Residents heed evacuation orders in Hillsborough County

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — Mandatory evacuation orders are in effect in Hillsborough County for those who live in Zone A.

Hillsborough County has opened six shelters for residents whose homes are vulnerable to storm surge and flooding.

Cyndi Roe in Palmetto Beach is not willing to take any risks.

“Last time there was an evacuation, I ordered a room, but I was exhausted by the time we did the prep work and I just stayed, but the water came up really quite a bit,” Roe said.

Roe has laid out her sandbags, turned off her power and packed up her pets. She’s heading to a hotel.

“Even when you put the sandbags, the water intrusion is quite heavy,” she said.

Over at Coco’s Sandwich Shop, manager Giselle Guerra-Rodriguez is preparing to close.

“We take all the food that could go bad and put it in the freezer to just to try to save, we disconnect all the electronics, that’s the most we can do,” Guerra-Rodriguez said.

Sheriff Chad Chronister said to make a plan now, because he’s seen it before and it can be deadly.

“The deputies, against advisement when the winds reached a certain level, still answered that call for help and went out to rescue an individual that was oxygen dependent that when the electric shut off, rushed to the hospital to no avail, she paid with her life because she didn’t make a plan,” Chronister said.

Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis said six urban search and rescue crews are coming from out of state to help canvass post-Hurricane Helene.

In addition, Tampa Electric spokesperson Cherie Jacobs said 3,500 people will be on the ground coming from all over the county to help restore power.

Hillsborough County residents without digital access are encouraged to call 833-HC STORM or 833-427-8676, the County’s storm information line from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Here is the full list of shelters open to residents:

• Burnett Middle School (pet friendly), 1010 N. Kingsway Rd., Seffner, FL 33584
• Durant High School (pet friendly), 4748 Cougar Path, Plant City, FL 33567
• Middleton High School (pet friendly), 4801 N. 22nd St., Tampa, FL 33610
• Sickles High School (pet friendly), 7950 Gunn Hwy., Tampa, FL 33626
• Reddick Elementary School, 325 West Lake Dr., Wimauma, FL 33598
• Erwin Technical College (Special Needs only, pet friendly), 2010 E. Hillsborough Ave., Tampa, FL 33610

The special-needs shelters are only for residents with medical issues that
require electricity assistance or cognitive issues that would not be supported
in a general population shelter.

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