As Milton makes landfall, Jacksonville shelters still have space; Gate gas stations are closed

Hurricane Milton made landfall as a dangerous Category 3 storm at just about a quarter to 9 p.m. Wednesday near Siesta Key, off the coast of Sarasota.

The hurricane watch for Duval County has been dropped, but we’ll begin to see tropical storm force winds this evening, with occasional gusts up to 70 mph along the Atlantic coast and Intracoastal Waterway, Mayor Donna Deegan said Wednesday.

“There is still room in the shelters, but at this point we’re hoping that you’ve gotten where you need to go,” Mayor Donna Deegan said Wednesday evening. She said transportation would still be provided to shelters for those who need it, and people can request rides by calling 904-630-CITY.

Deegan said Jacksonville can expect street flooding at peak times during the storm, and during high tides on Thursday, Friday and even potentially into next week.

Red flag conditions continue at the beaches. “Our Beaches mayors are begging you to stay out of the water,” Deegan said.

There were 614 people sheltering at the city’s shelters as of 6 p.m., representing about a quarter of shelter capacity at certain shelters.

JTA buses will run Wednesday as normal, but buses won’t begin to run for normal service until 9:30 a.m. Thursday. They would, however, be available to run people to shelters earlier than 9:30, she said.

Inflatable Tiger Dams were being deployed at the Beaches Wednesday evening, in addition to the one that was put up earlier in the day as a flood barrier in San Marco.

There is no gas shortage. “We have plenty of gas supply,” she said. But Gate gas stations have closed their stores and pumps as of 5 p.m. Wednesday. Daily’s stations will remain open, and stations that ran out of gas earlier today have be replenished.

With Jacksonville out of the cone for the worst of Milton’s expected impacts, 12 crews of first responders, Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office police and JEA lineworkers were heading down to Central and South Florida to assist with Milton recovery, after sleeping for one night at home after returning from helping with Hurricane Helene recovery in North Carolina.

“I just want to offer my thanks and my prayers to them,” she said, “It was a great honor to be able to send them off and tell them how much we appreciate them.”

The Jacksonville Equestrian Center has 300 evacuated horses in it and is still receiving them as of 6 p.m.

If you have yard waste that hasn’t been picked up at this point, please move it away from the curb, the mayor said.

“I promise you it will be picked up” when it is safe to do so after the storm.

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