(This story was updated to accurately reflect the most current information.)
Tuesday is a day to prepare as Hurricane Milton continues its approach to the Florida coast. The storm is expected to make landfall late Wednesday. Lake and Sumter counties remain under a hurricane watch, and shelters open today. Stay tuned here for updates throughout Tuesday.
Leesburg city facilities will close at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 8 and remain closed all day on both Wednesday,Oct. 9 and Thursday, Oct. 10.
Offices will reopen on Friday, Oct. 11, weather permitting. Department closings include City Hall, Leesburg Public Library, Venetian Center, Resource Center, Public Works, Building, Planning & Zoning and the Leesburg gymnasium.Due dates for utility bills that fall during the closing will be deferred until offices reopen.
Commercial solid waste collection service for Wednesday, Oct. 9, is canceled because the Covanta facility will be closed.
Late fees have also been suspended for the closure period. There is no change to solid waste collection services for Wednesday, Oct. 9. Curbside collection of solid waste and yard waste will be suspended on Thursday, Oct. 10.
Customers regularly scheduled for pickup on Thursday will be picked up on Monday, Oct. 14
Normal garbage and yard waste collection is scheduled to resume on Friday, Oct. 11, but if storm damage is significant, Friday service may be suspended while crews focus on debris removal.
The following Sumter County Offices will be closed on Wednesday and Thursday, Oct. 9 and 10:
- Board of County Commissioners’ Offices including:o Libraries (All locations)o Sumter County Animal Serviceso Veterans Services Offices
- Clerk of the Courts Offices
- County and Circuit Courts
- Property Appraiser Offices
- Supervisor of Elections Offices
- Tax Collector Offices
- UF/IFAS University of Florida Offices
— Julie Garisto
As Floridians finalize their evacuation plans for Hurricane Milton, FDOT reminds travelers to check FL511.com for the latest traffic conditions and potential road and bridge closures.
Tolls will be waived across Florida. For a complete list, click here .
— Julie Garisto
Two shelters will open today for those seeking cover for Hurricane Milton. The following Sumter County shelters will open on Oct. 8 at 2 p.m.:
- South Sumter High School, 706 N. Main St., Bushnell
- Webster Elementary School, 349 S. Market Blvd., Webster
Stay informed by checking the county's website at sumtercountyfl.gov or calling 352-689-4400 forupdates.
All shelters are pet-friendly, so do not leave your pets behind.
— Julie Garisto
Sumter County emergency management reports: "With Hurricane Milton heading toward Sumter County, now is the time for residents to review their housing options, especially those unsure about the safety of their homes or access to their homes.
"Residents of The Villages development can take comfort in knowing that homes in this community were built above the 100-year floodplain and constructed to withstand predicted wind speeds. As a result, sheltering in place is recommended for these residents."
More at sumterprepares.com .
— Julie Garisto
Hurricane Milton was a Category 4 story on Tuesday as it continued through the Gulf of Mexico. Catch up with all the latest on the storm system here.
Lake County will open 15 shelters for those who need accommodations during the storm. The shelters will open at noon on Tuesday, Oct. 8. Residents are encouraged to bring necessary supplies such as medication, bedding and a pet carrier or crate. For more information, call the Citizens Information Line at 352-253-9999.
General population shelters:
• East Ridge High - 13322 Excalibur Road, Clermont
• East Ridge Middle - 13201 Excalibur Road, Clermont
• Eustis High - 1300 E. Washington Ave., Eustis
• Leesburg High - 1401 Yellow Jacket Way, Leesburg
• Mount Dora High - 700 N. Highland St., Mount Dora
• Tavares High - 603 N. New Hampshire Ave., Tavares
Pet-friendly shelters:
• Mascotte Elementary - 460 Midway Ave., Mascotte
• Round Lake Elementary - 31333 Round Lake Road, Mount Dora
• Spring Creek Elementary - 44440 Spring Creek Road, Paisley
• Treadway Elementary - 10619 Treadway School Road, Leesburg
Pet-friendly and special-needs shelters:
• Leesburg Elementary - 2229 South St., Leesburg
• Lost Lake Elementary - 1901 Johns Lake Road, Clermont
• Astatula Elementary - 13925 Florida Ave., Astatula
• Umatilla Elementary - 401 Lake St., Umatilla
• Villages Elementary - 695 Rolling Acres Road, Lady Lake
— Julie Garisto
LakeXpress , Lake County’s fixed-route bus system, provides free rides on Wednesday to travelers who state they need to be taken to a shelter.
Free rides will continue to be given until conditions become unsafe. Riders must tell the driver they are going to a shelter to use the free ride.
The Lake County Citizens Information Line, 352-253-9999, will have extended hours today, through 10 p.m.
The Sumter County Citizens Information Center is open 24/7 and can be reached at 352-689-4400.
— Julie Garisto
Who should evacuate in Sumter County?
Sumter County emergency management advises the following groups to consider evacuating or moving to a shelter:
- Residents in mobile, manufactured, modular homes, or recreational vehicles.
- Those living in low-lying, flood-prone areas near the river.
- Individuals with special needs.
- Anyone who feels unsafe staying alone.
- Remember to bring essential items like medications.
- Be advised that shelters do not provide cots, blankets, or other supplies, so plan accordingly.
- Bring dentification (driver’s license). Bedding (cot, air mattress, blanket, pillow).
- Bring food and water.
- Bring medications.
- Bring baby supplies (food, formula)
— Julie Garisto
Meteorologist Denis Philips offers a helpful list of tips to make life more comfortable in the event of an extended power outage.
Here are some of his suggestions:
- Charge any device that provides light. Laptops, tablets, cameras, video cameras and old phones. Old cell phones can still used for dialing 911. Charge external battery backups. (Glow sticks also provide light for a few hours. Stand them upright in a glass or jar to make a lantern.)
- Wash all trash cans, big and small, and fill them with water for flushing toilets. Line outdoor trash cans with trash bags, fill them with water and store them in the garage. Add bleach to sterilize.
- Fill every tub and sink with water. Cover sinks with Saran Wrap to keep it from collecting dust. Fill the washing machine and leave the lid up to store water.
- Fill old empty water bottles and other containers with water and keep them near sinks for washing hands.
- Fill every Tupperware with water and store it in the freezer. These will help keep food cold longer and serve as a backup water supply.
- Fill drinking cups with water and cover with Saran Wrap. Store as many as possible in the fridge. You can store the rest on the counter and use it before opening any water bottles. Ice is impossible to find after the storm.
- Cook any meats and other perishable foods. You can freeze cooked food. Hard boil eggs for snacks for the first day without power.
For the full list, click here.
— Julie Garisto
The National Weather Service offers tips on how to prevent flying debris during high winds.
Remove debris from your yard
- Bring in outdoor furniture.
- Lawn chairs, trampolines, pool supplies, etc can be turned into flying debris.
Cover windows
- This is necessary in order to guard against flying debris.
- Plywood or professionally installed shutters are best.
- Taping windows does nothing to protect your home from wind.
Reinforce garage doors
- This will prevent wind from entering and causing dangerous/expensive damage.
Proper Maintenance
- Ensure that roofing materials, fencing, etc. are properly maintained and in good condition.
- This will allow them to be more resistant to wind damage.
Clear clogged rain gutters and downspouts
- This will help with the flow of water during heavy rainfall.
—Julie Garisto
The Central, Astor, Lady Lake, and Log House facilities will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. to accept drop-off residential waste, recycling, and yard debris drop off.
Central County: 13130 County Landfill Road, Tavares
Astor: 54711 Astor Transfer Station Road, Astor
Clermont: 10435 Log House Rd. Clermont
Lady Lake: 1200 Jackson St., Lady Lake
—Julie Garisto
Sandbags should be used to restrict floodwaters from entering houses via doorways, garagesand entryways. Sandbags are not to be used to provide a barricade around homes or property.
Sumter County will have self-service sand and sandbags available at the Lake Panasoffkee Regional Recreation Park, 1589 County Road 459, Lake Panasoffkee on Tuesday, Oct. 8, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sandbag operations will be available during this time according to weather conditions.
Residents can also view a helpful sandbag operations video on YouTube. Residents must provide proof of residence within Sumter County and bring a shovel if they have one to fill sandbags.
Residents pick up sandbags, fill them, and place them in their vehicles. There is a 10-sandbag limit per vehicle.
Lake County public schools will be open on Tuesday, Oct. 8 with early closures, and closed the rest of the week for students.
In Sumter County, schools will close on Tuesday, Oct. 7; Wednesday, Oct. 9, and Thursday, Oct. 10, in anticipation of Hurricane Milton’s arrival.
In Lake County, Tuesday is an early release day with schools closed Wednesday and Thursday, and no classes will be on Friday.
Friday, Oct. 11, is a pre-scheduled student day off and a teacher planning day. Teachers may work from home or at their school site on Friday if it’s safe for them to do so.
All after-school activities for Tuesday are canceled except for Extended Learning Centers (ELC), which will remain open until normal closing hours.
Select schools will open as shelters on Tuesday. Timing and locations will be determined by Lake County Emergency Management.
Sumter County public schools will be closed Wednesday and Thursday. Friday status will depend on weather conditions and community status.
More at lake.k12.fl.us for Lake County. For Sumter, call 352-793-2315.
—Julie Garisto
Hurricane Milton live updates: Florida evacuations ordered as storm now 175-mph Category 5
Too often during emergencies, some businesses will try to capitalize on their customers' panic and desperation by arbitrarily raising prices on their goods and services.
"Violators of the price gouging statute are subject to civil penalties of $1,000 per violation and up to a total of $25,000 for multiple violations committed in a single 24-hour period," Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody said in a press release.
If you encounter an unusual increase in pricing during the lead-up to Hurricane Milton, you can report it at the state attorney general's website. Click here for more information .
—Julie Garisto
In anticipation of Hurricane Milton, Lake-Sumter State College will close all campus locations and cancel all classes and activities beginning at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 8, and remain closed on Wednesday, Oct. 9, and Thursday, Oct. 10.
Any classes scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. or later on Tuesday, Oct. 8 are canceled. Forthcoming updates will be sent through the LSSC Alert system, email and social media, and available at lssc.edu/storm .
—Julie Garisto
(This story was updated to add new information)
This article originally appeared on Daily Commercial: Live updates on Tuesday: Lake and Sumter counties prepare for Hurricane Milton
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