Hillsborough County

Newsroom

Hillsborough County, Fla. (Aug. 28, 2023) - Hillsborough County has issued a mandatory evacuation order for Evacuation Zone A, as well as those in mobile and manufactured homes and residents in low-lying areas prone to flooding, beginning at 2 p.m. today, Monday, Aug. 28.  Visit HCFLGov.net/StaySafe for details about Hillsborough County's evacuation zones and additional storm preparation information.Shelter InformationThe County will open two shelters at 2 p.m. today, Monday, Aug. 28. Residents are urged to use shelters as a last resort and contact friends and family as a first option.General Population Shelter opening at 2 p.m. today:

Hillsborough Community College at The Regent, 6437 Watson Rd., Riverview, FL 33578 

Special Needs Shelter opening at 2 p.m. today:

Erwin Technical, 2010 E. Hillsborough Ave., Tampa, FL 33610 (Pet-friendly)

The County will open eight additional shelters at 4 p.m. today, Monday, Aug. 28. Please don't arrive before 4 p.m. to these shelters. They are scheduled to open at 4 p.m.General Population Shelters opening at 4 p.m. today:

Lockhart Elementary Magnet School, 3719 N. 17th St., Tampa, FL 33610

Middelton High School, 4801 N. 22nd St., Tampa, FL 33610 (Pet-friendly)

Newsome High School, 16550 Fishhawk Blvd., Lithia, FL 33547

Pizzo Elementary, 11701 USF Bull Run, Tampa, FL 33620

Reddick Elementary, 325 West Lake Dr., Wimauma, FL 33598

Shields Middle School, 15732 Beth Shields Way, Ruskin, FL 33573 (Pet-friendly)

Steinbrenner High School, 5575 W. Lutz Lake Fern Rd., Lutz, FL 33558 (Pet-friendly)

Sgt. Paul R. Smith Middle School, 14303 Citrus Pointe Dr., Tampa, FL 33625

The special needs shelters are only for residents with medical issues that require electricity assistance or who have cognitive issues that would not be supported in a general population shelter.

Residents bringing pets to the pet-friendly shelters need to bring a sturdy carrier for each pet that allows room for the pet to stand up and move around, as well as a collar with a leash and supplies for each pet to last seven days. More information on how residents can prepare their pets can be found here.

Residents are urged not to evacuate to hospitals, as they are not shelters. Hillsborough County Emergency Officials to Hold News Conference at 2 p.m. Today

Hillsborough County emergency officials will host a news conference at 2 p.m. today, Monday, Aug. 28, at the Hillsborough County Public Safety Operations Complex, 9450 E. Columbus Dr., Tampa, FL 33619, in anticipation of Tropical Storm Idalia. There will be a briefing from County Administrator Bonnie Wise, Hillsborough County Office of Emergency Management Director Timothy Dudley, and other officials. The public is invited to watch the briefing via Hillsborough County's YouTube Channel or Facebook page.

Sandbag InformationHillsborough County will continue making sandbags available at four locations. On Monday, Aug. 28, the below four sandbag locations are open until 7 p.m. and will be open from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 29.   Sandbags are available at the following locations: 

Edward Medard Conservation Park, 6140 Turkey Creek Rd., Plant City, FL 33567 

E.G. Simmons Conservation Park, 2401 19th Ave. NW, Ruskin, FL 33570  

Ed Radice Sports Complex, 14720 Ed Radice Dr., Tampa, FL 33626 

Larry Sanders Sports Complex, 5855 S. 78th St., Tampa, FL 33619 

Hillsborough County residents are eligible for a maximum of 10 sandbags per family. Residents must show ID verifying they live in the County; a driver's license or utility bill will serve as proper identification.  Trash, Yard Waste, and Recycling CollectionsTrash, recycling, and yard waste collections will continue as normal on Tuesday, Aug. 29. However, there will be no trash, recycling, or yard waste collections on Wednesday, Aug. 30. Residents who do not receive garbage collection on Wednesday due to the storm will receive garbage collection on Saturday as part of their next normal collection service. All Solid Waste facilities will also be closed on Wednesday, Aug. 30.Get Connected. Stay Alert.  For more information on any other potential emergency in the county, visit HCFLGov.net/StaySafe and sign up for the HCFL Alert system. Additionally, you can follow Hillsborough County on social media at Facebook; X, formerly known as Twitter; and Nextdoor for updates.  

Residents without digital access are encouraged to call 833-HC STORM or 833-427-8676, the County's storm information line, or visit HCFLGov.net/StaySafe.