HURRICANE WARNING

HURRICANE WARNING IN EFFECT... STORM SURGE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT...

A Hurricane Warning means hurricane-force winds are expected somewhere within this area within the next 36 hours. POTENTIAL IMPACTS: Devastating to Catastrophic - Structural damage to sturdy buildings, some with complete roof and wall failures. Complete destruction of mobile homes. Damage greatly accentuated by large airborne projectiles. Locations may be uninhabitable for weeks or months. - Numerous large trees snapped or uprooted along with fences and roadway signs blown over. - Many roads impassable from large debris, and more within urban or heavily wooded places. Many bridges, causeways, and access routes impassable. - Widespread power and communications outages. More details available at Punta Gorda, FL Weather Alerts - The Weather Channel | Weather.com. 

Charlotte County Emergency Management has issued evacuation orders for residents in all of Zone A - Red and all of Zone B - Orange. This includes those living on the barrier islands of Don Pedro Island, Knight Island (Palm Island), Little Gasparilla Island, Gasparilla Island, and Manasota Key, as well as residents in any zone living in mobile homes and trailers.

To find your zone and evacuation routes, visit www.CharlotteCountyFL.gov/knowyourzone.

Secure your home before you leave. Be sure to take essential items for all family members:

• Medicine

• Important Papers

• Personal Items

• Clothing

• Baby supplies

• Pet Supplies

• Cash

Reminder, when islands are evacuated, Charlotte County Fire & EMS Station 10 staff are required to evacuate as well. (No helicopters are available during the storm.)

For Hurricane Ian information, call the Charlotte County Emergency Operations Center at 941-833-4000.

Shelters are Open

Shelters are open.  

Shelter space is extremely limited and all other means of evacuation and sheltering should be considered before going to a public shelter.

All residents can use the shelters, regardless of the zone they live in.  

COVID-19 positive residents can go to any shelter except Harold Avenue Regional Park Recreation Center - let check-in know and protocols will be followed.

All Charlotte County shelters are pet-friendly.

What to bring--supplies for each family member and pet:

• Sleeping bag, sleeping pad and/or blankets
• Pillow
• Personal Flashlight & Headlamps
• Disinfectant supplies, hand sanitizer, soap, cloth face coverings
• Toothbrush/Toothpaste
• Soap (could use body wipes instead of soap)
• Feminine hygiene products
• Cell phones
• Chargers/ backup battery
• Extra sets of clothes
• Extra socks and sturdy shoes
• Food or snacks (72+ hours worth)
• Books or magazine
• Prescription Medications, Eyeglasses
• Pet Care Items
• Important Documents

All four shelters are open.

• Liberty Elementary School, 370 Atwater St. Port Charlotte, FL 33954
• Neil Armstrong Elementary School, 22100 Breezeswept Ave. Port Charlotte, FL 33952
• Kingsway Elementary School, 23300 Quasar Blvd. Port Charlotte, FL 33980
• Harold Avenue Regional Park Recreation Center, 23400 Harold Ave. Port Charlotte, FL 33980

City Closures

• Herald Court Centre Parking Garage is closed until the storm has passed.
• Offices of the City of Punta Gorda are closed until Friday.
• No Sanitation Services until the storm has passed. 

Roads and Bridges

FDOT (Florida Department of Transportation) works with FHP (Florida Highway Patrol) and the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office to monitor wind conditions at bridges. When wind exceeds sustained speeds (not gusts) of specified levels, usually 40 mph, the U.S. 41 and I-75 bridges in Charlotte Harbor are closed.