Hurricane Ian: Hillsborough Residents In Zone A Must Evacuate Now

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FL —Hillsborough County has now issued a mandatory evacuation for all residents living in Evacuation Zone A, in mobile homes and in older homes susceptible to wind and flood damage.

This means those residents living in Zone A need to evacuate as soon as possible, said Hillsborough County Administrator Bonnie Wise during a news conference Monday morning.

There is a voluntary evacuation order in place for residents living in Zone B.

"We're expecting storm surge up to 15 feet, 30 hours of tropical rains and 10 hours of winds," said Hillsborough County Emergency Management Director Tim Dudley. "Please treat this storm seriously. It’s the real deal."

The county is reminding residents and business owners that evacuation zones were updated this year, adding thousands of homes to evacuation zones that were previously excluded.

Residents wanting to find out if they live in an evacuation zone should click here.

"We do not take this decision easily, but this storm poses a significant threat and we must do everything we can to protect the lives of residents. Do not wait. Time is of the essence."

Wise said the county expects to begin evacuating 300,000 people Monday.

Wise said all Hillsborough County storm shelters will open at 2 p.m. Monday, but told residents that staying at a shelter should be a last resort.

"They are crowded and noisy and not comfortable places to stay," she said.

Dudley advised residents to seek shelter with a friend or relatives whose home is at least 20 miles inland.

Hillsborough County Superintendent of Schools Addison Davis said all Hillsborough County public schools will be closed Monday through Thursday, since many of the schools also serve as evacuation shelters.

He said the school district will be activating its food nutrition department to provide meals at evacuation shelters, and Hillsborough County school bus drivers will provide transportation to residents to shelters.

In the meantime, Gov. Ron DeSantis said he's lifted tolls on most of the state's toll roads to keep traffic flowing as quickly as possible. Among them are the Suncoast Parkway, the Lee Roy Selmon Expressway, Veterans Expressway, Florida's Turnpike, the Sunshine Skyway and the Pinellas Bayway.

Nevertheless, emergency management directors warn that a one-hour drive could take up to 10 hours as a number of counties declare mandatory evacuations.

DeSantis said he's also activated 5,000 Florida National Guardsmen and another 2,000 National Guard members are on their way to Florida from Tennessee, South Carolina, Georgia and Louisiana to assist.

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"Even if the eye of the storm doesn't hit the region, you're going to have significant wind impacts," DeSantis said, noting that Hurricane Ian is forecast to be a major Category 4 hurricane offshore and a Category 3 hurricane in Tampa Bay, although he said it could also come onshore as a Category 4 hurricane.

He told residents to be ready to take care of their families and pets, and leave their homes behind.

"We can fix property damage. We can help rebuild," he said. "You have to take care of yourself."

DeSantis said the state has been in touch with grocery store chains to make sure there is plenty of water and other supplies available to residents.

The state has also made arrangements to resupply gas stations, although gas shortages will be inevitable with the closure of Port Tampa Bay, which is being completely shut down in anticipation of the hurricane.

"We've contacted folks to bring fuel in if necessary, but gas stations are now getting resupplied," he said. "But there is likely to be some interruption of fuel at some point, so people just have to be prepared."