Hillsborough County Shelter Reaches Capacity, New Shelter Opened

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FL — Hillsborough County has opened a new special-needs shelter at the Yuengling Center, 12499 USF Bull Run Drive, Tampa, on the University of South Florida campus.

This shelter accepts pets for those with special needs. Residents seeking a shelter are encouraged to make arrangements as soon as possible.

Stay up-to-date by viewing all Hurricane Ian coverage on Patch here.

Erwin Technical College, a special-needs shelter at 2010 E. Hillsborough Ave., Tampa, has closed after reaching capacity.

Below is the list of shelters currently open to residents:

General Population Shelters

• Burnett Middle, 1010 N Kingsway Road, Seffner (Pet-friendly)
• Durant High School, 4748 Cougar Path, Plant City (Pet-friendly)
• Lockhart Elementary, 3719 N 17th St., Tampa
• Middleton High School, 4801 N 22nd St., Tampa
• Newsome High School, 16550 Fishhawk Blvd., Lithia
• Pizzo Elementary, 11701 Bull Run, Tampa
• Reddick Elementary, 325 West Lake Drive, Wimauma
• Sickles High School, 7950 Gunn Highway, Tampa (Pet-friendly)
• Steinbrenner High School, 5575 W. Lutz Lake Fern Road, Lutz (Pet-friendly)
• Valrico Elementary, 609 S Miller Road, Valrico
• Benito Middle, 10101 Cross Creek Blvd., Tampa
• Boyette Springs Elementary, 10141 Sedgebrook Drive, Riverview
• Sessums Elementary, 11525 Ramble Creek Drive, Tampa
• Cypress Creek Elementary, 4040 19th Ave. NE, Ruskin
• Hammond Elementary, 8008 N. Mobley Road, Odessa
• Jennings Middle, 9325 Govenors Road, Seffner
• Marshall Middle, 18 S. Maryland Ave., Plant City
• Mulrennan Middle, 4215 Durant Road, Valrico
• Nelson Elementary, 5413 Durant Rd., Valrico
• Shields Middle, 15732 Beth Shields Way, Ruskin (Pet-friendly)
• Turner Elementary, 9020 Imperial Oaks Blvd., Tampa
• Wharton High School, 20150 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., Tampa
• Bartels Middle, 9190 Imperial Oaks Blvd., Tampa (Pet-friendly)
• Barrington Middle, 5925 Village Center Dr., Lithia (Pet-friendly)
• Brandon High School, 1101 Victoria St., Brandon
• Cimino Elementary, 4329 Culbreath Rd., Valrico
• Knights Elementary, 4815 N. Keene Rd., Plant City
• Martinez Middle, 5601 W. Lutz Lake Fern Road, Lutz
• McKitrick Elementary, 5503 Lutz Lake Fern Road, Lutz
• Pride Elementary, 10310 Lions Den Drive, Tampa
• Sgt. Paul Smith Middle, 14303 Citrus Pointe Drive, Tampa (Pet-friendly)
• Summerfield Elementary, 11990 Big Bend Road, Riverview
• Tomlin Middle, 501 N. Woodrow Wilson, Plant City
• Turkey Creek Middle, 5005 Turkey Creek Road, Plant City
• Dorothy York Innovation Academy, 5995 Covington Garden Drive, Apollo Beach
• Bevis Elementary, 5720 Osprey Ridge Drive, Lithia
• Bowers-Whitley Career Center, 13609 N. 22nd St., Tampa
• Wilson Elementary, 702 English St., Plant City
• Cannella Elementary, 10707 Nixon Road, Tampa

Special-Needs Shelters

• Sumner High School, 10650 County Road 672, Riverview (Pet-friendly for those with special needs)
• Strawberry Crest High School, 4691 Gallagher Road, Dover (Pet-friendly for those with special needs)
• Riverview High School, 11311 Boyette Road, Riverview (Pet-friendly for those with special needs)
• Yuengling Center, 12499 USF Bull Run Drive, Tampa (Pet-friendly for those with special needs)

The special-needs shelters are only for residents with medical issues that require electricity assistance or have cognitive issues that would not be supported in a general population shelter.

Related:

• To Evacuate Or Not: Some Stay Put To Avoid Clogged Highways, Gas Lines
• Where To Find Gas In Tampa Bay Area: Hurricane Ian Evacuation
• Hurricane Ian Evacuation: Uber Offering Free Rides To Shelters

Residents should not evacuate to hospitals. They are not shelters.

Tampa International Airport is also reminding residents that the airport is not a shelter. TPA police officers and guest services representatives will be on hand at the airport to direct travelers who need shelter to the nearest Hillsborough County Shelters.

Residents using pet-friendly shelters should bring a sturdy carrier for each pet that allows room for the pet to stand up and move around, as well as a collar with a leash and supplies for each pet to last seven days.

More information on how residents can prepare their pets, click here.

For Hillsborough County storm safety information, click here.