Shelter space still available at Easton in Newberry and the special needs shelter; Uber code now worth $55
By Jennifer Cabrera,
2 days ago
Press release from Alachua County
Updated at 4 p.m. on Oct. 9 to increase the Uber ride code from $35 to $55
ALACHUA COUNTY, Fla. – The Shelter at the MLK Center in Gainesville is full.
The General Population/Pet-Friendly shelter at the Easton-Newberry Sports Complex (24880 NW 16th Ave., Newberry) has plenty of capacity, as does the Special Needs Shelter at the Alachua County Senior Recreation Center (5701 NW 34th Blvd).
Previous information:
Gainesville.Alachua County has opened three emergency shelters in response to Hurricane Milton, including two general population/pet-friendly shelters and one special needs shelter. We encourage residents impacted by the storm to seek alternative housing with friends, family, or short-term rentals. Shelters are intended as a last resort.
Alachua County does not expect storm impacts today. There is no need for local residents to shelter today. However, the County is opening shelters today to accommodate neighbors from the south who are evacuating.
General Population/Pet-Friendly Shelters:
Martin Luther King Jr. Multipurpose Center – 1028 NE 14th St., Gainesville
Please note that general population shelters do not provide cots or beds. Residents are advised to bring their own bedding and essential supplies, including:
Special dietary foods, baby food, diapers, and other child necessities
Prescription medications (with a small cooler for refrigeration if needed)
Spare clothing, personal hygiene items, and spare eyeglasses or contacts
Veterinary records indicating vaccinations (animals without such records will be vaccinated upon intake)
Alachua County Animal Resources will have supplemental supplies on hand. For everyone’s safety, animals must remain properly restrained throughout their stay.
Special Needs Shelter:
Alachua County Senior Recreation Center – 5701 NW 34th Blvd., Gainesville
Special needs shelters will provide one cot per patient, though we cannot guarantee cots for caregivers. Residents should bring their own bedding, prescription medications, dietary foods, spare clothing, personal care items, and identification. For transportation assistance to the special needs shelter, please call 352-955-2575.
Free Uber Rides to Shelters:
Alachua County has partnered with Uber to provide free rides to and from shelters, ensuring no resident is left behind due to transportation challenges. To access this service:
Open the Uber app
Go to the account tab and tap “Wallet”
Add promo code: rYb19PkoIMp (capital “i” not lower-case L)
(Up to $55 each way to/from Alachua County shelters and Grace Marketplace)
The state of Florida is also offering free Uber rides with the code MILTONRELIEF .
311 Emergency Information Line:
The 311 Emergency Information Line (or 352-264-6557 if 311 is unavailable in your area) is now active for storm-related questions and rumor control. For true emergencies, please call 911.
Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency:
Our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. As a platform hosting over 100,000 pieces of content published daily, we cannot pre-vet content, but we strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation.
Comments / 0