Tampa Bay governments, businesses and residents are gearing up for expected impacts from Hurricane Idalia.
While Idalia’s path appeared to be headed toward communities in Tampa Bay, the paths of tropical storms and hurricanes are uncertain and they have been known to veer off in a different direction at the last possible moment.
Pasco County officials expect to feel the effects of Idalia, in terms of storm surge, high winds and heavy rainfall.
It’s impossible to know at this time how extensive the impacts will be, but disruptions have been occurring across a broad swath of Florida, as preparations are made to prevent damage and loss of life, and to be ready to go into recovery mode, in the storm’s aftermath.
Stay up to date on the latest developments, as released through local government social media apps and from local and national news reports.
Governor Ron DeSantis has issued an emergency order covering 46 counties in Florida — clearing the way to mobilize emergency response teams.
The Pasco County Commission has issued a Local State of Emergency for the county ahead of Tropical Storm Idalia.
The order allows County Administrator Mike Carballa to waive everyday procedures to do what is believed necessary to ensure the health, safety and welcome of the community.
The county has issued mandatory evacuations for the following:
- Evacuation Zone A
- Everyone living in a manufactured home, mobile home or RV anywhere in Pasco
- Everyone in low-lying areas or areas prone to flooding
- Everyone in an area ordered evacuated by local authorities due to life-safety hazards
- Voluntary evacuations are in effect for the following:
- Evacuation Zones B and C
- Everyone registered with Pasco as a Special Needs Resident
- Everyone who would be vulnerable in the event of a power loss
Pasco County also is opening hurricane shelters for anyone who needs to leave their home ahead of the storm and has nowhere else to stay. Shelters opened Aug. 29 at 8 a.m. The county’s customer service center is now open 24 hours. Call 727-847-2411, or chat online at MyPasco.net.
The county also is posting storm updates on its social media pages and at MyPasco.net.
Hillsborough County Administrator Bonnie Wise also has declared a Local State of Emergency and Hillsborough has issued a mandatory evacuation order for Evacuation Zone A, and for those in mobile and manufactured homes and residents in low-lying areas prone to flooding. That order took effect at 2 p.m., on Aug. 28.
Both Pasco and Hillsborough counties have opened public shelters. (See accompanying list). Although shelters are available, officials urge residents to treat them as a haven of last resort. Instead, they encourage those evacuating to wait out the storm with friends or relatives, whenever possible.
Schools across the region are closed.
Gov. DeSantis returned on the evening of Aug. 28 to the State Emergency Operations Center with Florida Division of Emergency Management Executive Director Kevin Guthrie and Major General John Haas to provide updates on Tropical Storm Idalia.
DeSantis announced tolls would be waived beginning at 4 a.m., Aug. 29, along Florida’s west coast in preparation for Tropical Storm Idalia.
At DeSantis’ request, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has granted a pre-landfall emergency declaration for Tropical Storm Idalia. Additionally, the State Emergency Operations Center has activated to Level One in anticipation of potential impacts from the storm.
Tropical Storm Idalia is predicted to strengthen to a major hurricane when it makes landfall early Aug. 30, according to the news update from DeSantis’ office.
Life-threatening storm surge and dangerous winds are becoming increasingly likely for portions of Florida’s Gulf Coast.
As of 5 p.m., EDT on Aug. 28, Tropical Storm Idalia was located approximately 480 miles south-southwest of Tampa. Idalia has maximum sustained winds near 70 mph and is forecast to have the greatest impact to the state during the overnight hours of Aug. 29 through the afternoon of Aug. 30.
As of that briefing:
- Storm surge watch is in effect along the Gulf Coast from the Charlotte/Sarasota County border to the Collier/Monroe County border.
• Storm surge warning is in effect along the Gulf Coast from the Charlotte/Sarasota County border to the Franklin/Gulf County border, including Tampa Bay.
• Tropical storm watch is in effect for Brevard, Clay, inland Collier, Duval, Flagler, East Marion, Nassau, Putnam, Seminole, St. Johns, and Volusia counties, as well as the Lower Keys.
• Tropical storm warning is in effect for Charlotte, coastal Collier, DeSoto, inland Franklin, Gulf, Hardee, Lake, Lee, Leon, Liberty, Orange, Osceola, Polk, Sarasota, Seminole, and inland Wakulla counties, as well as the Dry Tortugas.
• Hurricane watch is in effect for eastern Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Columbia, Hamilton, Leon, central Marion, Sarasota, Union, and inland Wakulla counties. - Hurricane warning is in effect for western Alachua, Citrus, Dixie, coastal Franklin, Gilchrist, Hernando, Hillsborough, Jefferson, Lafayette, Levy, Madison, Manatee, western Marion, Pasco, Pinellas, Sumter, Suwannee, Taylor, and coastal Wakulla counties.
The governor’s office encourages Floridians to monitor weather conditions and listen to all orders from local officials, as well as have emergency contact lists updated and important documents backed up and stored in a waterproof protective container.
Sandbags
Hillsborough County
Hillsborough County is making sandbags available at four locations, through 2 p.m., on Aug. 29.
- Edward Medard Conservation Park, 6140 Turkey Creek Road, Plant City
- E.G Simmons Conservation Park, 2401 19th Ave. NW, Ruskin
- Ed Radice Sports Complex, 14720 Ed Radice Drive, Tampa
- Larry Sanders Sports Complex, 5855 S. 78th St., Tampa
Hillsborough County residents are eligible for a maximum of 10 sandbags per family. Residents must show ID verifying they live in the county; a driver’s license or utility bill will serve as proper identification.
Pasco County
Pasco County sandbagging stations are available, 24/7.
Westside:
– Magnolia Valley Golf Course: 7223 Massachusetts Ave., New Port Richey
– W.H. Jack Mitchell, Jr. Park: 4825 Little Road, New Port Richey
– Veterans Memorial Park: 14333 Hicks Road, Hudson
Eastside:
– Pasco County Public Works (C-Barn): 30908 Warder Road, San Antonio
– Wesley Chapel District Park: 7727 Boyette Road, Wesley Chapel
– Land O’ Lakes Recreation Center: 3032 Collier Parkway, Land O’ Lakes
– Zephyrhills Fire Station-2: 6907 Dairy Road, Zephyrhills
*Note: Sandbag locations are self-serve and are open 24 hours to Pasco County residents; however, sand will only be restocked between the hours of 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. You should bring a shovel and be prepared to fill your own sandbags.
City of New Port Richey
6420 Pine Hill Road, New Port Richey
City of Dade City
Former Dade City Police Department building, 38042 Pasco Ave., Dade City
The most effective placement for sandbags includes entry and exit points of your home. To watch a Pasco video explaining how to properly fill and place sandbags, visit bit.ly/PascoSandbags.
SHELTERS
Pasco County
Pasco County hurricane shelters opened Aug. 29 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., Wesley Chapel (Special Needs & General Population)
- Fasano Regional Hurricane Center, 11611 Denton Avenue,Hudson (Special Needs & General Population)
All shelters allow family pets. Learn what supplies you should bring with your pet at mypas.co/PetHurricanePrep.
Visit MyPasco.net to find an open shelter near you.
Hillsborough County
Hillsborough County has opened 10 shelters.
- Erwin Technical, 2010 E. Hillsborough Ave., Tampa (Special needs and pet-friendly)
Nine general population shelters:
- Hillsborough Community College at The Regent, 6437 Watson Road, Riverview
- Lockhart Elementary Magnet School, 3719 N. 17th St., Tampa
- Middelton High School, 4801 N. 22nd St., Tampa (Pet-friendly)
- Newsome High School, 16550 Fishhawk Blvd., Lithia
- Pizzo Elementary, 11701 USF Bull Run, Tampa
- Reddick Elementary, 325 West Lake Drive, Wimauma
- Shields Middle School, 15732 Beth Shields Way, Ruskin (Pet-friendly)
- Steinbrenner High School, 5575 W. Lutz Lake Fern Road, Lutz (Pet-friendly)
- Sgt. Paul R. Smith Middle School, 14303 Citrus Pointe Drive, Tampa
CLOSINGS (Subject to change, based on conditions)
- Pasco County Schools will be closed Aug. 29 and Aug. 30; Hillsborough County Schools will be closed Aug. 29 and Aug. 30; and Hernando County Schools will be closed Aug. 28 through Aug. 30.
- Saint Leo University will be closed from 5 p.m., Aug. 28 through Aug. 30.
- University of South Florida will be closed Aug. 29 and Aug. 30.
- Hillsborough Community College will be closed Aug. 29 and Aug. 30
- Pasco-Hernando State College will be closed Aug. 28 through Aug. 30
- Amalie Arena rescheduled the $uicideBoy$ event from Aug. 29 to Nov. 5. Tickets for the original date are valid for the rescheduled date. Refunds are available at point of purchase through Sept. 28.
- The Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections closed at 4 p.m., on Aug. 28, and will remain closed through Aug. 30. Office is expected to open for regular business hours on Aug. 31. VoteHillsborough.gov is available for those who want to register to vote, update information or request a Vote by Mail ballot.
- The city of Tampa’s Department of Solid Waste schedule has been revised: Residential garbage collections will run through 10 a.m., Aug. 29. Only blue City of Tampa garbage carts will be collected. If your garbage cart was not collected by 10 a.m., Aug. 29, please secure it in preparation for the storm. After the Aug. 29 pickup, services will be suspended until further notice. Recycling is suspended until further notice. Please secure your recycling carts.
New Tampa residents are encouraged to contact Hillsborough County Solid Waste Management at 813-272-5680 for their storm collection schedule.
- The city of Tampa’s commercial collection will run through 10 a.m., Aug. 29, and then will be suspended until further notice.
PREPARING AND RESPONDING
AAA — the Auto Club Group offers these safety and insurance tips:
- Gather your supplies
- Fortify your home
- Document your belongings
- Collect your insurance policy information and phone numbers for your agent and provider. Contact your provider to ensure you have adequate coverage. If you do not have flood insurance, it’s too late to get a new policy for this storm.
- Check your auto insurance policy to ensure you have comprehensive coverage. That helps with vehicle damage such as flooding or if a tree falls on it.
- Store important documents in a portable waterproof container. These documents can include insurance policy information, birth certificates, passports, social security cards, medical cards and other information.
- Do a visual inventory of your home. Walk through with a video camera or smartphone to show what’s there. Keep a record of large purchases, including the cost of the item, the purchase date, the model and serial numbers.
- Protect your home: Bring in loose items such as patio furniture, bikes and children’s toys – which could turn into dangerous projectiles in strong winds. Trim trees near your house. Ensure you have materials to make sandbags and board up windows, if necessary.
- Have an evacuation plan and be ready to execute it.
AAA provides this evacuation advice:
- Identify multiple destinations in case the storm shifts or roads are closed.
- Reserve a hotel room early, if needed. Hotels along evacuation routes often fill up fast due to high demand.
- Take your important documents with you.
- Bring enough food, water and supplies for each family member and your pets.
- If evacuating, leave early. It will help you to avoid traffic congestion and avoid long lines at gas stations, which also are known to run out of fuel because of heavy demand.
- Leave, if authorities instruct you to leave. Don’t return until authorities say that it’s safe to do so.
- Before leaving, turn off your utilities and unplug your electrical items
AAA also offers these safety tips for drivers:
- Leave early, so you’re not in a rush.
- Avoid distractions while driving.
- Slow down.
When driving in the rain:
- Increase your following distance.
- Turn your headlights on.
- Turn your hazard lights off.
- Avoid using cruise control.
- Avoid flooded areas.
- When visibility is poor, pull over to a safe place to wait until the rain eases up.
Duke Energy offers these safety tips for consumers
- Be sure to have an adequate supply of flashlights, batteries, bottled water, nonperishable foods and medicines, as well as a portable, battery-operated radio, a TV, or a weather radio.
- In case you lose power, customers dependent on medical equipment should have a power backup system, as well as an action plan of proceeding to the nearest medical facility, if necessary.
- Stay away from power lines that have fallen or are sagging. Consider all lines energized, as well as trees or limbs in contact with lines. Report all power line hazards to Duke Energy at 800-228-8485 or your local emergency services agency.
- If a power line falls across a car that you’re in, stay in the car. If you must get out of the car due to a fire or other life-threatening situation, do your best to jump clear of the car and land on both feet. Be sure that no part of your body is touching the car when your feet touch the ground.
For more tips on what to do before, during and after a storm, visit Duke-energy.com/StormTips.
Pointers for boaters
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) offers this advice:
- Move your vessel, if possible. If you can; protect it, if you can’t.
- Cover all lines to prevent chafing.
- Charge batteries and make sure they can run automatic bilge pumps throughout the storm.
- Do not stay onboard and do not venture out in rough conditions.
- Monitor weather broadcasts and comply with evacuation orders.
- After the storm, report any issues to the FWC.
Published August 29, 2023
