Many Tampa Bay counties have issued mandatory evacuations for residents in preparation for Hurricane Ian. Counties across the bay have opened up shelters to those in mandated evacuation zones as early as 2 p.m. Monday, Sept. 26. We will update this list as needed from ABC Action News.
This list includes pet friendly shelters as well. Keep in mind that to visit a pet friendly shelter you’ll need:
- Proof of current rabies vaccination and license for dogs and cats.
- Your pet must be on a leash or in a carrier.
- A crate large enough for your pet to stand up and turn around. Cats need a crate large enough to contain litter and food/water
- Bring all pet supplies to include: crate, food, water, litter, treats, cleaning supplies, medicines.
All residents should check their local county’s website to ensure they have all information for shelters. Check your county information below.
Hillsborough County Shelters
Hillsborough County has opened a new special-needs shelter at the Yuengling Center, located at 12499 USF Bull Run Drive, Tampa, FL 33617, on the University of South Florida campus.
This shelter accepts pets for those with special needs. Residents seeking a shelter are encouraged to make arrangements as soon as possible.
Erwin Technical College, a special-needs shelter located at 2010 E. Hillsborough Ave., Tampa, is at capacity and is now closed.
Below is the list of shelters currently open to residents:
General Population Shelters
Burnett Middle, 1010 N Kingsway Rd., Seffner (Pet-friendly)
Durant High School, 4748 Cougar Path, Plant City (Pet-friendly)
Lockhart Elementary, 3719 N 17th St., Tampa
Middleton High School, 4801 N 22nd St., Tampa
Newsome High School, 16550 Fishhawk Blvd., Lithia
Pizzo Elementary, 11701 Bull Run, Tampa
Reddick Elementary, 325 West Lake Dr., Wimauma
Sickles High School, 7950 Gunn Highway, Tampa (Pet-friendly)
Steinbrenner High School, 5575 W. Lutz Lake Fern Rd., Lutz (Pet-friendly)
Valrico Elementary, 609 S Miller Rd., Valrico
Benito Middle, 10101 Cross Creek Blvd., Tampa
Boyette Springs Elementary, 10141 Sedgebrook Dr., Riverview
Sessums Elementary, 11525 Ramble Creek Dr., Tampa
Cypress Creek Elementary, 4040 19th Ave. NE, Ruskin
Hammond Elementary, 8008 N. Mobley Rd., Odessa
Jennings Middle, 9325 Govenors Rd., Seffner
Marshall Middle, 18 S. Maryland Ave., Plant City
Mulrennan Middle, 4215 Durant Rd., Tampa
Nelson Elementary, 5413 Durant Rd., Tampa
Shields Middle, 15732 Beth Shields Way, Ruskin (Pet-friendly)
Turner Elementary, 9020 Imperial Oaks Blvd., Tampa
Wharton High School, 20150 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., Tampa
Bartels Middle, 9190 Imperial Oaks Blvd., Tampa (Pet-friendly)
Barrington Middle, 5925 Village Center Dr., Lithia (Pet-friendly)
Brandon High School, 1101 Victoria St., Brandon
Cimino Elementary, 4329 Culbreath Rd., Valrico
Knights Elementary, 4815 N. Keene Rd., Plant City
Martinez Middle, 5601 W. Lutz Lake Fern Rd., Lutz
McKitrick Elementary, 5503 Lutz Lake Fern Rd., Lutz
Pride Elementary, 10310 Lions Den Dr., Tampa
Smith, Sgt. Paul Middle, 14303 Citrus Pointe Dr., Tampa (Pet-friendly)
Summerfield Elementary, 11990 Big Bend Rd., Riverview
Tomlin Middle, 501 N. Woodrow Wilson, Plant City
Turkey Creek Middle, 5005 Turkey Creek Rd., Plant City
Dorothy York Innovation Academy, 5995 Covington Garden Drive, Apollo Beach
Bevis Elementary, 5720 Osprey Ridge Dr., Lithia
Bowers-Whitley Career Center, 13609 N. 22nd St., Tampa
Wilson Elementary, 702 English St., Plant City
Cannella Elementary, 10707 Nixon Rd., Tampa
Special-Needs Shelters
Sumner High School, 10650 County Road 672, Riverview (Pet-friendly for those with special needs)
Strawberry Crest High School, 4691 Gallagher Rd., Dover (Pet-friendly for those with special needs)
Riverview High School, 11311 Boyette Rd., Riverview (Pet-friendly for those with special needs)
Yuengling Center, 12499 USF Bull Run Drive, Tampa (Pet-friendly for those with special needs)
The special-needs shelters are only for residents with medical issues that require electricity assistance or have cognitive issues that would not be supported in a general population shelter.
Pinellas County Shelters
Click here to visit the county website
Open Monday, September 26 at 6 p.m.
- Lealman Exchange
- 5175 45th St. N., St. Petersburg
- Special needs
- Largo High School
- 410 Missouri Ave. N., Largo
- Pet friendly
- Ross Norton Recreation Center
- 1426 S, MLK Jr. Ave. Clearwater
Open Tuesday, September 27 at 7 a.m.
- Gibbs High
- 850 34th St S, St. Petersburg
- Pet friendly
- Dunedin Highland Middle
- 70 Patricia Ave, Dunedin
- Special needs
- John Hopkins Middle
- 701 16th St S, St. Petersburg
- Special needs
- Ross Norton Recreation Center
- 1426 S Martin Luther King Jr Ave, Clearwater
- Skycrest Elementary
- 10 N Corona Ave, Clearwater
- SPC Midtown
- 1300 22nd Street S, St. Petersburg
- Bauder Elementary
- 12755 86th Ave N, Seminole
- Belleair Elementary
- 1156 Lakeview Rd, Clearwater
- Campbell Park Elementary
- 1051 7th Ave S, St. Petersburg
- Carwise Middle
- 3301 Bently Dr, Palm Harbor
- Clearwater Fundamental
- 1660 Palmetto St, Clearwater
- Douglas L. Jamerson Elementary
- 1200 37th St S, St. Petersburg
- Dunedin Elementary
- 900 Union St, Dunedin
- Fairmount Park Elementary
- 575 41st St S, St. Petersburg
- James B. Sanderlin IB World School
- 2350 22nd Ave S, St. Petersburg
- John M. Sexton Elementary
- 1997 54th Ave N, St. Petersburg
- Lealman Innovation Academy
- 4900 28th St N, Lealman
- McMullen-Booth Elementary
- 3025 Union St, Clearwater
- Melrose Elementary
- 1752 13th Ave S, St. Petersburg
- Mildred Helms Elementary
- 561 Clearwater Largo Rd S, Largo
- New Heights Elementary
- 3901 37th St N, St. Petersburg
- Palm Harbor Middle
- 1800 Tampa Rd, Palm Harbor
- Lealman Exchange
Pasco County
Click here to visit the county website
Open Tuesday, September 27 at 10 a.m.
- Fivay High School
- 12115 Chicago Avenue, Hudson
- Pet friendly
- Wiregrass Ranch High School
- 2909 Mansfield Boulevard, Wesley Chapel
- Special needs
- Pet friendly
- River Ridge Middle and High Schools
- 11646 Town Center Road, New Port Richey
- Pet friendly
- Sunlake High School
- 3023 Sunlake Boulevard, Land O’ Lakes
- Pet friendly
- Fasano Regional Hurricane Center
- 11611 Denton Avenue, Hudson
- Special needs
- Pet friendly
- Pasco Middle School
- 13925 14th Street, Dade City
- Thomas E. Weightman Middle School
- 30649 Wells Road, #3903, Wesley Chapel
- Wesley Chapel High School
- 30651 Wells Avenue, Wesley Chapel
- Cypress Creek Middle School
- 8845 Old Pasco Road, Wesley Chapel
- Centennial Middle School
- 38505 Centennial Road, Dade City
- Fivay High School
Hernando County Shelter
Click here to visit the county website.
Open Tuesday, September 27 at 9 a.m.
- The Mining Association Enrichment Center
- 800 John Gary Grubbs Blvd., Brooksville, FL 34601
- Pet friendly
- Challenger K-8
- 13400 Elgin Blvd., Spring Hill, FL 34609
- Special needs
- Explorer K-8
- 10252 Northcliffe Blvd., Spring Hill, FL 34608
- Pet friendly
- D.S. Parrott Middle School
- 19220 Youth Drive, Brooksville, 34601
- Pet Friendly
- Deltona Elementary
- 2055 Deltona Blvd., Spring Hill, 34606
- Nature Coast Technical High School
- 4057 California St. , Brooksville, 34604
- Fox Chapel Middle School
- 9412 Fox Chapel Lane, Spring Hill, 34606
- Moton Elementary
- 7175 Emerson Road, Brooksville, 34601
- Chocachatti Elementary
- 4135 California St. , Brooksville, 34604
- Springstead High School
- 3300 Mariner Blvd., Spring Hill, 34609
- Hernando High School
- 700 Bell Ave., Brooksville, 34601
- West Hernando Middle School
- 14325 Ken Austin Parkway, Brooksville, 34613
- Weeki Wachee High School
- 12150 Vespa Way, Weeki Wachee, 34614
- Central High School
- 14075 Ken Austin Parkway, Brooksville, 34613
- The Mining Association Enrichment Center
Manatee County Shelters
Click here to visit the county website
Open Tuesday, September 27 at 8 a.m.
- Braden River High School
- 6120 26th Street West, Bradenton
- Pet friendly
- Manatee High School
- 902 33rd Street Court West, Bradenton
- Pet friendly
- Mills Elementary School
- 7200 69th Street East, Palmetto
- Pet friendly
- Harvey Elementary School
- 8610 115th Ave. East, Parrish
- Myakka Elementary School
- 37205 Manatee Ave., Myakka City
- Bayshore Elementary School
- 6120 26th Street West, Bradenton
- Miller Elementary School
- 601 43rd Street West, Bradenton
- Freedom Elementary School
- 9515 State Road 64 East, Bradenton
- McNeal Elementary School
- 6325 Lorraine Road, Bradenton
- Gullett Elementary School
- 12125 44th Ave. East, Bradenton
- Rogers Garden Elementary School
- 515 13th Ave West, Bradenton
- Lee Middle School
- 4000 53rd Avenue West, Bradenton
- Williams Elementary School
- 3404 Fort Hamer Road, Parrish
- Willis Elementary School
- 14705 The Masters Avenue, Bradenton
- Braden River High School
Sarasota County Shelters
Click here to visit the county website
Open Tuesday, September 27 at 12 p.m.
- Atwater Elementary School
- 4701 Huntsville Ave, North Port, FL 34288
- Pet friendly
- Booker High School
- 3201 N Orange Ave, Sarasota, FL 34234
- Pet friendly
- Brookside Middle School
- 3636 S Shade Ave, Sarasota, FL 34239
- Pet friendly
- Fruitville Elementary School
- 601 Honore Ave, Sarasota, FL 34232
- Pet friendly
- Gulf Gate Elementary School
- 6500 S Lockwood Ridge Rd, Sarasota, FL 34231
- Pet friendly
- Heron Creek Middle School
- 6501 W Price Blvd, North Port, FL 34291
- Pet friendly
- North Port High School
- 6400 W Price Blvd, North Port, FL 34291
- Pet friendly
- Phillippi Shores Elementary School
- 4747 S Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34231
- Pet friendly
- Riverview High School
- 1 Ram Way, Sarasota, FL 34231
- Pet friendly
- Southside Elementary School
- 1901 Webber St, Sarasota, FL 34239
- Pet friendly
- Taylor Ranch Elementary School
- 2500 Taylor Ranch Trail, Venice, FL 34293
- Pet friendly
- Woodland Middle School
- 2700 Panacea Blvd, North Port, FL 34289
- Pet friendly
- Atwater Elementary School
Polk County Shelters
Click here to visit the county website.
Open Tuesday, September 27 at 12:00 p. m.:
- Tenoroc High School
- 4905 Saddle Creek Rd., Lakeland
- Pet Friendly
- Lake Region High School
- 1995 Thunder Road, Eagle Lake
- Pet Friendly
- Haines City High School
- 2800 Hornet Drive, Haines City
- Pet Friendly
- Horizons Elementary School
- 1700 Forest Lake Dr, Davenport
- Sleepy Hill Elementary School
- 2285 Sleepy Hill Rd, Lakeland
- R. Bruce Wagner Elementary School
- 5500 Yates Rd, Lakeland
- Chain Of Lakes Elementary School
- 7001 Hwy 653, Winter Haven
- Mulberry Middle School
- 500 SE Martin Luther King Jr Ave, Mulberry
- Spessard Holland Elementary
- 2342 E.F. Griffin Rd, Bartow
- Auburndale High School
- 1 Bloodhound Trail, Auburndale
- Citrus Ridge Academy
- 1775 Sand Mine Rd, Davenport
- George Jenkins High School
- 6000 Lakeland Highlands Rd, Lakeland
- Highlands Grove Elementary
- 4510 Lakeland Highlands Rd, Lakeland
- Kathleen High School
- 1100 Red Devil Way, Lakeland
- Lake Marion Creek Middle School
- 3055 Lake Marion Creek Dr, Poinciana
- Winter Haven High School
- 600 6th St SE, Winter Haven
- Tenoroc High School
What Should You Bring To A Shelter?
Shelters are typically schools or community centers that provide a large hardened area inside a sturdy building. Shelters may be crowded, noisy and uncomfortable, with very little privacy. In most shelters you may be asked for identification, so have that handy.
If you do need to shelter in a County evacuation shelter keep in mind:
- Evacuation shelters will not have cots, blankets or food for residents.
- Bring water: one gallon per person, per day , Food: non-perishable, easy-to-prepare items, Bedding: pillows and blankets, Medications, medical items and supplies (hearing aids with extra batteries, glasses, contact lenses, syringes, etc.), Sanitation and personal hygiene items, a few changes of clothes, extra socks, Baby supplies (bottles, formula, baby food, diapers)
- Shelters may lose electricity. Bring a hand fan or battery operated fan, and a flashlight with batteries
- It may not be a bad idea to neatly bring books, games, magazines, cards.
- If you have specific comfort needs (i.e. special dietary or snacks), plan to get those items ahead of time.
- Don’t bring alcoholic beverages, illegal drugs, weapons
