Stores across the central Florida region saw runs on bottled water, flashlights, and generators. Long lines of vehicles jockeyed for sand and sandbags — scarce, in some places that offered

South Florida is preparing for the effects of Hurricane Milton, which is expected to storm through the central portion of the state this week. Cities are setting up sandbag distribution sites for

Hurricane Milton strengthened into a Category 5 hurricane Monday on a path toward Florida population centers, threatening a 12-foot storm surge in Tampa Bay and setting the stage for potential mass evacuations less than two weeks after a catastrophic Hurricane Helene swamped the coastline.

Pet-Friendly Shelter: Vanguard High School, 7 NW 28th Street, Ocala, FL 34475, will open at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 8, 2024. General Population Shelter: Fort McCoy School, 16160 NE County Road 315, Fort McCoy, FL 32134, will open at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 8, 2024.

As Hurricane Milton approaches Florida, Jacksonville-area schools, governments and other organizations are closing or evaluating their plans.

With forecasts suggesting Hurricane Milton may retain hurricane strength as it barrels through Central Florida, sandbag locations in Orange County and Brevard County are now open.

Here is what Floridians need to know about school closures, shelters, evacuation orders, emergency contacts, and other information and updates.

Ahead of Hurricane Milton’s anticipated landfall as a major hurricane in Florida this week, mandatory evacuations in Tampa Bay have begun.

Forecasters say Milton is expected to be a hurricane small in size, but there is still uncertainty about both intensity and track.

Milton became a hurricane on Sunday and could possibly gain more strength as it moves toward the west coast of Florida