Hurricane Milton reaches Cat 5, mandatory evacuation order issued for some Marion residents

[National Weather Service in Jacksonville]

Hurricane Milton has reached a Category 5 strength as it moves through the Gulf of Mexico and is expected to make landfall on the Florida Gulf Coast on Wednesday, according to the National Hurricane Center.

The Marion County Sheriff’s Office has issued a mandatory evacuation order for those living in mobile homes, RVs, modular-type homes, and any structure in which the resident feels unsafe. The mandatory evacuation order will go into effect on Tuesday at 6 p.m.

A hurricane warning has been issued for the entirety of Marion County.

Hurricane-force winds are possible over Marion County. Tropical Storm force winds and gusts to hurricane force are possible west of I-75 south of Hamilton County.

This wind is expected to cause widespread downed trees and powerlines, significant power outages and damage to structures and mobile homes possible in the Suwannee Valley and Marion County.

Across the region, flooding of urban, low-lying, coastal and poor drainage areas is expected.

The heaviest rainfall will occur Tuesday night through Wednesday night. At the high-end scenario for rainfall, Ocala could see 10 to 15 inches of rain.

As of 5 p.m. Eastern Time on Monday, Hurricane Milton is located at 21.8°N 90.8°W. It is moving east at 10 mph with a minimum pressure of 905 mb and maximum sustained winds of 180 mph.

Shelter Locations:

Open at 6 p.m. Tuesday.

General Population Shelters:

• Belleview Middle School, 10500 SE 36th Avenue, Belleview, FL
• Forest High School, 5000 SE Maricamp Road, Ocala, FL
• Fort McCoy School, 16160 NE Highway 315, Fort McCoy, FL
• Horizon Academy at Marion Oaks, 365 Marion Oaks Drive, Ocala, FL
• Liberty Middle School, 4773 SW 95th Street, Ocala, FL
• Madison Street Academy, 401 NW Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, Ocala, FL
• North Marion Middle School, 2085 W Highway 329, Citra, FL

Special Needs Shelters:

• West Port High School, 3733 SW 80th Avenue, Ocala, FL (pets of special needs residents allowed)

Pet-Friendly Shelter:

• Lake Weir High School, 10351 SE Maricamp Road, Ocala, FL
• Vanguard High School, 7 NW 28th Street, Ocala, FL

Sexual Offender and Predator Shelter:

The MCSO Sexual Offender and Predator Unit will close to the public for registration activities on Tuesday, October 8, 2024, at 4:00 p.m. and will open as an emergency shelter for Registered Sexual Offenders and Predators at 6:00 p.m. that day. Please contact the unit by phone during normal business hours to request early acceptance. Emergency acceptances will be handled as needed after the shelter opens.

• MCSO Sexual Offender and Predator Unit, 3300 NW 10th Street, Ocala, FL

“Those seeking shelter should bring their own medications, food, and other essentials. Pet owners seeking shelter for animals should bring their own pet supplies, including crates,” according to MCSO.

Sandbag information:

Locations are self-serve, bags are provided, and a limited number of shovels will be available at the sites. Limit of 10 bags per vehicle.

Tuscawilla Park (Reilly Arts Center): 800 NE Sanchez Ave, Ocala

ED Croskey Recreation Center: 1510 NW Fourth St, Ocala

Jervey Gantt Park: 2200 SE 36th Ave, Ocala

Dunnellon Public Works: 11924 Bostick St., Dunnellon

Wrigley Field: 405 County Rd East 316, Citra

John Van Fleet Sports Complex: 14445 NE 14th Street Road, Ocala

Belleview Sports Complex: 6501 SE 107th St, Belleview

Martel Recycling Center: 296 SW 67th Ave Rd, Ocala

 Marion Oaks: 294 Marion Oaks Lane, Ocala, (Behind the Community Center)

Call the Marion County Emergency Management Citizen’s Information Line please at (352)369-7500 for non-emergency inquiries. In case of emergency, call 911.