In Orlando, city officials have lowered lakes ahead of Milton’s potential arrival, aiming to create capacity to handle any rainfall – and prevent the mass floods brought by Hurricane Ian two years ago. “They’ve been lowered to the lowest we can,” said Lucy Phillip, a city engineer.

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.

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

Across Central Florida residents are preparing for Hurricane Milton’s forecasted powerful wind and rain as it takes aim at Florida’s Gulf Coast with landfall set for midweek. The storm intensified into a Category 1 Hurricane with winds of 80 mph on Sunday afternoon but is expected to continue growing into what officials call a “life-threatening” Category 3 Hurricane.

Tropical storm Milton is expected to come ashore near Tampa as a Category 5 hurricane. It will then cut across Florida and hit several theme parks, all in or around Orlando, home to Univeral Orlando.