Hurricane Idalia Aftermath
All Catholic Charities programs have re-opened. We and our community are grateful that the Hurricane did as little damage as it did locally although thousands in the Greater Tampa Bay area are still without power or are unable to return to their homes due to flooding caused by storm surge. While grateful for not receiving the full brunt of the storm, we pray for those who were hit hard, mostly in the Panhandle and Big Bend area of Florida. For those who will require assistance within the five counties we serve (Pinellas, Hillsborough, Hernando, Pasco, Citrus), Catholic Charities will be announcing our efforts to help with the disaster response.
FEMA Disaster Relief for Citrus, Hernando, Pasco Counties and now Pinellas County
FEMA Assistance: Go to Home | disasterassistance.gov or use the FEMA app (for smartphones) or call 800-621-3362. Lines are open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. every day of the week and help is available in most languages. If you use video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA your number for that service.
According to FDEM, disaster assistance may include financial help for basic home repairs, temporary lodging and other expenses caused by the storm. Learn more about what expenses you can apply for here: Individual Assistance | FEMA.gov.
This information includes information on loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to offer low-interest disaster loans to homeowners and renters in declared disaster areas. These loans help cover disaster-caused damage or items to help prevent future damage. You do not need to own a business to apply for an SBA disaster loan. You may be referred to SBA after applying for FEMA disaster assistance. If you were referred to SBA, you must complete an SBA disaster loan application on the SBA website or at a Disaster Recovery Center. See more about SBA loans.
Also, starting on Monday, Sept. 4, FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance will go door to door in affected areas within the county to meet with homeowners, renters and businesses impacted by Idalia. These workers will help people register for FEMA Individual Assistance or update any information for registered people.
To spot FEMA officials, they will be wearing an official FEMA shirt or vest and an ID badge displayed above their belt line.
Resources & Information Summary
| Areas of Concern | Hillsborough County | Pinellas County | Pasco County |
Hernando County | Citrus County |
| Schools | Open | Open | Open | Open | Open |
| Mand. Evac. |
Canceled | Canceled | Canceled | Canceled | Canceled |
| Centers Open | No, closed | No, closed | No, closed | No, closed | No, closed |
| Phone Nbr. | (833) 427-8676 | (727) 464-4333 | (727) 847-2411 | (352) 754-4083 | (352) 249-2775 |
| Website | Hillsborough County – Storm Information | Emergency Information – Pinellas County | Pasco County, FL – Official Website | Official Website (pascocountyfl.net) | www.HernandoCounty.us/EM | Emergency Management (sheriffcitrus.org) |
| Social Media | @HillsboroughFL | @PinellasGov | @PascoCountyPIO | @HernandoCoGov | @CitrusCountyBOCC |
NO LONGER IN EFFECT, BUT WILL KEEP & UPDATE FOR USE WITH ANY FUTURE STORMS WE ENCOUNTER THIS SEASON!
DETAILED By County Evacuation Notices and Related Storm Information
Hillsborugh County
Hillsborough County has issued a mandatory evacuation order for Evacuation Zone A, as well as those in mobile and manufactured homes and residents in low-lying areas prone to flooding, beginning at 2 p.m. Monday, Aug. 28.
Review the evacuation order for Evacuation Zone A
Visit Hillsborough County – Storm Information for details about Hillsborough County’s evacuation zones and additional storm preparation information.
Shelter Information
The County will open two shelters at 2 p.m. today, Monday, Aug. 28. Residents are urged to use shelters as a last resort and contact friends and family as a first option.
General Population Shelter opening at 2 p.m. today:
Hillsborough Community College at The Regent, 6437 Watson Rd., Riverview, FL 33578
Special Needs Shelter opening at 2 p.m. today: Erwin Technical, 2010 E. Hillsborough Ave., Tampa, FL 33610 (Pet-friendly)
The County will open eight additional shelters at 4 p.m. today, Monday, Aug. 28.
General Population Shelters opening at 4 p.m. today:
Lockhart Elementary Magnet School, 3719 N. 17th St., Tampa, FL 33610
Middelton High School, 4801 N. 22nd St., Tampa, FL 33610 (Pet-friendly)
Newsome High School, 16550 Fishhawk Blvd., Lithia, FL 33547
Pizzo Elementary, 11701 USF Bull Run, Tampa, FL 33620
Reddick Elementary, 325 West Lake Dr., Wimauma, FL 33598
Shields Middle School, 15732 Beth Shields Way, Ruskin, FL 33573 (Pet-friendly)
Steinbrenner High School, 5575 W. Lutz Lake Fern Rd., Lutz, FL 33558
(Pet-friendly)
Sgt. Paul R. Smith Middle School, 14303 Citrus Pointe Dr., Tampa, FL 33625
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.
Pinellas County
NEW: Pinellas County will open nine additional shelters at 7 a.m. Tuesday for residents who are evacuating for Tropical Storm Idalia. These shelters are in addition to a special needs shelter opening Monday night at John Hopkins Middle School in St. Petersburg.
Pinellas is under Hurricane and Storm Surge Warnings for Idalia, which is forecast to become a major hurricane and make landfall between Tampa Bay and the Big Bend area of Florida late Tuesday or early Wednesday. Higher than normal full moon tides, heavy rainfall, and 4-7 feet of storm surge from Tropical Storm Idalia are expected to cause flooding in low lying and coastal areas.
The county is under a mandatory evacuation order for Zone A and mobile home residents, effective at 7 p.m. Monday. Whether evacuating or staying home, residents should be situated in a safe place by Tuesday evening. Shelter tips can be found here: https:// pinellas.gov/emergency-information/public-shelters/. Evacuation zones can be found at https:// disaster.pinellas.gov. Learn more here: Idalia: County orders mandatory evacuations of Zone A, mobile home residents – Pinellas County
Evacuees are encouraged to stay with nearby family, friends or at a hotel outside the evacuation zone if possible. But for those who do need sheltering, shelters will be open throughout the county. Three can accommodate special needs persons and three are pet friendly: See the list below for more info.
Shelter Transportation
Special needs residents who have pre-registered are being contacted by Pinellas County Emergency Management. Those who have not yet registered can call the County Information Center for assistance at (727) 464-4333.
For those who do not need special transportation, PSTA buses will run for free until tropical storm-force winds reach the area.
Shelters open as of 7 a.m. Tuesday
Campbell Park Elementary School, 1051 7th Ave S, St. Petersburg
Carwise Middle School, 3301 Bentley Dr, Palm Harbor
Dunedin Middle School (special needs), 70 Patricia Ave, Dunedin (special needs)
Gibbs High School (pets), 850 34th St S, St. Petersburg
John Hopkins Middle School in St. Petersburg (special needs), 701 16th St S, St. Petersburg
Largo High School, 410 Missouri Ave, Largo (pets)
Lealman Innovation Academy, 4900 28th St N, Lealman
New Heights Elementary School, 3901 37th St N, St. Petersburg
Palm Harbor Middle School, 1800 Tampa Rd, Palm Harbor
Palm Harbor University High School, 1900 Omaha St, Palm Harbor (special needs and pets)
Additional emergency information will be announced via Alert Pinellas, Ready Pinellas, disaster.pinellas.gov, County social media and local news media.
County Information Center is open today until 8 p.m. Call (727) 464-4333.
Residents who are deaf or hard of hearing can contact the County Information Center via online chat at www. bit.ly/PinellasChat
Pinellas County orders mandatory evacuations of Zone A and mobile home residents
Anticipating possible life-threatening storm surge as Tropical Storm Idalia is forecast to become a major hurricane, Pinellas County has ordered the mandatory evacuation of Zone A, including all mobile homes, effective Monday at 7 p.m.
The evacuation order also covers residential healthcare facilities, which will begin evacuating at 1 p.m. today. Special needs resident transportation will begin 7 a.m. Tuesday.
Pinellas County recommends that anyone evacuating go to a zone higher than Zone B in case conditions worsen.
The sheriff will not limit access to the barrier islands unless conditions warrant it.
The County will open a special needs shelter at 7 p.m. at John Hopkins Middle School, 701 16th Street S., St. Petersburg, for anyone who can arrange their own transport, and an additional 10 shelters at 7 a.m., Tuesday. Some of the shelters will be pet friendly.
The latest shelter information is available at https:// disaster.pinellas.gov.
Special needs transportation will begin Tuesday morning. County staff will contact special needs residents who have pre-registered to arrange transportation to the nearest shelter. If you need help with transportation or have other special medical needs, you can register now by calling the County Information Center (727) 464-4333.
Evacuees are encouraged to stay with nearby family, friends or at a hotel outside the evacuation zone if possible. Residents evacuating do not need to go hundreds of miles, just out of Zone A and Zone B.
Residents who are deaf or hard of hearing can contact the County Information Center via online chat at www.bit.ly/PinellasChat.
Pinellas County Emergency Management is coordinating directly with the staff of nursing homes and assisted living facilities in evacuation zones.
Pasco County
Pasco County Government will be issuing a mandatory evacuation for certain areas of Pasco County and voluntary evacuations for other areas as Tropical Storm Idalia heads toward the Gulf Coast. Life-threatening storm surge and hurricane force winds are expected to impact Pasco County later this week.
- You MUST evacuate if one or more of the following applies to you:
- You live in Evacuation Zone A
- You live in a manufactured home, mobile home or RV anywhere in Pasco
- You live in a low-lying area or an area prone to flooding
- You live in a structure that historically has experienced flooding during heavy rainfall
- You’re in an area ordered evacuated by local authorities due to life-safety hazards
- You SHOULD evacuate if one or more of the following applies to you:
- You live in Evacuation Zones B or C
- You’re registered with Pasco as a Special Needs Resident
- You would be vulnerable in the event of a power loss
- Know your evacuation zone. Please visit mypas.co/Map to enter your street address on our interactive map, and to see other emergency information.
- Please consider riding out the storm with family or friends. If that’s not an option, you can evacuate directly to a Pasco County Shelter. Shelters will open Tuesday, August 29, at 8:00 a.m. Pasco County will release a list of open shelters Monday.
- All storm-related information and updates are available on MyPasco.net and on our social media platforms.
Pasco County is opening hurricane shelters for anyone who needs to leave their home ahead of Tropical Storm Idalia and has nowhere else to stay.
The following shelters will open Tuesday, August 29, 2023, at 8 a.m.:
- Centennial Middle School, 38505 Centennial Road, Dade City
- Sunlake High School, 3023 Sunlake Blvd., Land O’ Lakes
- Fivay High School, 12115 Chicago Avenue, Hudson
- River Ridge Middle and High Schools, 11646 Town Center Road, New Port Richey
- Wiregrass Ranch High School, 2909 Mansfield Blvd., (Special Needs & General Population), Wesley Chapel
- Fasano Regional Hurricane Center, (Special Needs & General Population), 11611 Denton Avenue, Hudson
All shelters allow family pets. Learn what supplies you should bring with your pet: mypas.co/PetHurricanePrep
Please plan to stay with family, friends or neighbors, if possible. If that’s not an option, please evacuate directly to an open shelter. Visit MyPasco.net to find an open shelter near you. If you need a ride to a Pasco County shelter, please call (727) 847-2411 to arrange a pick-up.
Pasco County’s Customer Service Center will be open until 7 p.m. Monday and will open 24 hours beginning Tuesday at 7 a.m. Please call (727) 847-2411 or chat with us online at MyPasco.net. Call 911 if you need emergency assistance.
Visit MyPasco.net and follow Pasco County on social media for updates.
Hernando County
Hernando County Emergency Management Announces Voluntary Evacuations for Idalia.
Evacuation Orders and Public Shelter Openings Voluntary 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.
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 12pm on Monday, August 28, 2023 at the below addresses.
- West Hernando Middle School – Special Needs
14325 Ken Austin Pkwy.,
Brooksville, FL 34614
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. - D. S. Parrott Middle School – General Population and Pet Friendly
19220 Youth Dr.,
Brooksville, FL 34601Nature Coast Technical High School – General Population
4057 California St.
Brooksville, FL 34604
- Hernando High School – General Population
111 Ernie Chatman Run
Brooksville, FL 34601 - Pet Friendly Shelter Tips
Hernando County Animal Services tips for Pet Friendly Sheltering during declared emergencies. Our citizens and their animals are housed in separate sections of the designated shelter(s). Designated shelters are typically Hernando County Schools. Animals will be housed in crates in a different location than where general population is located. If you need to seek shelter with your pet during a declared emergency the following list will help you be prepared:Bring your own appropriately sized crate (County resources are limited)
Bring all your dogs required medications
Bring several days’ worth of your animals’ food - Hernando County Government’s Office of Emergency Management continues to monitor and inform our community about storm impacts. Visit the following web and social media sites for more information.
- For the latest local conditions and a complete list of news alerts go to www.HernandoCounty.us/EM Sign up to receive weather alerts at www.AlertHernando.org Follow us on Facebook @HernandoCountyFire and @HernandoCoGov Follow us on Twitter @HernandoCoGov
- Stay tuned as more information becomes available. Visit the Hernando County Emergency Management website at www.HernandoCounty.us/EM for all storm-related notices.
Citrus County
Citrus County Board of County Commissioners Issues Mandatory Evacuation Order
The Citrus County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) has issued a local state of emergency in preparation for Tropical Storm Idalia. A mandatory evacuation order is in effect for identified affected areas within Citrus County until further notice.
The order applies to Evacuation Zone A, which includes all low-lying areas west of U.S. Highway 19 and some areas additional areas east of U.S. Highway 19. All other areas are advised to voluntary evacuate, especially those citizens living in mobile homes, manufactured homes, and recreational vehicles throughout the county. The most likely timeframe for deteriorating conditions across the state will be Tuesday evening and overnight from south to north along the Florida Gulf Coast.
The following shelter locations will open at 4:00 p.m.:
• Special Needs: Forest Ridge Elementary School, 2927 North Forest Ridge Blvd., Hernando
• Pet Friendly: Lecanto Primary, 3790 W Educational Path, Lecanto
• General Population: Central Ridge Elementary School, 185 West Citrus Springs Blvd., Citrus Springs
For the most current information, visit the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Management page or follow these social media accounts:
Citrus County Opens Shelters in Preparation for Idalia
The following general population shelter locations will open at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, August 28:
- Central Ridge Elementary, 185 West Citrus Springs Blvd., Citrus Springs
- Citrus High School, 600 W Highland Blvd, Inverness
The following shelters will be opening at 4:00 p.m.:
- Citrus Springs Middle School, 150 W Citrus Springs Blvd, Citrus Springs (Gen. Population)
- Forest Ridge Elementary, 2927 North Forest Ridge Blvd., Hernando (Special Needs)
- Renaissance Center, 3630 W Educational Path, Lecanto (Pet Friendly)
- College of Central Florida, 3800 S Lecanto Hwy, Lecanto (Shelter of Last Resort)
Public shelters should be an option of last resort. Citizens should make all preparations to shelter with family or friends and exhaust all other options before utilizing a public shelter. Those requiring transport to a shelter should contact Citrus County Transit Services at (352) 527-7630, option 1. Sexual offenders must report to the Citrus County Detention Facility to seek shelter if needed. The facility is located at 2604 W Woodland Ridge Dr., Lecanto, FL 34461.
Non-essential county offices will remain closed through Wednesday, August 30. All Citrus County schools, the Clerk of the Circuit Court, and DOH-Citrus will also be closed through Wednesday.
For more information and updates, call the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office Citizen Information Line at (352) 249-2775, or visit: www.facebook.com/CitrusCountyBOCC.