Hurricane Helene Evacuations Begin In Hillsborough County: Officials

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FL — As Hurricane Helene churns in the Gulf, making its way to Florida, a mandatory evacuation was ordered Wednesday starting at 10 .m. for everyone in Evacuation Zone A and all mobile homes and manufactured housing throughout Hillsborough County, officials said in a news release.

A storm surge warning, hurricane watch and tropical storm warning are in effect for the county.

Though Helene’s current forecast has it passing offshore of the county, it is expected to bring tropical storm force winds, life-threatening storm surge flooding and flash flooding to the area on Thursday.

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The county opened evacuation centers at the following locations:

• Burnett Middle School 1010 N. Kingsway Road, Seffner (pet friendly)
• Durant High School, 4748 Cougar Path, Plant City (pet friendly)
• Middleton High School, 4801 N. 22nd Street, Tampa (pet friendly)
• Sickles High School, 7950 Gunn Hwy., Tampa (pet friendly)
• Reddick Elementary School 325 West Lake Drive, Wimauma (pet friendly)
• Erwin Technical College, 2010 E. Hillsborough Ave., Tampa (special needs only, pet friendly)

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

Residents bringing pets to one of the pet-friendly shelters need to 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. Find more information on how residents can prepare their pets.

Residents can confirm evacuation zones and register for HCFL Alert, Hillsborough County's official public notification system, at HCFL.gov/StaySafe or by calling 833-HCSTORM.

Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority (HART) will run evacuation bus routes for those who need transportation to a shelter. More information can be found here.

Sandbags

Hillsborough County’s sandbag locations will be open Wednesday until 7 p.m. at:

• Edward Medard Conservation Park, 6140 Turkey Creek Rd., Plant City
• E.G. Simmons Conservation Park, 2401 19th Ave. NW, Ruskin
• Ed Radice Sports Complex, 14720 Ed Radice Dr., Tampa
• Larry Sanders Sports Complex, 5855 S. 78th St., Tampa

Sandbags are also available to city of Tampa residents on Wednesday until 7 p.m. at the following locations:

• Himes Avenue Complex, 4501 South Himes Ave.
• Al Barnes Park, 2902 N 32nd Street
• Al Lopez Park, 4810 N Himes Ave.

County residents are eligible for a maximum of 10 sandbags per vehicle. City residents can take 10 bags per household.

Identification is required at both county- and city-run sites.

Hillsborough County Schools

All Hillsborough County Schools are closed Wednesday and Thursday, and all after-school programs, activities and athletics are canceled.

Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative

All libraries in Evacuation Zone A are closed Wednesday and Thursday. This includes the Jan Kaminis Platt Regional Library, Ruskin Branch Library, and Town 'N Country Regional Public Library.

All other libraries and book returns will close Wednesday at 5 p.m. and remain closed through Thursday.

Public Transportation

HART bus service, HARTPlus, HARTFlex and TECO Streetcar will operate on a normal schedule Wednesday.