President Obama declared a State of Emergency in Florida Thursday because of Hurricane Matthew; a Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for all or parts of Levy, Citrus, Hernando, Pasco, Polk and some counties to the east of Tampa Bay. A Tropical Storm watch for Hillsborough, Pinellas, Manatee and Sarasota Counties. The category 4 hurricane is expected to skirt Florida’s east coast through Friday.
Public Schools are closed Friday in Citrus, Pasco, Hillsborough, Pinellas, Manatee Polk and Hardee Counties.
Some Hillsborough Schools will be used as shelters.
The City of Tampa writes: “In an effort to provide an alternate location for Tampa residents, including kids and seniors, to go because of closures due to the storm, the City of Tampa will open all Recreation facilities from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. tomorrow [Friday] free of charge.”
All Pasco-Hernando State College campuses will be closed from Thursday evening through Monday morning.
Saint Leo University will be closed on Friday.
Citrus County government reports that “residents can expect winds on Friday ranging from 40 mph to gusts of up to 55 to 60 mph. Some rain is expected but storm surge is not predicted.” Two Citrus shelters will open at 5:00 p.m. Thursday.
One shelter is opening in Brooksville in Hernando County and there are four shelters in Manatee County.
In Pasco County, there is a shelter at Wiregrass Ranch High School, 2909 Mansfield Blvd., Wesley Chapel.
According to Governor Rick Scott’s office, “state offices in Alachua, Columbia, DeSoto, Hardee, Hamilton, Hillsborough, Levy, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Suwannee, and Union Counties will be closed Friday.”
Here’s information from the Washington Post.
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