NORTH PORT — Shelters in Sarasota, Charlotte and DeSoto counties are being used by thousands.
In North Port, Woodland Middle School Principal Mark Grossenbacher said he is expecting a busy day.
“I think it’s gonna be similar to Irma and Ian,” he said Tuesday after his school reopened as a storm shelter for the community.
During Irma, he said, the middle school welcomed 1,300 people.
With the powerful nature of Hurricane Milton, similar figures may be reached.
Grossenbacher — known around campus as Mr. G — spoke about the school’s ability to accommodate so many.
“Each room holds 28 guests,” he said. “It’s a lifeboat mentality.”
On Tuesday at Woodland, things were steady as families trickled in early to make sure they had a spot.
NORTH PORT HIGHA few miles away, at North Port High School, things were a bit busier.
The high school is one of the largest shelters in the region, staff said, and it is used by many residents of Sarasota and Charlotte counties.
Dozens of people were lined up to make their way into the facility after it opened at 10 a.m. Tuesday.
Cars filled the NPHS parking lot as families and pets waited with their belongings to be assigned to a classroom.
NPHS has 2,600 students, so it can handle a lot of people taking refuge, Principal Shannon Fusco said.
Sarasota County Schools district and Sarasota County staff are overseeing operations at each facility.
IN ARCADIAResidents seeking shelter from Hurricane Milton should now report to DeSoto Middle School, officials announced Tuesday. The county opened a special needs shelter as well.
The general population shelter opened at noon and accepts pets with valid vaccination records, Economic Development Director Sondra Guffey said.
A crate, collar and leash must also be brought, along with any medications and at least three days of food.
On the county’s website, officials said space is extremely limited.
“All other means of evacuation and sheltering should be considered before going to a public shelter,” the website reads.
The Turner Center, which normally acts as a hurricane shelter for DeSoto County, will not be used as a center for Hurricane Milton.
Guffey said its metal doors and metal roof will not ensure safety for residents like the middle school.
There are also concerns about flooding in DeSoto County, with officials stating Peace River and Horse Creek are both already at high levels due to recent rainfall.
DeSoto Middle School is at 420 E. Gibson St. and opened at noon.
DeSoto County’s special needs shelter is at South Florida State College, 2251 NE Turner Ave., No. 2700, Arcadia.
BACK AT WOODLAWNAt Woodland, Kevin and Anne Webster, along with their chihuahua, Molly, unloaded into their designated classroom.
Anne said Molly is not keen on being in her carrier, but needs must dictate the situation.
She said her last dog was 12 years old when they evacuated to a shelter previously. The stress was too much for the aging pet, and it succumbed to a heart attack soon after, she said.
Molly is about 2, though, so the Websters are hopeful that she will cope better.
Harvey and Suzanne Michelizzi were two of the Webster’s roommates in a quaint, tucked away classroom.
In there, all the chairs were pushed to one side.
They said they looked forward to meeting Molly, though she and the other pets would be somewhere else for a few days.
The Michelizzis evacuated from Rotonda West.
Suzanne said a canal close to them is already looking higher, and they are in Flood Zone A, so they knew they had to leave.
Getting in early, the Michelizzis already set up their spot at, and under a round table. They had pillows, a blow up mattress and some Walmart bags stuffed with clothing.
Those and other essentials are recommended by officials.
Cots are not provided, and people must bring items of their own.
Each party is granted a portion of a classroom to which they are assigned. From there, people must set up their own camp.
CHARLOTTE COUNTYCharlotte County officials comprised a list of essential items one should bring with them to a shelter.
Shelter essentials
— Sleeping bag, sleeping pad and/or blankets and pillow
— Personal flashlight & headlamps
— Disinfectant supplies, hand sanitizer, soap, cloth face coverings
— Toothbrush/toothpaste
— Soap or body wipes
— Feminine hygiene products
— Cellphones chargers/backup battery
— Extra sets of clothes suitable for the season
— Extra socks and sturdy shoes
— Food or snacks (72+ hours worth)
— Books or magazine
— Prescription medications, eyeglasses
— Important documents
If you will have pets, bring:
— Pet care items
— Pet food and water
— Proper identification
— Medical records/microchip info/vaccination papers
— A carrier or cage
— Muzzle and leash
— Water and food bowls
— Medications
There are a number of shelters accepting people ahead of Milton’s landfall.
Sarasota County Shelters
Atwater Elementary School, 4701 Huntsville Ave., North PortBooker High School, 3201 N. Orange Ave., SarasotaBrookside Middle School, 3636 South Shade Ave., SarasotaFruitville Elementary School, 601 Honore Ave., SarasotaGulf Gate Elementary School, 6500 S. Lockwood Ridge Road, SarasotaHeron Creek Middle School, 6501 W. Price Blvd., North PortNorth Port High School, 6400 West Price Blvd., North PortPhillippi Shores Elementary, 4747 S. Tamiami Trail, SarasotaSouthside Elementary School, 1901 Webber St., SarasotaTaylor Ranch Elementary, 2500 Taylor Ranch Trail, Venice
All of those shelters are general population evacuation centers and are pet-friendly.
For more information, call 311 or 941-861-5000.
Charlotte County
Kingsway Elementary School, 23300 Quasar Blvd., Port Charlotte
Harold Avenue Recreation Center, 23400 Harold Ave., Port Charlotte
All of those shelters are pet-friendly.
DeSoto County
DeSoto Middle School, 420 E Gibson St.
Busy sheltersEach shelter looks set to welcome an abundance of people as Milton nears landfall.
Nancy and Bob Mariot, who live in Venice close to the water, escaped to the more inland North Port for shelter like many others.
Nancy Mariot said they always go to Woodland when a big storm hits.
“I love living on the water,” she said. “But I don’t like this.”
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