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SANDBAGS: Where to get sandbags ahead of Idalia

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EVACUATION ZONES: How to find out if you're in an evacuation zone

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By Carl Lisciandrello

Here are the latest numbers on Tropical Storm Idalia, from the National Hurricane Center (as of Monday at 8 p.m.):

Location: 20 miles south-southwest of the western tip of Cuba

Maximum sustained winds: 70 mph

Movement: North at 8 mph

Tampa Bay Watches/Warnings: A Storm Surge Warning has been issued from Englewood northward to Indian Pass, including Tampa Bay. A Hurricane Warning has been issued from the middle of Longboat Key northward to Indian Pass, including Tampa Bay.

Local impacts: 4-8 inches of rain Tuesday into Thursday, and 4-7 feet of storm surge in Tampa Bay

By News Service of Florida

To help speed evacuations ahead of what is expected to be a powerful Hurricane Idalia, the state is lifting tolls at 4 a.m. Tuesday in parts of the state.

Gov. Ron DeSantis said Monday he’s directed the Department of Transportation to stop collecting tolls in Citrus, Hernando, Hillsborough, Lake, Pasco, Pinellas and Sumter counties.

“You don't need to leave the state. You don't need to drive 100 miles to ride out the storm,” DeSantis said during a news conference at the state Emergency Operations Center.

“If you're in those low-lying areas, the reason why they (local officials) are advising you to evacuate is because you're going to be susceptible to storm surge.”

By The Associated Press

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency in 46 counties, a broad swath that stretches across the northern half of the state from the Gulf Coast to the Atlantic Coast. The state has mobilized 1,100 National Guard members, who have 2,400 high-water vehicles and 12 aircraft at their disposal for rescue and recovery efforts.

Tampa International Airport and St.Pete-Clearwater International Airport said they would close on Tuesday, and the Sunrail commuter rail service in Orlando was being suspended.

DeSantis warned of a “major impact” to the state, noting the potential for Idalia to become a Category 3 hurricane.

“The property — we can rebuild someone’s home,” DeSantis said during a news conference Monday. “You can’t unring the bell, though, if somebody stays in harm’s way and does battle with Mother Nature."

> Read more

By Jessica Meszaros

There may be a surge in people rushing to the pumps to top off their gas tanks and fill up on fuel for generators ahead of Idalia, which is projected to reach Florida by Wednesday.

That run-up in demand can often times leave some gas stations without fuel, but AAA Auto Club spokesman Mark Jenkins said the good news is: it's temporary.

"As long as the Tampa Port remains open then gasoline will continue sailing into the region. And deliveries will be made until the actual storm itself is passing through, and then that's considered to be unsafe to transport fuel, and most people wouldn't be on the road at that time anyway,” he said. “Then once things were considered to be safe, then deliveries would resume again."

Jenkins warned against taking anything more than you need because there's still going to be supply after the storm passes.

He said Idalia is not expected to affect refineries since Florida's suppliers are located along the Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi coastline.

> Read more

By Daylina Miller

The Hillsborough Transit Authority (HART) will operate on an Emergency Service Level on Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023, as a result of possible impacts from Tropical Storm Idalia.

HART Emergency Service routes and schedules may change during operation hours due to weather, emergency preparation needs, and the safety of staff.Hillsborough County Public School buses will transport customers from the following HART facilities to shelters:

In addition to the Emergency Service Level, HART will operate “Response Zones” with on-demand service that can be requested through customer service at (813) 254-4278. Response Zones are shown in the map below in areas that are not served by bus service.

HART service will cease if sustained winds reach 35 mph.

By Stephanie Colombini

Sandbag distribution sites are open around the Tampa Bay region as residents brace for Tropical Storm Idalia to approach the area as a hurricane.

Getting those sandbags can often involve waiting in long lines and a lot of heavy lifting, so Hillsborough County officials are encouraging residents to consider whether they really need the sandbags before showing up.

The first thing to do is determine your flood zone, said Mikah Collins, program coordinator with the county’s parks and recreation department, who spoke at a sandbag demonstration in Tampa earlier this summer.

“Are you in an A or B area where you’re really prone to flooding? Then yes, you’re going to need those sandbags,” he said. “If you’re not in an A or B zone you might want to think about doing other preparations to prepare your house because flooding isn’t as likely in that flood zone.”

> Read more

By Gabriella Paul

Tampa officials on Monday warned residents that an exceptionally high tide in the Tampa Bay — known as a "King Tide" — is expected to intensify the storm surge threat to the region by Idalia.

Mayor Jane Castor said the city's stormwater department has been working around the clock to make what preparations they can.

"Our stormwater department is currently emptying out the ponds that they can, clearing those drains that have been problems in the past, and then also putting water out over the dam," Castor said. "WW should be able to lower the reservoir by about a foot which will be very, very helpful."

All of the greater Tampa Bay region was under a Storm Surge Warning as of Monday afternoon.

VIEW MAP OF STORM SURGE WARNING: https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/refresh/graphics_at5+shtml/175343.shtml?wsurge#contents

Castor addressed residents in downtown Tampa as the city issued a state of emergency.

"Unfortunately, it's usually September, late September, early October, we started having these conversations," Castor said. "But here we are at the end of August, with our first storm that is going to threaten the Tampa Bay area."

Castor urged residents to be vigilant and stay prepared.

The storm is expected to threaten the Tampa Bay region with up to 8 inches of rain and up to 7 feet of storm surge.

The city of Tampa is bracing for storm-force winds to begin Tuesday afternoon with the most severe storm impacts to start around 9 p.m..

Castor warned residents that the intensity and the direction of the storm is subject to change.

Here’s how Tampa residents can get the latest updates:

Residents can also find their evacuation zone and nearest hurricane shelter here.

By Carl Lisciandrello

Hillsborough County officials have issued a mandatory evacuation for Zone A, along with those in mobile and manufactured homes and residents in low-lying areas prone to flooding.

It went into effect Monday at 2 p.m., according to a news release

The county is also opening two shelters.

General Population Shelter (opening at 4 p.m. unless otherwise noted):

Special Needs Shelter:

Pet-Friendly Shelter:

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

By Carl Lisciandrello

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay will close at 3 p.m. Tuesday and remain closed Wednesday. The park plans to reopen on Thursday, August 31.

ZooTampa will be closed to guests on Tuesday for storm preparations and on Wednesday for projected severe weather. It plans to reopen on Thursday.

By Carl Lisciandrello

The following colleges and universities announced classes will be canceled:

By Carl Lisciandrello

Manatee County officials announced a mandatory Level A evacuation (including all mobile homes) and a voluntary Evacuation B evacuation effective Monday at 2 p.m.

"We’re expecting significant storm surge along the barrier islands and coastal communities for Idalia, with the earliest arrival predicted for Tuesday,” said Manatee County Public Safety Director Jodie Fiske in a news release. “This is a very dangerous track that we all need to be aware of.”

Here are the shelter locations that will be open Monday at 2 p.m.:

Citizens with special needs who are not registered are encouraged to immediately contact Manatee 3-1-1 and provide their name and phone number.

By Susan Giles Wantuck

Pinellas County is under a local state of emergency ahead of Idalia. As it grows stronger, county officials are warning of potentially life-threatening storm surge.

Mandatory evacuations of county residents who live in Zone A and mobile home parks get underway this evening at seven.

Pinellas County said those evacuating should move to higher ground beyond Zone B, in case conditions get worse.

The county has a nearly 100 percent probability of getting tropical storm force winds. And on top of what could be a four-to-seven-foot storm surge, six to ten inches of rain are expected.

Emergency Manager Cathie Perkins said locals may see the same kind of thing Tropical Storm Eta brought back in 2020, with water cresting over seawalls and seeping into houses in the Shore Acres neighborhood.

She said the county is trying to make sure people have a way to leave if that is called for.

“I want to assure people that transportation will run, free, if we call for evacuations, so I don't want that to be a factor for why people don't evacuate. PSTA will run their buses, they will take people to the shelters that are open,” she said.

Spokesman David Connor said now is the time to clear your yard of chairs and other things that can get blown around.

He also said if you are ordered to evacuate, you should do so quickly.

“Zone A, for example, so that's you know, closest to the water. There's about 130-thousand people in Zone A, so if a Zone A evacuation is ordered, it can take up to 17 hours to complete that evacuation. If you are in an evacuation zone and you hear that order comes through, we advise that you act on it early,” he said.

You can find your evacuation zone and more details at disaster.pinellas.gov.

Perkins also said people should sign up for "Alert Pinellas," or get the "Ready Pinellas" app for the latest updates.

By Carl Lisciandrello

Tampa International Airport announced it will suspend all commercial flights beginning Tuesday at 12:01 a.m.

The airport will remain closed "until it can assess any damages later in the week," according to a news release.

Some cargo and private aircraft operations could continue overnight, but all air traffic will cease by 7 a.m. Tuesday morning, according to the release.

Airport officials say the closure will allow workers to secure the jet bridges, ground equipment, and other remaining aircraft.

The main terminal and airsides will be closed to all visitors.

Airport officials say they expect the airport to reopen Thursday morning.

By Gabriella Pinos

MacDill Air Force Base issued a mandatory Zone A evacuation order at its premises this morning, according to their Facebook account.

The evacuation, ordered by base commander Colonel Adam Bingham, is set to finish by Tuesday, Aug. 29, at 10 a.m. It was directed toward non-mission essential individuals and their dependents living in Evacuation Zone A of Hillsborough, Sarasota, Manatee, Pinellas, Pasco, and Hernando counties. This includes uniformed service members, civilian employees and their dependents. Those evacuating have been authorized to travel for up to a 350-mile radius.

To ensure mission-essential personnel are available for base preparations, military members and base civilian employees must get approval to leave, according to the post. Unit commanders will release non-mission essential personnel as soon as possible Tuesday. Dependents and civilians are cleared to leave Zone A immediately.

Evacuation orders have been issued for Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties.

Pasco County:

A mandatory evacuation will be ordered for certain areas.

The mandatory evacuation will be in place if:

Officials recommend evacuations if one or more of the following applies:

You can find your evacuation zone here. More information from Pasco County Emergency Management can be found here.

Hernando County:

The evacuation order for coastal Hernando will become mandatory Tuesday.

Everyone living west of U.S. Highway 19 is being asked to leave their homes. That includes residents of evacuation zones A, B and C, and all residents living in coastal and low-lying areas - as well as manufactured homes throughout the entire county.

You can find your evacuation zone and a flood zone map here.

Citrus County:

A mandatory evacuation has been ordered for all of those in Zone A, which encompasses areas west of U.S. Highway 19 and portions east of 19.

There is also a voluntary evacuation ordered countywide for those living in mobile homes, campers, recreational vehicles, tents, and structures not capable of handling Category 3 winds.

You can find your evacuation zone and a flood zone map here.

By Carl Lisciandrello

Hillsborough, Pasco and Sarasota counties announced school will be closed Tuesday and Wednesday.

Some schools in each county will be activated as storm shelters to house evacuees living in flood zones.

All after-school programs will be suspended as well.

By Carl Lisciandrello

Florida residents can fill their prescriptions early as part of the state of emergency Gov. Ron DeSantis issued over the weekend.

The Florida Department of Health is working with emergency managers statewide to prepare for any impacts to communities. It's reminding Floridians to have enough of their prescriptions on hand in the event pharmacies are temporarily unavailable.

Floridians are permitted to receive early prescription refills regardless of typical limits.

Details can be found here.

By Riley Hazel - Florida Public Radio Emergency Network

Florida’s second Disaster Preparedness Tax Holiday runs through Friday, Sept. 8.

It allows Florida residents to save on hurricane preparedness supplies.

Consumers can purchase qualifying supplies, including dog or cat food, ice, generators, radios and more.

Here's a list of items that can be purchased tax-free.

Classes at Pasco-Hernando State College will take place Monday, but campuses will be closed Tuesday and Wednesday. Classes are expected to resume on Thursday.

By Carl Lisciandrello

Schools in Citrus County will be open on a half-day Monday and closed Tuesday and Wednesday, as emergency officials have mandated schools be used as shelters.

All after-school programs and extra-curricular activities are cancelled beginning Monday afternoon until further notice.

Crises at home pose a new test for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, whose presidential campaign travels are now up in the air as his state mourns a racially motivated shooting in Jacksonville and prepares for a tropical storm.

A day after appearing in Iowa, DeSantis was back in the state capital of Tallahassee on Sunday for a news conference on Tropical Storm Idalia. He urged Floridians to heed the advice of emergency managers. He also offered condolences and condemned the killing of three Black people by a white man who authorities say left behind a suicide note, a will, and writings with racist material.

DeSantis’ campaign schedule had called for him to be in South Carolina Monday for a town hall in Kershaw and a barbecue with Rep. Jeff Duncan, R-S.C., in Anderson. It was not immediately clear where he would go forward with those appearances.

Asked whether he would be in Florida this week, DeSantis responded, “I’m here. I’m here.”

> Read more

By Mark Schreiner

Hernando County has announced a voluntary evacuation for all areas west of U.S. 19, which includes evacuation zones A, B, and C. All residents living in coastal and low-lying areas, as well as manufactured homes county wide, are included.

Meanwhile, Citrus County is urging all citizens and businesses to make preparations. Residents living in campers, recreational vehicles, tents, other structures unable to withstand the winds of a tropical storm, or along the west side of U.S. Highway 19, are advised to voluntarily evacuate.

Residents are advised to seek safe shelter with family or friends that reside in a safe structure. If this is not a possibility, a public shelter will open at 12 p.m. Monday, August 28, 2023 at:

West Hernando Middle School - Special Needs14325 Ken Austin Pkwy., Brooksville

If you are needing the Special Needs Shelter and have a pet, transportation from either your house or shelter location for your pet is done through Animal Control with Hernando County Sheriff's Office. Please call Hernando County Public Information Center at 352-754-4083 starting at 8 a.m. Monday to arrange pick-up.

D. S. Parrott Middle School - General Population and Pet Friendly19220 Youth Dr., Brooksville

By Mark Schreiner

Some counties and cities are opening sandbag locations.

This includes Tampa, which has opened three sandbag distribution sites:

The sites will be open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. until further notice.People must show identification verifying residence within the city limits. There is a 10 bag limit.

Here are the other sandbag locations that are open across the region.

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