News Update for 10/9/24
A Tornado Watch is now in effect for Highlands County until 9:00PM tonight. Rain bands ahead of Milton today could produce isolated tornados. Residents are urged to shelter in a safe place by 12:00PM noon, as we will start to see tropical storm force winds in our area anywhere from 2:00PM- 10:00PM.
At 8:00AM a voluntary evacuation went into effect for all residents of mobile home parks, RV parks, and low-lying areas. Please seek refuge at any of the posted shelters in Highlands County or with family and/or loved ones who live in a sturdy structure in our community.
Medical Transportation Management is providing complimentary rides to the shelters. Three general population shelters are open at the Alan Jay Arena at the Highlands County Fairgrounds in Sebring, The Avon Park Recreation Center, and the Lake Placid Highschool. The Special Needs shelter is at the Bert J. Harris Agricultural Center. Call to schedule your ride with MTM- In Avon Park you can call 863-452-0139, In Sebring you can call 863-382-0139, and in Lake Placid you can call 863-699-0995. You will also need to call after the storm passes to schedule a ride home. In addition- Uber is offering free rides to and from shelters as well- just use code MILTONRELIEF.
During the storm, residents are urged to stay inside. Even if it looks calm, please stay inside until you hear or see an official message that the hurricane is over. Do not open doors, stay away from windows, and if possible, stay in a room with no windows or a closet. After the storm passes, residents are urged to remain indoors for the first 48 hours so that the roads can be clear for first responders responding to medical calls and assessing any damages. In the event of a power outage make sure your generator is outside of your home and not placed inside or in the garage. The Highlands County Sheriff’s Office is also reminding everyone that in the event of an inoperative traffic light, motorists are to treat the intersection as a 4-way stop and use extreme caution.
Three general population shelters and a special needs shelter opened in Highlands County at 8:00AM this morning. The AP shelter is the only pet friendly shelter. General shelter locations are the Alan Jay Arena located at 781 Magnolia Avenue in Sebring, the Avon Park Rec Center at 207 E. State Street in Avon Park, and Lake Placid High School at 202 Green Dragon Drive in Lake Placid. The only pets accepted at the AP shelter will be cats and dogs and there is a limit of two. Pets must be crated, up to date on their shots, and a pet shelter application filled out prior to arrival. Proof of vaccinations is also required. The special needs shelter will be located at the Bert J. Harris Ag Center at 4509 George Blvd. in Sebring. To access the special needs shelter you must register as soon as possible by calling 863-386-6040, going online to www.highlandsfl.gov, or arriving to the special needs shelter as close to 8:00AM as possible so staff can assist.