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Tropical Storm Idalia: Shelters opening in Northeast Florida, Southeast Georgia

By Debbie Lord, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
First Alert Weather: Shelter Locations First Alert Weather: Shelter Locations
By Debbie Lord, Cox Media Group National Content Desk

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — As Idalia takes aim at Florida, shelters are beginning to open.

Where to find shelter:

Northeast Florida:

In Duval County, here are the shelters that are opening Tuesday at noon:

  • The Legends Center - (5130 Soutel Dr.), open for general population and special needs.
  • Chimney Lakes Elementary – (9353 Staples Mill Dr.), open for general population and pet-friendly.
  • Landmark Middle - (101 Kernan Blvd), open for general population and pet-friendly.
  • Atlantic Coast High - School (9735 R.G. Skinner Pkwy), special needs only.
  • Oceanway Elementary – (12555 Gillespie Ave.), open for general population.
  • LaVilla School of the Arts - (501 N. Davis St.), open specifically for homeless individuals.

In Nassau County, here is information on the shelter that is opening:

  • A shelter will open on Tuesday at 8:00 a.m. at Wildlight Elementary, 550 Curiosity Ave, Yulee, FL 32097. This shelter will accept the general population, special needs residents, and pets with Rabies vaccinations.

In Clay County, here are the local shelters that are opening on Tuesday at 3 p.m.:

  • Lake Asbury Junior High - Special needs
  • Keystone Heights High School - General population and pet-friendly
  • Orange Park High School - General population and pet-friendly

In Baker County, here is information on the shelter opening Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.:

  • The General Population Shelter located at Macclenny Elementary School, 1 Wild Kitten Drive in Macclenny, and the Special Needs Shelter at Ed Fraser Memorial Hospital located at 159 N 3rd St in Macclenny will open on Tuesday, August 29 at 6:30 PM.

In Bradford County, here is the local shelter information from the Sheriff’s Office Emergency Management Division:

  • Due to the anticipated impacts of Hurricane Idalia, Bradford County will open a General Population, Special Needs, and Pet Friendly shelter at the Bradford County Fairgrounds beginning Tuesday at 4 p.m.

In Union County, here is shelter information shared by the Sheriff’s Office:

  • Union County shelters will open at Union County High School at 5 p.m. Tuesday.

In Columbia County, here is information about the shelters opening Tuesday at 6 p.m.:

  • Fort White High School- 17828 SW SR47 (Ft. White)
  • Richardson Community Center-255 NE Coach Anders Ln
  • Winfield Community Center 1324 N W Winfield St
  • Westside Community Center 431 SW Birley Ave
  • Westside Elementary (special needs shelter)- 1956 CR 252B

SPECIAL NEEDS SHELTER INFORMATION

  • If you are planning to utilize a special needs shelter plan to bring all medical equipment that you require AND One caregiver. The caregiver will provide the majority of your care, Health Department staff are there to assist, when needed.
  • Pets are not allowed, only service animals.
  • Plan to bring food.
  • Special needs shelters are a last resort, you should plan to stay with family or friends, or a hotel as a first option.

St. Johns County has lifted the mandatory evacuation order, effective immediately:

  • All storm shelters closing at 2 p.m. on Wed., Aug. 30.

In Putnam County, the following shelters open at 5 p.m. Tuesday:

  • Kelley Smith Elementary School – Special Needs Shelter – 141 Kelley Smith School Rd, Palatka
  • Ochwilla Elementary School – Pet-Friendly Shelter – 299 State Rd 21, Hawthorne
  • Jenkins Elementary School – 251 County Rd 315, Interlachen
  • Browning Pearce Elementary School – 100 Bear Blvd, San Mateo
  • Middleton Burney Elementary School – 1020 Huntington Rd, Crescent City
  • QI Roberts Junior/Senior High School – 901 State Route 100, Florahome

Southeast Georgia:

In Camden County, here is the shelter information:

A shelter of LAST RESORT has opened at the Camden County PSA Recreation Center at 1050 Wildcat Drive in Kingsland, Georgia.

How to find a shelter

Here, from the Red Cross, is what you need to do to find a shelter and what you need to bring.

You can find information for open Red Cross shelters on redcross.org, the free Red Cross Emergency app or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

Download the app by searching “American Red Cross” in your app store or by going to redcross.org/apps.

Everyone in Red Cross emergency shelters is required to wear face coverings. Help is free and anyone is welcome, the Red Cross said in a statement. The agency does not require identification to enter a shelter.

You can also find a list of open shelters at floridadisaster.org.

Another option to find open shelters is to follow your county and city officials on social media.

What about pets?

According to the Red Cross, some shelters can accommodate pets, while others may not be able to.

“Our workers will do all they can to accommodate service animals and domesticated pets comfortably,” the organization said. “If you go to a shelter, please bring your own animal crate, supplies, medications and food whenever possible. Depending on the situation, pets may need to be housed in a different location with support from animal welfare groups.”

What do you bring to a shelter?

  • Prescription medications
  • Extra clothing
  • Pillows
  • Blankets
  • Hygiene supplies
  • Comfort items
  • Important documents

If you are bringing children to a shelter, bring diapers, formula and toys.

©2022 Cox Media Group

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