Tracking Ian: Resources ahead of the storm

Rich Jones
·6 min read

Click here for an interactive map to see your evacuation zone.

Duval County:

To review your evacuation zone and prepare your family in the Jax Ready Guide.

  • The city of Jacksonville is opening up 4 emergency shelters staring at 5 p.m. Wednesday. They include:

  1. Legends Center (5130 Soutel Dr.) – open for general population and special needs

  2. Landmark Middle School (101 Kernan Blvd.) – open for general population and pet-friendly

  3. Atlantic Coast High School (8735 R. G. Skinner Parkway) – open for general population, special needs and pet friendly

  4. LaVilla Middle School (501 N. Davis St.) – open specifically for homeless individuals

  • Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry says that he will not be issuing mandatory evacuation orders for Duval County.

  • City Rescue Mission will increase its overnight capacity as well as extend its hours for those seeking shelter from the Hurricane. Guests seeking safe shelter may check-in to City Rescue Mission’s New Life Inn at 234 W. State Street, Jacksonville, FL 32202, beginning Wednesday, September 28th at 1:30 p.m. CRM’s shelter will remain open each day until conditions are deemed safe.

  • The Jacksonville Humane Society is looking for hurricane pet fosters, those who can temporarily care for dogs and cats as the storm passes. Those interested in caring for a pet through Monday must go to their shelter on Beach Boulevard between 12 p.m. and 7 p.m. Wednesday.

  • Neptune Beach residents: Sand will be available at the Neptune Beach Senior Center starting at 11am Tuesday at 2004 Forest Avenue.

St. Johns County:

St. Johns County uses an emergency notification system, called Alert St. Johns.

  • Evacuation Orders: St. Johns County evacuations ordered 6 a.m. Wednesday for Zones A, B, and F south of CR-214. This includes the entire city of St. Augustine. The county is also opening the following shelters starting at noon Wednesday.

  1. Pacetti Bay Middle School, 245 Meadowlark Ln. (Special needs)

  2. Southwoods Elementary, 4750 State Road 206. (Pet-friendly)

  3. Pedro Menendez High School, 600 State Road 206 West. (General population)

  • While shelters provide safety throughout the storm, residents must bring supplies to maintain personal comfort and sustenance. St. Johns County recommends that all evacuees bring their own bedding, including sleeping bags or air mattresses, pillows, sheets, and blankets. A five-day supply of water, non-perishable food, medication, diapers, and other personal items are also suggested.

  • St. Johns County says its Emergency Management Citizen Information Line is now open if you have questions about the storm. The number is 904-824-5550.

  • St. Johns County is providing free sandbags starting at 9 a.m. on Sept. 27, 2022, at six locations throughout the County in preparation for Hurricane Ian. The sand and the bags provided are free of charge. Residents must provide their transportation and shovels and are responsible for filling their bags. There is a maximum allocation of 20 bags per person. The sand and bags are available between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 27, and Wednesday, Sept. 28, weather permitting.

  1. Windswept Acres Park - 5335 SR A1A South

  2. Solomon Calhoun Center - 1300 Duval Street

  3. Hastings Town Hall - 6195 S. Main Street

  4. Mills Field - 1805 Racetrack Road

  5. North Beach Park - 3721 Coastal Highway

  6. Palm Valley - Underneath the Palm Valley Bridge on the east side of the Intracoastal Waterway

  • The City of St. Augustine will begin sandbag operations for City residents on Tuesday, September 27, at Francis Field, beginning at 12:00pm. The sand and the bags are free of charge and there is a limit of 20 bags per person. Members of the public must provide their own transportation and shovels and are responsible for filling their own bags. Vehicles should enter Francis Field from the west off Riberia St. and follow directions. The service will continue until 5:00pm, or until the supply is depleted. For additional information about sandbag operations, please call 904.825.1010.

  • On Wednesday, September 28, beginning at 8:00am, the Historic Downtown Parking Facility in downtown St. Augustine will be open to the public, free of charge through Saturday, October 1, so that residents may park their cars at higher elevation. Also downtown at the same time, city-operated pay stations will no longer charge for parking for the duration of the storm.

  • Yard debris collection is expected to remain on schedule on Wednesday, September 28; however, other collections will be provided as weather permits. Household garbage, recycling, and yard debris collection will be suspended on Thursday, September 29th, and Friday, September 30th. When preparing for the storm, residents are reminded to secure trash and recycling bins as they can be caught in the wind and cause damage.

Clay County:

Clay County uses an emergency notification system, called Alert Clay County.

  • Evacuation orders: Clay County officials are ordering evacuations for Zones, A, B, C, and for the North and South prongs of Black Creek beginning at 12 PM Wednesday. These evacuation orders are not mandatory. If you’re unsure which zone you’re in, you can find it in Clay County’s Evacuation Zone Helper.

  • Evacuation Shelters will be opening on Wednesday, September 28

  • Special Needs Shelter opens at 8 a.m: Lake Asbury Junior High School, 2851 Sandridge Rd. Green Cove Springs, FL 32043

  • General Population shelters will open at 3 p.m.

  1. Keystone Heights High School – Pet Friendly, 900 S.W. Orchid Keystone Heights, FL 32656

  2. Orange Park High School – Pet Friendly, 2300 Kingsley Avenue Orange Park, FL 32073

  3. Clay High School, 2025 W. State Road 16 Green Cove Springs, FL 32043

  4. Wilkinson Elementary School - 4965 County Road 218W Middleburg, FL 32068

Please keep in mind that the only pets allowed are dogs, cats, rodents (such as hamsters and gerbils), rabbits, and birds, and the ADA allows a miniature horse, as long as it provided a service connected to the owner’s disability.

  • Sandbags will be available starting Tuesday morning at 8:00 until 6:00. They will be available during that timeframe until supplies run out. The allotment is ten bags out per person. Bags will be provided, but not filled. Residents need to show an ID with a county address. You can pick up sandbags at the following locations:

  1. Omega Park – 4317 County Rd 218, Middleburg

  2. Eagle Harbor Soccer Complex – 4287 Lakeshore Dr, Fleming Island

  3. City of Green Cove Springs – Old Fire Station – 25 Roderigo Avenue, Green Cove Springs

  4. Town of Keystone Heights – Keystone Heights Cemetery – 555 South Lawrence Blvd

  5. Town of Orange Park – Orange Park Athletic Association – 1086 Fromhart St, Orange Park

  • Clay County residents can call 877-252-9362 for storm-related questions.

Nassau County:

  • Evacuation Orders: Nassau County is issuing evacuation orders for zones A and D, asking everyone to be out by 8 a.m. Thursday. Find the zones map here.

  • Two shelters will be opening in Nassau County at 12 p.m. Wednesday. They include:

  1. Hilliard Middle-Senior High School (1 Flashes Ave, Hilliard) This will be a special needs shelter.

  2. Callahan Middle School (450121 Old Dixie Hwy) This will be for the general population and a pet-friendly shelter.

  • Sandbags are available at two locations: Yulee Road Department: 86200 Gene Lasserre Boulevard, Yulee, FL 32097, Hilliard Road Department: 37356 Pea Farm Road, Hilliard, FL 32046. Open now - will close at 7:00 p.m. tonight. Tomorrow from 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. until further notice. Proof of residency is required

  • Beaches will be closed at 8 A.M. Thursday.

Nassau County uses an emergency notification system, called Alert Nassau Citizen Alerts.