Local and state leaders are urging people to start preparing of what could be a major hurricane along Florida's Gulf Coast.
Governor Ron DeSantis issued a state of emergency in 51 Florida counties, including Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando, Polk, Manatee and Sarasota.
Hurricane Milton formed Sunday in the Gulf of Mexico and was projected to become a powerful Category 3 hurricane before it's Wednesday arrival to the state, according to an update from the National Hurricane Center.
The National Weather Service forecasts between 4 to 8 inches of rain from Hernando County to Sarasota County along Florida's Gulf Coast.
The Governor's order mandates that all disaster debris management sites and landfills remain open to allow 24-hour debris drop off in an attempt to dispose of as much debris from Hurricane Helene as possible.
Helene, which grazed the area on Sept. 26, brought widespread flooding from record storm surge. Many residents whose homes were flooded have spent the past week piling mountains of waterlogged debris onto their front lawns.
Pasco County officials asked residents to use ropes or bungee cords to secure debris ahead of Milton to keep it from becoming a hazard during high winds or storm surge.
Cities and counties also began opening sandbag sites as the area prepares what could be another powerful hurricane.
Here’s a list of sandbag locations:
Hillsborough County (Sites open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
- Larry Sanders Progress Village Sports Complex, 5855 S. 78th Street Tampa, FL 33619. This is in addition to the two sites announced earlier today as residents prepare for potential heavy rain in the coming days.
- E.G. Simmons Conservation Park, 2401 19th Ave. NW, Ruskin (Park will be closed to the public on Saturday)
- Ed Radice Sports Complex, 14720 Ed Radice Drive, Tampa (Park will remain open to the public on Saturday)
Tampa
- Larry Sanders Progress Village Sports Complex, 5855 S. 78th Street Tampa
- Al Barnes Park, 2902 N 32nd Street
Pinellas County (Available 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday)
- John Chesnut Park, 2200 East Lake Road S., Palm Harbor
- Walsingham Park, 12615 102nd Ave, Seminole
St. Petersburg
- Dell Homes Park, 2741 22nd St. S
- Fossil Park Northern Most Parking Lot - 6875 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. St.
- North Walter Fuller Soccer Field Parking Lot - 2800 75th St. N
- Lake Maggiore Park Shelter Area, 3601 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. St.
- S Northeast Park East Baseball Field Parking Lot, 955 62nd Ave. Ne
- Northwest Swimming Pool Parking Lot Park, 2331 60th St. N
Dunedin
- Jerry Lake Recreation Complex, 1601 Virginia St.
Sarasota County
- Ed Smith Stadium, 2700 12th St., Sarasota
- Twin Lakes Park, 6700 Clark Road, Sarasota
- South County Fleet Services, 4571 State Road 776/Englewood Road, Venice
Polk County
- Mulberry/South Lakeland – Loyce E. Harpe Park, 500 W. Carter Road, Mulberry
- Lakeland – 8970 N. Campbell Road, Lakeland
- Fort Meade – 1061 NE 9th St., Fort Meade
- Frostproof – 350 County Road 630A, Frostproof
- Auburndale – 1701 Holt Road, Auburndale
- Dundee – 805 Dr. Martin Luther King St. SW, Dundee
- Poinciana Park – 5109 Allegheny Road, Kissimmee
- Winter Haven: Rueben Williams Sports Complex, 1751 7th St NE.
Hernando
- Linda Pedersen Park, 6300 Shoal Line Blvd., Spring Hill
- Anderson Snow Park, 1360 Anderson Snow Road, Spring Hill
- Ridge Manor Community Center, 34240 Cortez Blvd, Ridge Manor
- Spring Lake Methodist Church, 4191 Spring Lake Hwy., Brooksville
