Update as of 5:00 pm, September 27, 2024
Information Provided Below:
- NOAA/National Weather Service – Tracking Map
- Catholic Charities Office Closures
- By-County (Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco, Hernando, Citrus) Summary incl. contact information
- By-County Details: evacuation zones, shelters, and more
- FEMA text to find shelters near you
- Post-Storm Information: TBD
Offices Closed
By-County Evacuation & Resource
Information Summary
| Areas of Concern | Hillsborough County | Pinellas County | Pasco County | Hernando County | Citrus County |
| Schools | Closed Thurs. & Friday September 26 & 27 | Closed Thurs. & Friday September 26 & 27 |
Closed Thurs. & Friday September 26 & 27 |
Closed Wed., Thurs., & Friday Sept. 25 & 26 & 27 |
Closed Thurs & Friday, September 26 & 27 |
| Mand. Evac. |
Zone A – LIFTED as of Fri., Sept. 27 at 1:00 pm | Zone A – STILL IN EFFECT (as of 5:00 pm Friday, September 27) |
Zone A – STILL IN EFFECT (as of 5:00 pm, Friday, September 27) | Zones A,B,C – STILL IN EFFECT (as of 5:00 pm, Friday, September 27) | Zone A – STILL IN EFFECT (as of 5:00 pm, Friday, September 27) |
| Centers Open | CLOSED (transitioning shelter availability for evacuees who continue to need assistance) |
Open thru Friday (see list below) |
Open thru Friday (see list below) |
Open thru Friday (see list below) |
Open thru Friday (see list below) |
| Phone Number | (833) 427-8676 | (727) 464-4333/3800 | (727) 847-2411 | (352) 754-4083 | (352) 249-2775/2703 |
| Website | Stay Safe | Hillsborough County, FL (hcfl.gov) | Emergency Information – Pinellas County | Emergency Management (pascocountyfl.net) & Pasco County, FL – Official Website (pascocountyfl.net) |
Emergency Management | Hernando County, FL & Shelter Information | Hernando County, FL |
Emergency Management (sheriffcitrus.org) & Citrus County Sheriff’s Office, FL (sheriffcitrus.org) |
| Social Media | @HillsboroughFL | @PinellasGov | @PascoCountyPIO | @HernandoCoGov | @CitrusCountyBOCC |
By-County Evacuation Zones and Shelter Lists
Hillsborough County
The county has issued a mandatory evacuation for Evacuation Zone A and for all mobile homes and manufactured housing within the county starting at 9 a.m. Wednesday.
The county has opened six shelters for residents in Evacuation Zone A, those whose homes are vulnerable to storm surge and flooding, and for manufactured homes that are susceptible to wind damage.
Residents there should be in a safe location no later than 5 a.m. on Thursday.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.
Shelter locations:
- Burnett Middle School (pet friendly), 1010 N. Kingsway Rd., Seffner
- Durant High School (pet friendly), 4748 Cougar Path, Plant City
- Middleton High School (pet friendly), 4801 N. 22nd St., Tampa
- Sickles High School (pet friendly), 7950 Gunn Hwy., Tampa
- Reddick Elementary School, 325 West Lake Dr., Wimauma
- Erwin Technical College (Special Needs only, pet friendly), 2010 E. Hillsborough Ave., Tampa
Pinellas County
Pinellas County residents living in Zone A or any mobile home park must evacuate ahead of Helene.
The county expects to get five-to-eight feet of storm surge.
There are six emergency shelters open in the county including some that are pet friendly and accommodate residents with special needs.
The county’s transit authority is offering free rides to shelters.
On Tuesday, the county ordered 26 hospitals, nursing homes and assisted living facilities in Zone A to evacuate.
Meanwhile, evacuations for special needs registrants began at 9 a.m. Wednesday. These include folks who: need oxygen, require assistance with routine care and medications, require mobility assistance, depend on electricity, or require transportation assistance.
You have to be registered to participate.
Shelter locations:
- Dunedin Highland Middle: 70 Patricia Ave, Dunedin (special needs)
- Gibbs High: 850 34th St S, St. Petersburg (pet friendly)
- John Hopkins Middle: 701 16th St S, St. Petersburg (special needs)
- Largo High: 410 Missouri Ave, Largo (pet friendly)
- Lealman Innovation Academy: 4900 28th St N, Lealman
- Palm Harbor University High: 1900 Omaha St, Palm Harbor (pet friendly and general population)
- Palm Harbor University High – Building 19: 1900 Omaha St., Palm Harbor (special needs)
- The County Information Center (CIC) is open 24 hours for preparedness questions. Call (727) 464-4333.
- Residents who are deaf or hard of hearing can contact the CIC via online chat at www.bit.ly/PinellasChat.
Volunteers and Agencies
Because of the upcoming storm, we have received inquiries from individuals about volunteering to help. We are directing them to Volunteer Connect (volunteerflorida.org/volunteerconnect) to look for opportunities. If your agency anticipates needing assistance from volunteers who are not affiliated with any organization, please register on Volunteer Connect, where potential volunteers can see your opportunities.
Pasco County
Pasco County is ordering mandatory evacuations, starting at 9 a.m. Wednesday, for people living in Evacuation Zone A, everyone who lives in a manufactured home, mobile home, or RV anywhere in Pasco, and everyone in low-lying areas or areas prone to flooding.
Voluntary evacuations will go into effect at 9 a.m. for people in Evacuation Zones B and C, everyone registered in the Pasco County Special Needs Program, and everyone who would be vulnerable in the event of a power loss.
Pasco County is also opening shelters Wednesday , September 25 at 4:00 pm for anyone who needs to leave their home ahead of the storm and has nowhere else to stay. However, please plan to stay with family, friends or neighbors, if possible. If that’s not an option, please self-evacuate directly to an open shelter.
Shelter locations:
- Centennial Middle School, 38505 Centennial Road, Dade City
- Fivay High School, 12115 Chicago Avenue, Hudson
- Wiregrass Ranch High School, 2909 Mansfield Boulevard, Wesley Chapel (special needs and general population) – CLOSED
- River Ridge Middle and High Schools, 11646 Town Center Road, New Port Richey
- Sunlake High School, 3023 Sunlake Boulevard, Land O’ Lakes
- SPECIAL NEEDS ONLY: Fasano Regional Hurricane Center, 11611 Denton Avenue, Hudson
Pasco County is opening hurricane shelters for anyone who needs to leave their home ahead of Tropical Storm Helene and has nowhere else to stay. All shelters are accepting family pets.
GoPasco (Public Transportation) bus services will be running regular routes and offering free rides to Pasco shelters starting at 2 p.m. Wednesday, until weather conditions deteriorate.
Learn more about what to bring if you’re sheltering with your pet: mypas.co/PetHurricanePrep
Visit MyPasco.net and follow Pasco County on social media for the latest county updates on Tropical Storm Helene.
Hernando County
Mandatory Evacuations have been issued for all areas west of US 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. Shelters should be utilized as a last resort. Residents are advised to seek shelter with family or friends that reside in a safe structure. If this is not a possibility, a public shelter will open at 8am on Wednesday, September 25, 2024 at the below address.
- West Hernando Middle School 14325 Ken Austin Pkwy., Brooksville, FL 34614
- Special Needs Clients
- General Population
- Pet Friendly
*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 (PIC) at 352-754-4083 to arrange pick up. The PIC is open.
Citrus County
Mandatory Evacuation:
- For licensed Skilled Nursing Facilities and Assisted Living Facilities located in ZONE A ONLY:
Wednesday, September 25, 8 AM - Those living within Evacuation Zone A or any structure countywide not capable of withstanding tropical storm force winds or greater: Wednesday, September 25, 2 PM
The following shelters will open on Wednesday, September 25, at 2PM.
𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗼𝗽𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻:
➤ 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘀 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 (cafeteria): 600 West Highland Blvd, Inverness, Florida 34452
➤ 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝗘𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹: 185 West Citrus Springs Blvd, Citrus Springs, Florida 34434
𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗡𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀:
➤ 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗥𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝗘𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹: 2927 N Forest Ridge Blvd, Hernando, FL 34442
𝗣𝗲𝘁 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗹𝘆:
➤ 𝗥𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿: 3630 West Educational Path Lecanto, Florida 34461
If you need further assistance, please call CCSO’s 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐧 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬 at 352-249-2775 starting on 𝗪𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟱, 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝟴𝗔𝗠-𝟭𝟬𝗣𝗠. They will reopen Thursday, September 26, at 8AM and remain open until 4PM.
Post-Storm Activity
Catholic Charities will be announcing our efforts to help with the disaster response.
830,000 were without power in Florida initially. We will update this number as we learn of updates.
More than 50 health care facilities are operating on generator power across Florida.
7 Fatalities reported as follows:
Hillsborough County – 2
Pinellas County – 5
Pasco County – None reported thus far
Hernando County – None reported thus far
Citrus County – None reported thus far