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Emergency Preparedness

As Central Florida prepares for the effects of Hurricane Idalia, CFHLA is providing information from local, municipal and state agencies in an effort to provide accurate and beneficial details for our Members and the Central Florida community.

Please follow local media outlets, as well as information provided directly from local and state emergency management offices as it pertains to the storm.

 

FLORIDA DIVISION OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

Governor Ron DeSantis issued Executive Order 23-172 (Amending Executive Order 23-171, Emergency Management – Tropical Storm Idalia), expanding the number of counties under a state of emergency in preparation for Tropical Storm Idalia from 33 counties to 46 counties. Counties now included in the executive order are:

Alachua, Baker, Bay, Bradford, Calhoun, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, Columbia, DeSoto, Dixie, Duval, Flagler, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Gulf, Hamilton, Hardee, Hernando, Hillsborough, Lake, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lee, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Madison, Manatee, Marion, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Nassau, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, Sumter, Suwannee, Taylor, Union, Volusia, and Wakulla counties.

To read the full executive order, click here

Please go to Summary Shelter Information for currently open general and special needs shelters within the State of Florida.

For information from your county Emergency Management program regarding shelter preparedness and lists of potential shelters that may be opened, please visit Shelter Information Index and choose your county.

View Open Shelters on a map.

Special Needs Assistance

If you know or care for an individual with access or functional needs, such as a medical condition that requires assistance but not hospitalization, it is important that you pre-register with the Florida Special Needs Shelter Registry.

For more Special Needs Sheltering detailed Information here.

FEMA will never ask you for money to provide disaster assistance. Recognize fraud: 

  • FEMA employees will always have an official ID 
  • Don’t trust anyone who offers financial help & asks for money or personal info. 
  • Always talk with someone you trust.

Ways to Report Fraud to FEMA

For more information visit fema.gov/disaster-fraud

Report Price Gouging in Florida

  • Call: 1-866-966-7226

Florida Storms - Florida Public Radio Emergency Network Google Play  iTunes

Florida 511 - Get up-to-the-minute, real-time traffic conditions and incident information for the State of Florida with Florida 511.

FEMA - mobile app

Red Cross - mobile apps

Everbridge - mobile apps

Gas Buddy - Gas stations availability

 

Florida 511 - Get up-to-the-minute, real-time traffic conditions and incident information for the State of Florida with Florida 511.

Florida Highway Patrol - Florida Highway Patrol Live Traffic Crash and Road Condition Report. Reports are updated every five minutes. Incidents located within city limits also may not show on the map since it is not common practice for FHP to work incidents inside city limits.

Florida Traffic - Traffic incidents and conditions from Florida 511 and Florida Highway Patrol brought to you by Florida State Emergency Response Team Geographic Information Systems.

Alert Florida to signup for emergency alerts and other public safety notifications in your community

 

ORANGE COUNTY

CLICK HERE for the latest storm information from Orange County.

 

Orange County Public Schools will resume classes on Thursday, August 31, 2023.

LYNX: All LYNX services including fixed route and NeighborLink services have started to serve customers using a regular weekday schedule. ACCESS LYNX is only providing life-sustaining trips today. The paratransit provider will return to full service with a reservation on Thursday, August 31. The LYNX Customer Service Window will be open 9 a.m. to7 p.m. to assist customers. (golynx.com)

 

Shelters

As of 10:30 a.m., Orange County’s general population shelters are now closed. A total of 151 individuals utilized Orange County’s general population shelters at Barnett Park and South Econ Recreation Center. Approximately 90% of these individuals were unhoused residents.

The county’s two special needs/medical shelters are also in the process of closing.

Can I bring my pets?
Pets are welcomed at all "Pet-Friendly" shelters. It is important to bring shot records, food, and a crate. Pets are not allowed in General Public Shelters unless they are service animals.

Do I need to register if I am a resident of a nursing home, convalescent and retirement home, or adult congregate living facility?
Residents of nursing homes, convalescent and retirement homes, or adult congregate living facilities are responsible for the evacuation of their own patients and must have emergency plans to handle these types of situations.

Why can't I go to a hospital instead of a Special Needs Shelter?
Local hospitals must maintain the capability to provide for the needs of the very sick or those with life-threatening injuries. Unless you have a life-threatening health/medical condition requiring continuous medical attention, you should go to a designated American Red Cross or Special Needs Shelter.

How long should I plan on staying?
You should plan on staying for the duration of the event or until it is safe to leave.

 

PET-FRIENDLY SHELTERS

Orange County anticipates opening pet-friendly shelters during an emergency and reminds families to include pets in their hurricane prep plans:

  • Ensure pet vaccinations are current.
  • Consider microchipping pets if not already done so to ensure you can find pets in the event you are separated.
  • Have a copy of your pet’s medical records, which should be included in your “Pet Disaster Kit.”
  • Arrange for a safe place to stay that permits pets.
  • Research places that are pet friendly. (Note – animals are not allowed in Red Cross Shelters, except for service animals, so you may want to stay with a friend or relative, or motel/hotel that is pet-friendly).
  • If possible, PLEASE do not leave pets behind during an evacuation or emergency.
  • With pending serious weather, bring all households pets inside.

For pet-friendly shelters, individuals are asked to bring a carrier, copy of medical records to ensure pets are current on vaccines, food, water and any necessary medications and identification for the pet.

Sandbags / Operations

Orange County operations will be closed for normal business on Wednesday. We anticipate reopening on Thursday. Emergency services will continue to operate.

 

In unincorporated Orange County, trash collection has been suspended for Wednesday. Service is expected to resume on Thursday, but for those with collection on the impacted Wednesday suspension, the next service date is Wednesdsay, September 6.

 

To date, we have received normal call levels for emergency service requests. For non-emergency requests, please call 3-1-1 so the impact and request can be properly tracked.

 

Sandbag locations will close later today, along with county parks and boat ramps.

Orange County will have bags and sand available on a self-serve basis. Residents will need to bring their own shovel or spade to fill their bags. We will provide 10 unfilled sandbags and direct residents to the sand pile.

Individuals with special needs who need sandbag assistance should contact Orange County 311.

Hours of Operation
Sites will operate Tuesday, August. 29, 2023, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., pending severe weather. Locations are subject to close earlier than scheduled due to weather conditions.

Locations
West Orange Recreation Center
309 S West Crown Point Road, Winter Garden, FL 34787

Clarcona Horse Park / Clarcona Outpost
3535 Damon Road, Apopka, FL 32703

Bithlo Community Park
18501 Washington Avenue, Orlando, FL 32820

Meadow Woods Recreation Center/Meadow Woods Park
1751 Rhode Island Woods Circle, Orlando, FL 32824

Downey Park
10107 Flowers Avenue, Orlando, FL 32825

 

OSCEOLA COUNTY

Local info: www.osceola.org

School Local info: www.osceolaschools.net

Track the Storm: www.emergencyemail.org

Register for Alerts: www.AlertOsceola.org

For the latest Hurricane Idalia information from the Osceola County Emergency Management Office, please CLICK HERE.

 

SEMINOLE COUNTY
For the latest Hurricane Idalia information from the Seminole County Emergency Management Office, please CLICK HERE.

 

 

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