditions are improving.

They say Florida's ports, and all but two gas terminals, are back open for tanker trucks to fill up and make around-the-clock deliveries.

Officials say they expect 85% of stations to have gas by Monday night, and for supplies to be back to normal by Wednesday morning.

Read more here

The USF Tampa and Sarasota-Manatee campuses will reopen on Monday. There will be no in-person classes except for USF downtown.

On the Tampa campus, the following buildings will not be open: Lee Roy Selmon Athletics Center (ATH), Yuengling Center and several facilities in the Athletics complex, Crosswinds Wesley Foundation (WFC) and some portions of the Campus Recreation Center. Mote Marine Labs also remain closed.

Some facilities may have reduced hours.

The St. Petersburg campus will reopen on Tuesday, except for the Science and Technology Building, the Port Building, and several facilities still impacted from Hurricane Helene. Residence halls and dining in St. Petrsburg will reopen on Tuesday except for Pelican Hall.xcept for the Science and Technology Building (STG), the Port Building and several facilities still impacted from Hurricane Helene that remain closed. Residence halls and dining in St. Petersburg will reopen at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 15, except for Pelican Hall (RHO) which remains closed

Residence halls and dining in Tampa and Sarasota-Manatee reopened on Sunday, except for Juniper and Poplar Halls (JPH) in Tampa.

AdventHealth West Florida

/

Courtesy

Employees with Advent Health got a bit of a relief from the gas shortages following Hurricane Milton.

The health care organization provided more than 25,000 gallons of gas to employees across all 14 of its hospital campuses over the weekend.

Rosemary Tyrkala is a facilities manager at Advent Health North Pinellas. She lost her home during Hurricane Helene and was in temporary housing when Milton hit.

She said the 10 gallons of gas she received from her hospital made a huge difference.

"And I'm sure that's how it's assisted other people, to know that if they had to get to work or if they had to get to a store, for medicine or food or their necessities, that they had some gas in their car to be able to do it," Tyrkala said.

Tankers were brought in from out of state to deliver the fuel.

Pinellas County is opening an expanded recovery center Monday at the Florida Botanical Gardens, 12520 Ulmerton Road in Largo.

It will be open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m.-7 p.m.

Residents can access various services, including assistance with applying for federal aid through FEMA.

Hillsborough County has closed the three remaining special needs shelters in an effort to transition the facilities back to normal operations. The residents still in need of shelter are being transferred to:

• Pasco Field Hospital, 18776 State Road 54, Lutz
  

The following special needs shelters are now closed:

• Erwin Technical College, 2010 E. Hillsborough Ave., Tampa
• Sumner High School, 10650 County Road 672, Riverview
• Strawberry Crest High School, 4691 Gallagher Road, Dover
  

Hernando County has constructed an emergency road so residents can evacuate the River Heights Estates. The waters of the Withlacoochee River have risen as a result of Hurricanes Helene and Milton. This new emergency road is near the Walmart Distribution Center between Kettering Road and Cyril Drive (off SR 50).

The Florida Department of Financial Services' Division of Consumer Services is hosting an insurance village in Bradenton beginning Monday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. It will serve as an opportunity for policyholders to meet with their insurance carriers in-person and work together to file insurance claims related to Hurricanes Milton and Helene. Additional Insurance Villages are expected to be announced in the coming days.

Florida Highway Patrol

/

Courtesy

Regarding the fuel depots that opened across the Tampa Bay area, where residents can get up to 10 free gallons of gas, an important update from the Florida Highway Patrol:

Effective immediately, the fuel will only be provided for vehicles, and not to fill portable gas tanks for generators or other use.

President Joe Biden on Sunday will survey the devastation inflicted on Florida's Gulf Coast by Hurricane Milton as he urges Congress to approve additional emergency disaster funding.

Biden was scheduled to survey damage during an aerial tour between Tampa and St. Pete Beach, where he will be briefed on the storm by federal, state and local officials. He'll also meet residents and first responders.

Read more about the president's visit here, and stay with WUSF for updates.

After opening three fuel depots Saturday, where residents can get up to 10 free gallons of gas, the Florida Division of Emergency Management is opening four new ones Sunday at 10 a.m.:

• Suncoast Technical College, 4445 Career Lane, North Port
• East Bay Raceway, 6311 Burts Rd., Tampa
• St. Petersburg College Tarpon Springs, 66 E. Klosterman Rd.
• Charlotte Sports Park, 2300 El Jobean Rd., Port Charlotte

Read more about the fuel depots here.

The Multi-Agency Resource Center (MARC), a state-supported recovery center operated through DCF’s Hope Florida Program, will be open from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. daily at the West Hernando Library Branch, 6335 Blackbird Ave., Brooksville.

Courtesy of Jessica White

World Central Kitchen served meals across Florida communities affected by Hurricane Milton.

Saturday, its “#ChefsForFlorida” crew was all over the greater Tampa Bay region, including St. Petersburg, Treasure Island, Madeira Beach, Gulfport, Lealman, Sarasota, Englewood and Lakeland.

The international food organization uses volunteers to provide meals for people displaced by violence and disasters. It took just a few hours for volunteers to connect via social media and word of mouth to serve people at the Frank H. Pierce Recreation Center in St. Petersburg.

World Central Kitchen uses its social media accounts to spread word about where and when it is helping out.

Courtesy of Jessica White

St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch said drinking water has been restored in the city, but the boil water notice is expected to continue through Monday. The city has about 30 different water line breaks throughout the city, and crews are continuing to repair them, he said Saturday during a storm update.

Meanwhile, three comfort stations are open in St. Petersburg as residents continue to struggle following Hurricane Helene and Milton. They will be open Sunday, Oct. 13, from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

The city said it will provide essential supplies and a place to charge electronic devices at the following locations:

• Frank Pierce Recreation Center, 2000 7th St. S
  
• Childs Park Recreation Center, 4301 13th Ave. S
  
• Roberts Recreation Center, 1246 50th Ave. N
  

The city said the locations may change, as power is restored.

Tampa Electric has announced these estimated times of when it hopes to restore power. It says many will have power sooner, but more extensive damage may take longer.

Pasco: Monday by 11:50 p.m.
Polk: Tuesday by 11:59 p.m.
Hillsborough and Pinellas: Thursday by 11:59 p.m.

Sky Lebron

/

WUSF

Days after Hurricane Milton slammed Florida's west coast, residents are still having a hard time finding gas.

Autumn Boyd says she's been waiting two hours at a 7-Eleven station in Temple Terrace to fill up the tank on her 3-gallon motorcycle.

"I had to use PTO (paid time off) in order to be here,” Boyd said. “And I've just been using my vacation hours to sit in line."

She needs to make sure her bike is fueled for the long drive between Tampa and Clearwater. She says anyone else in a motorcycle should know a couple tips before getting in line.

“Make sure that you got water with you, because it's going to be hot sitting out here, and keep your bike off in neutral so you can just push it,” Boyd said.

Read more here

If you live in Tampa and have had trouble finding businesses that are open, the city of Tampa is helping you locate them.

As cleanup continues following Milton, it launched a website that shows which businesses are open to the public.

It includes a list of restaurants, grocery stores, hardware stories, and other essential services.

If you want your business to be listed, click here.

Hillsborough County has opened three points of distribution centers, or PODs. They will be open from 12:30-7 p.m., or while supplies last:

• Elev8 Fun, Citrus Park Mall, 7902 Citrus Park Town Center Dr., Tampa
• HCC Brandon, 10451 Nancy Watkins Dr., Tampa
• Gibsonton Walmart, 9205 Gibsonton Dr., Gibsonton

These centers will provide water, tarps, and meals.

The City of Tampa opened four sites open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.:

• Gandy Boat Ramp, 5108 W. Gandy Blvd.
• Al Lopez Park, 4810 N. Himes Ave.
• Babe Zaharias Golf Course, 11412 N. Forest Hills Dr.
• Copeland Park, 11001 N. 15th St.

In Temple Terrace (open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. or until supplies last):

• 7701 E. Telecom Pkwy.

In Ruskin (open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. or until supplies last):

• 431 19th Ave. NE

Duke Energy said in a news release outages from Hurricane Milton have decreased to about 580,000 as of noon on Saturday.

The company estimates customers in Brevard, Citrus, Hernando, Highlands, Lake, Marion, Orange, Osceola, Polk, Seminole, Sumter and Volusia counties will have power restored by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday. It estimates customers in Pinellas and Pasco counties will have power restored by 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday.

It may take more time for customers who had extensive damage or flooding to get their power restored, the release said, and some should be prepared for extended outages. Duke Energy will communicate updates as soon as possible.

Customers who can’t receive power because of damage to the property’s meter base, breaker panel or customer-owned electrical wiring should contact their local municipalities. Inspections may be required following repairs.

There are a few ways to report a power outage:

• Visit duke-energy.com.
  
• Use the Duke Energy mobile app.
  
• Text OUT to 57801. Standard text and data charges may apply.
  
• Call the automated outage reporting system at 800-228-8485.

For more information on power outages, visit Duke Energy’s Outage Map or enroll in the company’s Outage Alerts.

Zephyrhills said on its website its sewer system is under extreme strain and can't keep up due to the aftermath of Milton.

The city asks residents to refrain from flushing toilets as it’s causing the biggest problem.

It also asks all residents to immediately limit drinking water use to help ease pressure on the system. The city said minimizing water use is critical to prevent further issues.

Hillsborough County lifted a precautionary boil water notice impacting some customers in the Seffner and North Brandon area.

The county lifted the notice Saturday after testing showed the water met quality standards, according to a news release. About 4,000 connections were impacted. 

Hillsborough’s Water Resources department issued the notice because the distribution system pressure fell below the required regulatory level. It was due to watermain breaks from Milton, the release said.

You can check out a map of the impacted area here.

The Florida Department of Health recommends allowing water to run for five minutes at each tap to flush the lines with fresh water. Include misters, water fountains, ice makers (discard the first bin full) and more when flushing the lines. 

For more information, visit HCFL.gov/BoilWaterNotice. If you have any questions, you can call the Hillsborough County Water Resources Department at 813-307-1000.

To get texts about large-scale boil water notices in the future, you can sign up for Hillsborough’s emergency notification system at HCFL.gov/HCFLAlert.

The Florida Channel

/

Screenshot

If you're having trouble finding gas, you now have some free options across the region.

Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the state is opening fuel depots to help meet the demand. Residents will be able to get up to 10 gallons of free gas.

• Plant City Stadium, 1810 S. Park Rd.
• 200 K Road, Bradenton
• 800 1st Ave. S., St. Petersburg

DeSantis said it's a way to make gas available while many stations remain without power and with Port Tampa Bay working to provide shipments.

"Obviously as power gets restored, maybe some of them have generators that they can get on, and with the Port of Tampa open, you're going to see the fuel flowing," DeSantis said. "But in the meantime, we want to give people another option."

DeSantis said the state plans to open additional ones in Tampa, Pinellas County, at least one in Sarasota, and perhaps more depending on the demand.

Florida residents who fled hundreds of miles to escape Hurricane Milton made slow trips home on crowded highways, weary from their long journeys and the cleanup work awaiting them but also grateful to be coming back alive.

“I love my house, but I’m not dying in it,” Fred Neuman said Friday while walking his dog outside a rest stop off Interstate 75 north of Tampa.

Neuman and his wife live in Siesta Key, where Milton made landfall Wednesday night as a powerful, Category 3 hurricane. Heeding local evacuation orders ahead of the storm, they drove nearly 500 miles (800 kilometers) to Destin on the Florida Panhandle. Neighbors told the couple the hurricane destroyed their carport and inflicted other damage, but Neuman shrugged, saying their insurance should cover it.

Nearby, Lee and Pamela Essenburm made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches at a picnic table as cars pulling off the slow-moving interstate waited for parking spaces outside the crowded rest stop. Their home in Palmetto, on the south end of Tampa Bay, had a tree fall in the backyard. They evacuated fearing the damage would be more severe, worrying Milton might hit as a catastrophic Category 4 or 5 storm.

“I wasn't going to take a chance on it,” Lee Essenbaum said. “It’s not worth it.”

Read more here.

FEMA announced Saturday morning that President Joe Biden has approved a Major Disaster Declaration for Florida.

The declaration makes individual assistance available for residents and businesses in 34 counties affected by Hurricane Milton. It includes Citrus, Hernando, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, and Sarasota counties, and the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida.

"Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster," the Saturday's announcement states.

Funding is also available for emergency work to state, tribal, eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis.

The declaration also makes available assistance for debris removal and emergency protective measures, "including direct federal assistance, under the Public Assistance program is authorized at 100%," according to FEMA.

People and business owners can begin applying for assistance by registering online at disasterassistance.gov, by phone at 800-621- 3362 or through the FEMA app.

Read more here.

Pasco County has closed the shelter at River Ridge Middle/High School so the school can prepare to reopen.

The county has opened another shelter at Veteran Memorial Park in Hudson.

As of Saturday, the following shelters are open:

• Fasano Regional Hurricane Center
  11611 Denton Ave., Hudson (only serving residents with physical or mental disabilities or health and medical conditions)
  
• Veterans Memorial Park
  14333 Hicks Road, Hudson
  
• Wesley Chapel Recreation Complex
  7727 Boyette Road, Wesley Chapel

Hillsborough County Public Schools will stay closed Monday as cleanup efforts from Milton continue.

All schools and district offices will also remain closed Monday. The district said it will provide an update by noon Monday on its reopening status for the rest of the week.

HCPS said the decision was made due to significant flooding, uprooted trees blocking access and power outages at 172 of its schools. Three schools are also still active storm shelters.

Reopening efforts will depend on when power can be restored to schools, school facility conditions, district and school staff without power or with damage to their homes, and road conditions.

The district also said it’s in contact with the Florida Department of Education regarding makeup days. It’s prioritizing reopening schools, and it will communicate decisions on makeup days at another time.

For a list of community resources, click here.

Dressers, couches and mattresses littered the streets of North Redington and St. Petersburg after two major hurricanes hit Florida’s Gulf Coast in just over two weeks. Now, residents are returning from Hurricane Milton after evacuation orders, hoping to have a home to return to at all.

Martha Steinway, 73, returned to her mobile home park in St. Petersburg on Thursday after evacuating to Tampa. She found complete destruction.

St. Petersburg, south of Tampa, is supposed to be sacred ground because indigenous people are buried there, she said. “We just thought ‘Oh yeah, another hurricane’... I was one of those Floridians saying, ‘We’ll be fine, we’ll be fine.”

She was fine, but her home of five years wasn't.

Steinway returned to an overwhelming stench of mold – caused from storm surges and mass amounts of water brought by both Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Their belongings are out on the street, damaged and unsalvageable.

“Thank God that we’re alive,” she said.

She and her husband, who are both retired, will have to find a place to start over, amid what she described as high prices in St. Petersburg, she said.

Read more here.

In the wake of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell held a press conference in Punta Gorda Friday urging residents to register for disaster assistance as quickly as possible.

She emphasized that those impacted by either storm—or both—may have different recovery needs, and registering for both is essential.

“Registering for both storms is important as they will have different needs,” Criswell said. “If they incurred costs from Helene, they can register now, and this other declaration [Milton] will be through the system very soon.”

Criswell highlighted that FEMA’s displacement assistance could help cover costs such as hotel stays, adding that each family will be evaluated on their specific losses, whether it’s damage to their homes, appliances, or primary vehicles.

“Insurance is always the first piece they need to look at,” Criswell said. “But if they have uninsured costs, or didn’t have insurance, our programs can help jumpstart their recovery."

Read more here.

Polk County has opened sites where water and food will be distributed. They will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. while supplies last.

• Walker Road Park, 1285 Walker Rd., Lakeland
• Gator Creek Preserve, 9725 US Hwy 98 N., Lakeland
• Family Life Church, 139 Bulldog Way, Frostproof
• Civic Center, 901 NE Fifth St., Mulberry

Along with the Tropicana Field roof being destroyed by Milton's hurricane-force winds, the MidFlorida Credit Union roof sustained significant damage.

These photos, provided by Hillsborough County Fire Rescue, show the extent.

Hillsborough County Fire Rescue

/

Facebook

Hillsborough County Fire Rescue

/

Facebook

According to BirdAir, the architectural firm that rebuilt the roof in 2017, the roof was made up of around 135,000 square feet of PVC tensile membrane.

The status of upcoming shows, or other damage to the amphitheater, was not immediately known.

Classes at Saint Leo University will be online-only from Oct 14-18.

This drone footage, provided by Pasco County Government, shows flooding near the Anclote River on Friday.

Residents who live near lakes, retention ponds or in low-lying neighborhoods will be battling river flooding in Pasco County into the middle of next week.

Crews continue to try and restore power to residents across the state and Tampa Bay area.

As of Saturday at 7:40 more than 1.6 million people remain without power statewide.

Some local numbers:

Hillsborough: 380,658
Pinellas: 380,339
Sarasota: 89,143
Manatee: 109,715
Pasco: 79,714
Hernando: 17,900
Polk: 84,510

Click here for the Duke Energy power outage map.
Click here for the TECO power outage map.

Three temporary comfort and charging stations are open in St. Petersburg:

• Frank Pierce Recreation Center, 2000 7th St. S
• Childs Park Recreation Center, 4301 13th Ave. S
• Roberts Recreation Center, 1246 50th Ave. N

Here, residents can charge their electronic devices and get bottled water, clean-up kits, battery packs, and other supplies.

More than 500 people were rescued from floods at a Clearwater apartment complex on Friday.

Clearwater Police, Clearwater Fire & Rescue, the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, and other agencies responded to rising waters at The Standard, 2690 Drew St.

First responders couldn't initially respond due to Milton's high winds, but were able to enter shortly before sunrise.

They found chest-deep water — and neck-deep in some locations — and residents trapped in their homes. Some vehicles were also submerged.
 
Many of the residents rescued were taken to local shelters, and first responders went door-to-door to ensure no residents were trapped.

A total of 449 adults and 116 juveniles in 178 different units were rescued.

USF said teams are continuing to assess all campuses today. It asks people not to return to campus until notified it’s safe to do so.

All USF campuses are closed until at least Monday.

Classes scheduled for Monday on the Tampa, St. Petersburg and Sarasota-Manatee campuses will be held asynchronously. Students won’t have to meet on Monday; they’ll instead get an assignment from their instructor that doesn’t have to be finished that day. There will be no in-person classes Monday on those three campuses.

Classes at MDD (USF downtown) will meet in-person starting Monday since that facility is fully operational, the university said.

USF business operations will resume remotely on Monday. Only essential and critical employees, and employees working in a facility open on Monday, will work on campus that day. Employees who don’t fall into those categories should work remotely on Monday. USF asks employees to contact supervisors if they’re unsure of their status. It also encourages supervisors to offer flexibility for those who may need additional time.

Residential students shouldn’t come back to campus until they’re told it’s safe to do so. USF said it’s prioritizing residence halls and dining in reopening plans, including restoring power to facilities. It said it hopes to reopen residence halls and dining before Monday. Residence halls and dining in St. Petersburg might not be open prior to then since the campus is under a boil water notice from the city.

USF Health is planning to have modified clinical offerings on Monday. For updates and more information, visit health.usf.edu/care or MyChart. The call center will be available Monday to help patients and reschedule appointments at 813-821-8038.

For resources and FAQs, read more here.

USF said updates will be shared via usf.edu, USF’s social media channels, MyUSF and email.

Mary Shedden

/

WUSF

A day after Hurricane Milton slammed into the Gulf Coast, Florida Matters heard from people across the greater Tampa Bay region about the storm's impact and the recovery ahead.

Milton made landfall Wednesday night as a Category 3 hurricane near Siesta Key, just south of Sarasota, with dangerous storm surge, damaging wind and flooding rain. Millions across the state were still without power as first responders continued to rescue people stranded by floodwaters and assess the damage.

For many, Hurricane Milton is a life-changing event, and Florida Matters opened the phones to hear people share their experiences of the storm and ask questions about what's next for recovery and restoration from our panel of reporters and expert guests.

Listen to the podcast here.

Gabriella Paul

/

WUSF

Residents who live near lakes, retention ponds or in low-lying neighborhoods will be battling river flooding in Pasco County into the middle of next week.

"Right now we have the local rivers are starting to flood and crest into the neighborhoods, and we are running continuing operations of pulling people out of their homes that need assistance," Interim Fire Chief Ryan Guynn said.

More than 100 people have been rescued from the rising floodwaters so far, according to a spokesperson for the Pasco County Sheriff's Office. Officials advise any resident who lives near a lake, retention pond or low-lying area to be on high alert for rising water.

Emergency management director Andrew Fossa called the rising rivers a "200-year flood event" for the county.

Read more about river levels, evacuations, and shelter and sandbag locations here.

The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall sustained significant water intrusion, with some areas experiencing up to 4 feet of storm surge as a result of Hurricane Milton.

The orchestra pit, kitchen, dressing rooms and production offices have all experienced flooding. The electrical wiring was also impacted by the water intrusion.

Additionally, the roof sustained damage, which is currently being patched. The docks, sidewalks and surrounding areas have also been impacted.

At this time, all performances through December 2024 will be canceled, with plans to reopen on Jan. 1.

Ticket buyers for shows scheduled from October to December will receive refunds at their original point of purchase.

President Joe Biden will visit areas in Florida hit by Hurricane Milton on Sunday.

The White House made the announcement today [Friday].

But the release did not say exactly where the president will go, or if he will meet with the governor.

Biden visited North Florida after Hurricane Helene made landfall there a couple weeks ago.

Due to extensive repairs needed at the terminal, the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport will remain closed to airline flights and passengers until Wednesday, October 16 at 9 a.m.

Please contact your airline directly for the latest flight status and any changes.

In response to Hurricane Milton, GasBuddy’s Fuel Availability Tracker has been activated in Florida to help drivers find stations with fuel and power in the case of an emergency.

You can access that here, or download the GasBuddy app for iOs or Android.

As emergency crews respond in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton over the next few days, they’ll have to deal with a lot of dangers in the damage along the Gulf Coast — downed power lines, unstable ruins, leaking natural gas tanks and pipe lines, chemical spills and more.

There is one other growing concern that is unique to coastal areas in Florida and other hurricane zones — the spontaneous combustion of electrical vehicles flooded by the salty storm surge.

Not every EV flooded by storm surge goes up in flames but it’s become frequent enough that insurers, car makers, fire chiefs and politicians have all issued warnings to EV owners in advance of the expected devastation of Hurricane Milton. And it’s not just cars that are a concern.

Read more here.

Power has been restored to two of Sarasota County's three Wastewater Reclamation Facilities, as well as the Carlton Water Treatment Facility.

Residents can expect regular water pressure to return soon.

Due to continued high-water flooding after Hurricane Milton, deputies will provide transportation in high-water vehicles to affected residents in the Lansbrook area near Tarpon Lake Blvd in Palm Harbor.

Stephanie Colombini

/

WUSF

Hurricane Milton spared Pinellas County a second round of the catastrophic storm surge that flooded homes and businesses during Helene just two weeks ago. But high winds and heavy rain still caused significant damage.

Roughly 70% of customers in the county had no power as of Friday morning at 11, according to a national power outage tracker. Water service also remains limited in many areas.

Some low-land parts of the county flooded, and downed trees and power lines posed hazards on many roadways.

The morning after the storm, Matty Cole stood up on a ladder with a small chainsaw trimming branches off a large oak tree that toppled into the street in the Jungle Terrace neighborhood of St. Petersburg. The tree was blocking off one lane of traffic, so Stephen Smarowsky helped direct traffic so cars could safely pass in either direction around the debris.

Read more here.

The City of Gulfport is distributing water to residents starting today at 11 a.m. Water can be picked up at 25th Avenue and Beach Boulevard South.

Additionally, World Foods - Shasta Food Truck is generously providing 500 meals at 11:30 a.m. in the Senior Center parking lot. Meals will be available until supplies run out.

The boil water notice issued by the City of St. Petersburg for all Gulfport water customers remains in effect. The public will be informed when it is lifted.

 The Call Center is available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. today at (727) 893-1000.

The Public Works Department is working to clear trees and debris from roadways. Please place debris near the road, away from power lines and obstacles, and separate vegetative material, construction materials, garbage bags, appliances, and paint for collection.

 Sanitation and recycling collection scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 10, will now take place on Friday, Oct. 11. Friday’s collection will occur on Saturday, Oct. 12. Please place containers in designated locations and refrain from placing storm debris or heavy objects inside.

The Salvation Army Tampa Area Command’s Emergency Disaster Services (EDS) will be serving Lunch & Dinner + Hydration and handing out Emergency Supplies to those impacted by Hurricane Milton from our Emergency Disaster Mobile Canteens (5). The mobile canteens will be on-site 12pm – 6pm starting FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11th offering essential & emergency support to individuals and families in the Tampa area impacted by the hurricane.

The Salvation Army continues its commitment to providing immediate relief to those affected by disasters, crisis and hardships. This outreach is a part of our ongoing efforts to support the local community of Tampa & Hillsborough County during times of crisis by ensuring access to basic necessities.

Locations:
📍 Salvation Army Tampa Corps.
1100 West Sligh Ave. Tampa, FL.
12pm - 6pm

📍 Riverside Recovery
4004 N Riverside Dr, Tampa, FL 33603
*1pm-6pm Friday; 12pm - 6pm every day after

📍 Plant City Fire Department
*escorting the canteen through neighborhoods
604 E Alexander St, Plant City, FL 33563
12pm - 6pm

📍 New Life Tabernacle South Tampa
1002 S Church Ave Suite A, Tampa, FL 33629
12pm - 6pm

📍 Victory Tabernacle of Seminole Heights
1010 E Busch Blvd #102, Tampa, FL 33612
12pm - 6pm
Time:
Starts Friday, October 11th
12pm – 6pm
*continuing every day until announced (TBD)

With several traffic signals still out across the Tampa Bay area, drivers are asked to please be attentive when approaching a signalized intersection.If a traffic signal is out, treat the intersection as a four-way stop.

• Stop completely
• Yield to the first vehicle to arrive
• If arriving at the same time, the car on the right proceeds firstStay alert and stay informed.

Be sure to visit FL511.com and the FL511 app for real-time road conditions and please drive safely!

While damage assessment is ongoing, DukeEnergy Florida is now beginning power restoration in many areas impacted by Hurricane Milton and will issue estimated times of restoration for all customers later this afternoon.

As of 9 a.m. ET, nearly 350,000 outages have been restored, and over 850,000 outages still exist throughout the company’s service territory.

“From downed trees and branches falling on our power lines to storm surge flooding our equipment – which causes almost immediate corrosion – our infrastructure was severely damaged by Hurricane Milton. We’re making repairs where we can, but we anticipate we will need to rebuild in many areas,” said Todd Fountain, Duke Energy Florida storm director.

“Despite that, our crews are doing all they can, even working through the night, to get the lights back on for as many customers as possible as quickly as possible.”

Duke Energy Florida has 16,000 resources supporting power restoration. Crews are staged at base camps in areas hardest hit by the storm:

• Bexley Properties (Land O’ Lakes)
• Brooksville-Tampa Bay Regional Airport
• Manheim Orlando (Winter Garden)
• Ritchie Brothers Auctioneers
• Sebring Raceway
• Seminole Towne Center
• Tropicana Field
• The Villages

For customers who are using a generator, Duke Energy Florida offers the following safety tips:

• Only operate a generator outside and connect appliances directly to it.
• Do not wire your generator directly to your breaker fuse box, as it could backfeed on power lines.
• Please watch for utility crews and turn the generator off when crews are in your area. The electrical load on the power lines can be hazardous for those making repairs.
• Have a fully charged, properly rated fire extinguisher (i.e., rated for electrical and gas fires) ready at all times.

Customers can report power outages four different ways:

• Visit duke-energy.com on a desktop computer or mobile device.
• Use the Duke Energy mobile app (download from a smartphone via Apple Store or Google Play).
• Text OUT to 57801 (standard text and data charges may apply).
• Call the automated outage reporting system at 800.228.8485.

Additionally, customers who cannot receive power as a result of damage to the property’s meter base, breaker panel or customer-owned electrical wiring should contact their local municipalities for guidance. Inspections may be required after repairs are complete.The most up-to-date information about power outages can be accessed on Duke Energy’s Outage Map or by enrolling in Outage Alerts.

Only critical staff should report to campus Friday, October 11.

Power is currently off on campus, but is expected to be restored well ahead of next week’s reopening.

As Monday is a holiday for the College, normal business operations will commence on Tuesday, October 15.

Hillsborough County is urging residents to report storm damage on their property and any unmet needs with an easy-to-use online form.
The Hurricane Milton Damage Reporting Form is designed to help officials determine the extent of damage across the county and connect residents with local resources.
Hillsborough County residential property owners can use the form to report property loss or storm damages to the County by visiting HCFL.gov/DamageAssessment. The information will be routed to the appropriate County department, which will respond within 72 hours.
Homeowners and owners/renters of agricultural properties, nonprofits, and houses of worship should complete this form, which will help County staff communicate resident needs to local partners, such as American Red Cross, Feeding Tampa Bay, Metropolitan Ministries, Rebuilding Together Tampa Bay, and more
Residents who need assistance completing the form should call (833) HC Storm or (833) 427-8676.
County staff will evaluate and document the damage and provide the information to state and federal agencies. This County assessment form IS NOT a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) application. To register with FEMA, visit DisasterAssistance.gov. Please keep in mind that completing this form DOES NOT replace a business or homeowner’s insurance claim, nor does it serve as an application for resources.
Residents can learn about additional resources that may be available to them by visiting HCFL.gov/StormRecovery.

The Temple Terrace Library will serve as a comfort Center for Temple Terrace Residents Friday, Saturday & Sunday From 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

📍 Temple Terrace Library, 202 Bullard Pkwy, Temple Terrace, FL 33617

AdventHealth North Pinellas has safely reopened to serve patients and the community, following a temporary closure of the hospital due to Hurricane Milton."

"After working closely with state and local authorities, the hospital has resumed full operations and is ready to care for all patients. In preparation for Hurricane Milton, AdventHealth North Pinellas evacuated 40 patients to nearby AdventHealth facilities, ensuring their safety during the storm. The hospital’s emergency department remained open throughout the storm in order to provide critical care to the community.

Due to historic river flooding associated with Hurricane Milton, Pasco County is recommending voluntary evacuations in the following locations:

• Elfers
• Cypress Creek at Worthington Gardens
• Thousand Oaks
• Everyone in low-lying areas or areas prone to flooding

These shelters will remain open to assist anyone needing a place to stay:

• *Fasano Regional Hurricane Center, 11611 Denton Avenue, Hudson *(Special Needs Only)
• River Ridge Middle and High Schools, 11646 Town Center Road, New Port Richey

There will be no Breeze bus, trolley, OnDemand, or Breeze Plus except for medical essential trips Friday, Oct. 11.

Breeze will be performing emergency transportation in response to Hurricane Milton.

All Hillsborough County conservation parks, nature preserves, trails, neighborhood and specialty parks, and athletic complexes will remain closed until further notice due to the impacts of Hurricane Milton.

The county is assessing the significant damage caused by storm and will reopen locations one by one as they are confirmed safe for the public to access. County officials will diligently work to repair these sites, prioritizing the safety of the residents.

Residents and visitors are encouraged to register for HCFL Alert, Hillsborough County's official public notification system for emergency and urgent alerts. To receive messages by email, phone, and text, go to HCFL.gov/HCFLAlert.

For the latest emergency-related information visit HCFL.gov/StaySafe.

Residents without digital access are encouraged to call (833) HC STORM or (833) 427-8676, the county's storm information and helpline. 

Hillsborough County said a power outage at Duck Pond pump station has limited its ability to manage stormwater levels effectively near USF.

The pump station lost power Wednesday night due to flooding from Hurricane Milton, according to a news release. Pumping capacity is limited at this time. The county is working to restore pumping and is coordinating with Tampa on pumping operations so as to not increase flooding downstream.

Duck Pond pump station is located near USF and is Hillsborough's largest stormwater pump station, according to the county. The station is meant to protect low-lying areas from flooding during rainfall events up to a 25-year storm.

The USF and Memphis Tigers football game on Saturday has been moved to the Camping World Stadium in Orlando in light of Hurricane Milton.

The American Athletic Conference announced the change on Thursday to adapt to recovery efforts currently underway in the Tampa Bay area and to avoid the resulting challenges of hosting at the Raymond James Stadium.

The game will take place at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday and will stream on ESPN+, 102.5 FM and the USF Bulls app.

Rescue teams plucked Florida residents from the flotsam of Hurricane Milton on Thursday after the storm smashed through coastal communities where it tore homes into pieces, filled streets with mud and spawned a barrage of deadly tornadoes. At least six people were dead.

Arriving just two weeks after the misery wrought by Hurricane Helene, the system also knocked out power to more than 3 million customers, flooded barrier islands, tore the roof off a baseball stadium and toppled a construction crane.

Among the most dramatic rescues, Hillsborough County officers found a a 14-year-old boy floating on a piece of fence and pulled him onto a boat. A Coast Guard helicopter crew rescued a man who was left clinging to an ice chest in the Gulf of Mexico after his fishing boat broke down off Madeira Beach hours before the hurricane came ashore.

Despite the destruction, many people expressed relief that Milton wasn't worse. The hurricane spared Tampa a direct hit, and the lethal storm surge that scientists feared never materialized.

Read more here.

The NWS released an update this evening forecasting major flooding at Alafia River at Lithia, which affects Hillsborough County.

They cautioned motorists to avoid driving through flooded areas.

Pinellas County Schools will open drop-in comfort stations to support PCS employees over the next several days.
These drop-in opportunities are available on Friday, Oct. 11, and Saturday, Oct. 12, from 12 p.m. – 4 p.m. at Tyrone Middle School and Clearwater High School.

Stations at these air-conditioned sites for PCS employees include:

• • Bottled Water
• • Snack
• • Charging stations

A PCS school/district staff or government-issued ID is required to verify PCS employment.

The Tampa Water Department released the following statement:

"Due to the impacts of Hurricane Milton, the City's reclaimed water system is currently shutdown.

"Customers who use reclaim water for their irrigation system cannot use it at this time.

"The City will notify customers as soon as the system returns to service. We thank customers for their patience."