Storm update #4 – Hurricane Milton

Storm update #4 - Hurricane Milton

Published on October 08, 2024

Hurricane Milton is an extremely powerful storm that's expected to regain strength and again become a Category 5 hurricane as it approaches the Florida peninsula.

The National Weather Service has issued a Tropical Storm Warning for Alachua County; this means tropical storm-force winds (39-73mph) are expected within 36 hours. Stay indoors and away from windows.

Emergency shelters open

• Alachua County has opened three emergency shelters.
• Pet-friendly general population shelters: MLK Jr. Multipurpose Center, 1028 NE 14th St.; and the Easton-Newberry Sports Complex, 24880 NW 16th Avenue in Newberry.
• Special needs shelter: Senior Recreation Center, 5701 NW 34th Blvd.
• For transportation to the special needs shelter, please call 352-955-2575.
• Details including which items to bring to a shelter can be found here.

Refuse collection

• All residential trash and recycling collection has been suspended. Tomorrow's (Oct. 9) collection is expected to occur on Friday, and Thursday's collection on Saturday. Please do not place containers or other items curbside tomorrow.

Facilities

• City offices, facilities, parks, pools and recreation centers are closed tomorrow, Oct. 9 and Thursday, Oct. 10.

Public Meetings

• Public meetings scheduled tomorrow and Thursday have been canceled. Visit the Public Meeting Calendar on the City's website for the current list of scheduled meetings.

Regional Transit System (RTS)

• RTS has suspended fares tomorrow (Oct. 9) as bus service operates on reduced service. Visit the RTS website for additional information.

Parking

• Free parking at the SW Parking Garage, 105 SW 3rd Street, is available tomorrow, Oct. 9 and Thursday, Oct. 10, based on availability, for neighbors who need to store their vehicles.
• Parking restrictions are lifted tomorrow and Thursday for all parking zones.

Flood reporting

An areal flood watch remains in effect for Alachua County through Thursday evening with a potential for flooding as a result of the prolonged, heavy rainfall from H. Milton. Flash flooding could occur depending on the speed of the hurricane through the area.

• Remember to never drive, swim or walk through floodwaters as they may contain raw sewage, debris, chemicals or other pollutants.
• If you encounter any flooding in your area, submit your photos on the Flood Reporter application. Stay safe and do not endanger your safety when taking photographs.
• During a storm, the status of storm-related Public Works service requests and work orders can be viewed online. Visit the emergency planning maps webpage and select the Public Works Service tile to view the online app. Neighbors can view open service requests and work orders by enter an address using the search bar.
• To report flooding, blocked streets and other issues that require prompt attention, please call 352-334-5070 use the myGNV app or visit myGNV.org.

Special Needs Registry

• Alachua County Emergency Management encourages individuals with special needs to register online for the Special Needs Registry Program. The Alachua County Special Needs Registry is intended for those who have certain physical or medical conditions and no options to shelter at home, with friends, family, or elsewhere during a disaster.

Additional resources

• To receive City of Gainesville alerts, sign up at www.alertgnv.org.
• Alachua County has activated the 311 Emergency Information Line for questions and rumor control. Neighbors can dial 311 or 352-264-6557.
• Visit GRU.com/StormCentral for a list of important phone numbers in the event of service emergencies, as well as a link to the Gainesville Regional Utilities outage map with estimated time of restoration.
• Visit www.safeGNV.org for all emergency management updates and additional preparedness tips.

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