Staff report
Emergency shelters are opening across the Suwannee Valley in preparation for Hurricane Milton and to provide space for evacuees from the storm.
Columbia County is opening four emergency shelters for Hurricane Milton.
The shelters, which are opening at 6 p.m. today, are located at:
- Deep Creek Community Center, 11934 N. US Highway 441, Lake City;
- Richardson Community Center, 255 NE Coach Anders Ln., Lake City, (Special Needs and General Population);
- Fort White Community Center, 17579 SW State Road 47, Fort White;
- Shands Lake Shore HRIM, 428 NE Davis Ave, Lake City, FL 32055 (Pet Friendly).
Hamilton County also will have one shelter open during the storm. It will open at 8 a.m. Wednesday. That shelter is located at:
- Hamilton County High School gymnasium, 5683 U.S. Highway 129, Jasper.
Suwannee County is also opening shelters to help provide lodging for storm evacuees, the Suwannee County School District said Tuesday afternoon as it canceled school today and Thursday.
According to the Suwannee County Sheriff’s Office, two shelters will be opening at 10 a.m. today in Suwannee County. Those shelters will be located at:
- Suwannee Pineview Elementary School, 1748 Ohio Ave. S, Live Oak (general population),
- Suwannee Springcrest Elementary School, 1419 Walker Ave. SW, Live Oak (medically special needs).
The school-site shelters will close as soon as weather permits. Those occupants will then be relocated to a recovery shelter at:
- Suwannee County Coliseum, 1302 11th Street, Live Oak.
The emergency shelters provide shelter and restroom facilities for individuals seeking refuge from Hurricane Milton and the potential flooding. The only items provided at shelters are cots for sleeping, water, and limited food. Those sheltering at one of the locations are asked to bring only the essentials that they will need for sheltering.
Firearms and alcohol are not permitted in public shelters.
The shelters are open to anyone, but have limited space.