Hurricane Idalia: Lake County emergency management prepares for storm’s impacts

Sabrina Maggiore,Brittany Caldwell
·2 min read

The state of Florida included Lake County in the official state of emergency Thursday.

▶ WATCH CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS

▶ DOWNLOAD THE WFTV NEWS & WEATHER APPS

The county has also enacted a local state of emergency to help residents during and after Hurricane Idalia.

Here are the following updates in Lake County:

Shelters

There will be two emergency shelters open, and both are special-needs and pet-friendly.

Villages Elementary at 695 Rolling Acres Road in Lady Lake

Lost Lake Elementary at 1901 Johns Lake Road in Clermont

Schools

Lake County Schools will continue monitoring the storm and decide about Thursday on Wednesday.

Read: LIVE UPDATES: Hurricane Idalia strengthens into Category 2 storm as it closes in on Florida

Waste

The county will suspend curbside collection on Wednesday.

Customers who receive pick-up services on Wednesdays will be collected on Thursday, Thursday customers will be picked up on Friday, and Friday customers will be picked up on Saturday.

Lake County Waste Management will be closed on Wednesday.

Tavares will suspend collection on Wednesday. If the roads are safe, collection will start at daybreak on Thursday.

Transportation

Lake County’s fixed route transit service, Ride LakeXpress, will suspend operations starting Tuesday.

Read: Hurricane Idalia: These Central Florida school districts are closing ahead of the storm

Closures

Offices

These Lake County offices will be closed on Wednesday:

  • All offices of the Lake County Board of County Commissioners

  • The Tax Collector’s office

  • The Supervisor of Elections

  • Lake County Courts

  • The Lake County Clerk of Courts Office

  • Lake County Animal Services

Read: Hurricane Idalia: How to stay informed if your power goes out

Libraries

These libraries will be closed Wednesday and reopen on Thursday.

  • Astor County Library

  • Cagan Crossings Community Library (Four Corners)

  • East Lake Mini Library (Sorrento)

  • Marion Baysinger Memorial County Library (Groveland)

  • Paisley County Library

  • Cooper Memorial Library (Clermont)

  • Tavares Public Library

  • Leesburg Public Library

  • Marianne Beck Memorial Library

  • Eustis Memorial Library

  • Fruitland Park Library

  • Lady Lake Public Library

  • Umatilla Public Library

  • W.T. Bland Public Library

The Lady Lake Public Library will be closed from Wednesday through Friday.

A resident posted a sign at a home in Cedar Key, Florida, as Hurricane Idalia threatened the area.
A resident posted a sign at a home in Cedar Key, Florida, as Hurricane Idalia threatened the area.
American flags are placed on boarded windows ahead of Hurricane Idalia in Cedar Key.
American flags are placed on boarded windows ahead of Hurricane Idalia in Cedar Key.
The U.S. Post Office in Cedar Key, Florida, is boarded up in anticipation of Hurricane Idalia.
The U.S. Post Office in Cedar Key, Florida, is boarded up in anticipation of Hurricane Idalia.
The beach is deserted at Cedar Key as Hurricane Idalia moved up Florida's west coast on Tuesday.
The beach is deserted at Cedar Key as Hurricane Idalia moved up Florida's west coast on Tuesday.
Strong winds hit the Gulfport area in Pinellas County on Tuesday.
Strong winds hit the Gulfport area in Pinellas County on Tuesday.
Debris flies off a roof ahead of Hurricane Idalia in Fort Myers on Tuesday.
Debris flies off a roof ahead of Hurricane Idalia in Fort Myers on Tuesday.
High tide hits Fort Myers Beach ahead of Hurricane Idalia on Tuesday.
High tide hits Fort Myers Beach ahead of Hurricane Idalia on Tuesday.
Water rises above the docks at Fort Myers Beach as Hurricane Idalia approaches on Tuesday.
Water rises above the docks at Fort Myers Beach as Hurricane Idalia approaches on Tuesday.
High tide roars in at Fort Myers Beach ahead of Hurricane Idalia on Tuesday.
High tide roars in at Fort Myers Beach ahead of Hurricane Idalia on Tuesday.
Palm trees sway in the wind at Fort Myers Beach ahead of Hurricane Idalia on Tuesday.
Palm trees sway in the wind at Fort Myers Beach ahead of Hurricane Idalia on Tuesday.
Waves crash on Fort Myers Beach during high tide on Tuesday.
Waves crash on Fort Myers Beach during high tide on Tuesday.
People enjoy the beach in the Tampa Bay area on Tuesday as dark clouds gather.
People enjoy the beach in the Tampa Bay area on Tuesday as dark clouds gather.
Residents on Clearwater Beach walk along the shore as Hurricane Idalia moved up the west coast of Florida on Tuesday.
Residents on Clearwater Beach walk along the shore as Hurricane Idalia moved up the west coast of Florida on Tuesday.
A sign informs travelers that Tampa International Airport is closed on Tuesday as Hurricane Idalia approached the area.
A sign informs travelers that Tampa International Airport is closed on Tuesday as Hurricane Idalia approached the area.
A surfer navigates the waves at St. Petersburg Beach as Hurricane Idalia moved up Florida's west coast on Tuesday.
A surfer navigates the waves at St. Petersburg Beach as Hurricane Idalia moved up Florida's west coast on Tuesday.
Residents brace for strong winds in St Petersburg as Hurricane Idalia churns in the Gulf of Mexico.
Residents brace for strong winds in St Petersburg as Hurricane Idalia churns in the Gulf of Mexico.
Sandbags guard a colorful building in St. Petersburg as Hurricane Idalia approaches the area.
Sandbags guard a colorful building in St. Petersburg as Hurricane Idalia approaches the area.
A news reporter walks onto a dock ahead of Hurricane Idalia in Cedar Key.
A news reporter walks onto a dock ahead of Hurricane Idalia in Cedar Key.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.