Here are the evacuations ordered for more than 50 Florida counties and shelters available

Lianna Norman, USA TODAY NETWORK - Florida
Updated ·4 min read

Just over two weeks ago, Hurricane Helene left swaths of Florida's gulf coast and regions of other southeastern states underwater and without power and took hundreds of lives.

Now, another major storm, Hurricane Milton, is approaching Florida's gulf coast, where many residents still recovering from Helene had to stop cleaning up piles of debris and assessing damage to evacuate again.

But residents in counties on the Florida's gulf coast aren't the only ones ordered to evacuate, although that's the area expected to get the brunt of the storm. As of Wednesday afternoon, more than 50 of Florida's 67 counties are under evacuation orders.

Here's a list of the counties ordered to evacuate and which counties are under mandatory evacuation orders. Below that are shelters.

What counties in Florida are evacuating for Milton?

Here's a list of the 50 Florida counties currently under some kind of evacuation order, whether it's mandatory or voluntary:

Is Orlando an evacuation area?

Orange County, which Orlando is the county seat of, is not under mandatory evacuation orders. But if you live in an area prone to flooding, it's recommended you consider sheltering on higher ground.

Here's the evacuation message for Orange County:

If you live in one of the areas listed or know your property is prone to flooding, consider sheltering with family or friends living outside these areas. Multiple shelters are also open across the County.Areas at High Risk of Flooding:- Locations that experienced flooding during Hurricane Irma or Hurricane Ian.- Any area within a FEMA 100-year floodplain.- Areas with historic flooding from tropical systems, including: Orlo Vista / Westside Manor.- Bonnie Brook neighborhood.- Rio Pinar neighborhood and surrounding areas.- Near the intersection of Rouse Road and Buck Road.- Four Corners area (Avalon Road/Arrowhead Boulevard).- Lower areas in northern and western Orange County.

Neighboring Seminole County is also not under orders of mandatory evacuation, but the county did issue evacuation orders for any residents who live in mobile homes, low-lying areas or have special needs.

Sarasota, Tampa, St. Petersburg: Southwest Florida coastal counties under mandatory evacuation orders

When it comes to Florida's gulf coast, where Milton is anticipated to make landfall, every coastal county from Levy to Collier is under mandatory evacuation orders.

The coastal counties on Florida's west coast under mandatory evacuation orders are: Levy, Citrus, Hernando, Pasco, Pinellas, Hillsborough, Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte, Lee and Collier.

Ponte Vedra, St. Augustine, Daytona: Three Northeast Florida coastal counties under mandatory evacuation orders

Florida's gulf coast isn't the only side of the peninsula ordered to evacuate, though. Some evacuation orders have been mandated for counties on Florida's northeast coast, which could also see significant flooding, storm surge and wind damage.

The counties with evacuation orders in northeast Florida are St. Johns, Flagler and Volusia counties.

Here are the mandatory evacuation order messages for each county:

St. Johns - I. Effective at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 8, 2024, all persons livingi. Licensed facilities, as defined by Florida Statutes 395.002(17)ii. Assisted living facilities, as defined by Florida Statute 429.02(5),iii. Nursing home facilities, as defined by Florida Statute 400.021(12)iv. Ambulatory Surgery Centers, as defined by Florida Statute 395.002(3)in the following portions and elements of St. Johns County, Florida shall evacuate:

a. All of Evacuation Zone A;b. All of Evacuation Zone B;c. Parts of Evacuation Zone F, South of State Road 206;

II. Effective at 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday, October 9, 2024, all persons living in assisted living facilities in the following portions and elements of St. Johns County, Florida shall evacuate:

a. All of Evacuation Zone A;b. All of Evacuation Zone B;c. Parts of Evacuation Zone F, South of State Road 206;d. All persons living in or on a boat, mobile home, recreational vehicle, camper or other similar conveyance.

Flagler - Effective at 8AM on Wednesday, October 9th a Mandatory Evacuation Order has been issued for the following areas:

Residents living in Mobile Homes and RV’s CountywideThe following Coastal / Island CommunitiesThe entire island from the St Johns County Line to the Volusia County LineMarineland through Flagler BeachMainland CommunitiesOnly the following communities South of SR-100 (Moody Blvd)Neighborhoods off John Anderson HwyNeighborhoods off Palm DrBulow RV Park & Homes, off Old Kings RdPolo Club West / Sweetbottom Plantation properties along Lexington Court / Ashland Way and that back up to the Bulow CreekOnly the following communities between SR-100 (Moody Blvd) and Palm Coast PkwyNeighborhoods off Lambert AveIn Marina Del Palm the properties along the Intracoastal Waterway / basinIn Palm Coast Plantation:Properties off South / North Riverwalk DriveOnly the following communities North of Palm Coast PkwyProperties within Princess Place

Volusia - Volusia County has enacted an evacuation order beginning 8 a.m. Oct. 9, for all areas east of the intracoastal waterway, those residing in manufactured and mobile homes, low-lying and flood-prone areas, and campsites and RV recreational parks.

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Open Hurricane Milton shelters in Florida

This story was updated to add a video.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Hurricane Milton: These Florida counties are under evacuation orders