MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — Anna Maria Island officials have announced that a mandatory evacuation order will be in effect starting Monday, Oct. 7 at noon in anticipation of Tropical Storm Milton’s landfall.
The storm is expected to become a hurricane with landfall by midweek. The worst of the impacts will be felt most of the day on Wednesday, if not late Tuesday and early Thursday as well.
MANATEE COUNTY
Manatee County Emergency Managers have called for evacuations of all persons in Level A and B – and all residents or visitors in RVs or Mobile Homes – ahead of Hurricane Milton beginning at 2 p.m. Monday Oct. 7. If you haven’t done so, learn your evacuation level by clicking here.
“We do not issue evacuation orders lightly,” said Manatee County Public Safety Director Jodie Fiske. “Milton is anticipated to cause more storm surge than Helene. So, if you stayed during Helene, and got lucky, I would not press my luck with this particular system.”
The following locations will be opening emergency shelters Monday afternoon:
- Mills Elementary School (7200 69th St. E., Palmetto)
- Miller Elementary School (601 43rd St. W., Bradenton)
- Myakka Elementary School (37205 Manatee Ave., Myakka City) A special needs shelter will also be opening for those who have pre-registered. If you haven’t registered yet, please do so at mymanatee.org/needs.Debris pick up from Helene has shifted into high gear. Extra collection vehicles are being dispatched to Manatee County to speed Helene clean-up to completion. These crews will work as long as conditions allow to safely remove and dispose of this debris. It’s very important that once the debris has been picked up in your area, you do NOT put any additional debris at the roadside. Any debris left near the curb as Milton comes through can clog drain or become a projectile during high winds.
Debris pick up from Helene has shifted into high gear. Extra collection vehicles are being dispatched to Manatee County to speed Helene clean-up to completion. These crews will work as long as conditions allow to safely remove and dispose of this debris. It’s very important that once the debris has been picked up in your area, you do NOT put any additional debris at the roadside. Any debris left near the curb as Milton comes through can clog drain or become a projectile during high winds.
PINELLAS COUNTY
Pinellas County has issued mandatory evacuation orders for long-term care facilities, assisted living facilities and hospitals in evacuation zones A, B and C due to the threat posed by Hurricane Milton. This impacts six hospitals, 25 nursing homes and 44 assisted living facilities, totaling about 6,600 patients.
The mandatory orders are only for these facilities, but Pinellas County is encouraging voluntary evacuation for residents in Zone A, B and C and mobile homes in advance of possible mandatory orders Monday. At-risk residents can evacuate only a few miles to higher ground and safe structures outside of Zone C. If evacuations are ordered, the County will open emergency shelters.
PASCO COUNTY
In a statement, the county said: “The Pasco Board of County Commissioners has issued a Local State of Emergency for Pasco County ahead of Hurricane Milton. This allows the County Administrator and Emergency Management Director to waive everyday procedures and do what they believe is necessary to ensure the health, safety and welfare of our community.
Mandatory evacuations will go into effect Monday, October 7, at 10:00 a.m. for the following:
- Evacuation Zones A and B
- Everyone living in a manufactured home, mobile home or RV anywhere in Pasco
- Everyone in low-lying areas or areas prone to flooding
- Everyone in an area ordered evacuated by local authorities due to life-safety hazards
Voluntary evacuations will go into effect Monday, October 7, at 10:00 a.m. for the following:
- Evacuation Zone C
- Everyone registered with Pasco as a Special Needs Resident
- Everyone who would be vulnerable in the event of a power loss
Know your evacuation zone. Click HERE to enter your street address on an interactive map:
Pasco County is also opening shelters Monday, October 7 for anyone who needs to leave their home ahead of the storm and has nowhere else to stay. To view the locations, click here.
Pasco County Customer Service is open until 7 p.m. Sunday and will be open 24 hours beginning Monday, October 7 at 7 a.m. Call 727.847.2411.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by PostX News and is published from a syndicated feed.)
