Citrus County mandatory evacuation zones, school closures for Hurricane Ian

On Monday, the National Weather Service warned that officials should not wait until the last minute to prepare for the hurricane or issue evacuation notices. However, officials decided to keep schools open on Tuesday when families should have been at home preparing and getting ready for the possibility of a mandatory evacuation.

On Tuesday, the Citrus County Board of County Commissioners issued a 𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐘 𝐄𝐕𝐀𝐂𝐔𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 for Zone A.

This zone includes all low-lying areas west of U.S. Highway 19 and some areas additional areas east of U.S. Highway 19.

All other areas are advised to voluntary evacuate, especially those citizens living in mobile homes, manufactured homes, and recreational vehicles throughout the county.

Citizens may view our county’s evacuation zones here to determine if they are in this mandatory evacuation: https://cms5.revize.com/…/burea…/EM/evacuation-zones.pdf

𝐒𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐎𝐏𝐄𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐭𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐚𝐭 𝟔 𝐩.𝐦., at the following locations (PLEASE NOTE THAT NOT ALL LOCATIONS ARE OPEN, ONLY THOSE LISTED BELOW):

• Forest Ridge Elementary School (Special Needs) – 2927 North Forest Ridge Blvd., Hernando, FL 34442

• Lecanto Primary (Pet Friendly) – 3790 W Educational Path, Lecanto, FL 34461

• Central Ridge Elementary School (General Population) – 185 West Citrus Springs Blvd., Citrus Springs, FL 34434

• Citrus High School (General Population) – 600 West Highland Blvd., Inverness, FL 34452

Public shelters should be an option of last resort. Citizens should make all preparations to shelter with family or friends and exhaust all other options before utilizing a public shelter.

Sexual Offenders must report to the Citrus County Detention Facility to seek shelter if needed. The facility is located at 2604 W Woodland Ridge Dr., Lecanto, FL 34461.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐭𝐞𝐫:

– A 72-hour supply of all required medications

– All medical equipment and supplies (oxygen tanks, etc.) required for those with special needs

– Personal information (Identification with photo)

– Any special dietary needs or food (must be non-perishable)

-Extra batteries or an external power supply for electronic devices

The Citrus County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Operations Center is currently at a partial activation and will be moving to a full activation tomorrow morning at 6 a.m. The possible impacts of Hurricane Ian on our county are significant. At the moment, the goal of the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Management team is to preserve life and mitigate any sort of vulnerability our county may experience from disasters like Hurricane Ian.

Please continue to take this weather event seriously and take the time now to get last-minute essential supplies.

𝐅𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐛𝐚𝐠 𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝟖 𝐚.𝐦. 𝐭𝐨 𝟓 𝐩.𝐦., 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐬:

• 4508 S. Grandmarch Ave. in Homosassa, near Grover Cleveland Boulevard

• 7490 W Gulf to Lake Hwy, in Crystal River, on the opposite side of the road from Dan’s Clam Stand

𝐈𝐧 𝐚𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐭𝐰𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟-𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐛𝐚𝐠𝐬 𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐭:

• Bicentennial Park, 501 N Baseball Point, Crystal River

• Floral Park, 9530 S Parkside Ave, Floral City

For more information on sandbag sites, please call 352-527-7610.

Ian’s track remains unchanged, per the National Weather Services’ briefing. We can expect the earliest possible arrival of winds early Wednesday morning. Ian is currently forecasted to become a category four hurricane and Citrus should see tropical storm sustained winds and the possibility of an intense storm surge.

𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐧 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬 (𝐂𝐈𝐋) 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝟖 𝐚.𝐦. – 𝟗:𝟑𝟎 𝐩.𝐦. 𝐭𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲.

Citizens can call (352)249-2775 for information regarding Hurricane Ian and what they can do to prepare.

𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐲 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 and will be closed Wednesday, September 28th, through Friday, September 30th. After-school programs and extra-curricular activities are canceled during this time as well.

𝐀𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞, 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐲 𝐠𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐖𝐞𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟖𝐭𝐡, 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐓𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟗𝐭𝐡. This includes the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office main operations building in Inverness, and substations in Crystal River, and Beverly Hills.

The Tax Collectors’ Office and the Department of Health will be closed (Wed. & Thurs.).

Additional info.: Hospitals for those in medical need; hospitals are not a shelter.

Citizens who anticipate having to evacuate should call the county information line to identify which shelter near them will be open and where the special needs shelter(s) will be located. Those requiring oxygen should contact their suppliers to obtain extra cylinders as needed ahead of time. The hospital must focus on its inpatients. Anyone who takes medications should obtain a sufficient supply from their local pharmacy ahead of time. The hospital will be unable to assist with medications except for patients.

Please ONLY use 9-1-1 in the event of an emergency.