Hurricane Idalia Warning

Due to the impending Hurricane Idalia, the Alachua County Housing Authority will be closing on Tuesday August 29, 2023, at 1:00 PM EST, and closed Wednesday, August 30, 2023. We urge you to take all precautionary measures to be safe. We are looking forward to resuming operations on Thursday, August 31, 2023.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Alachua County, Florida

8-29-23 8:45 a.m. Hurricane Idalia Update- Weather Forecast and Shelter Information

Published on 8/29/2023

Last updated: 8/29/2023 8:45 AM

​Idalia is now a Category 1 Hurricane. It is expected to be a Category 3 Hurricane when it makes landfall.

As of the current update, rainfall of 4 to 6 inches is expected. For Alachua County, the earliest expected onset of Tropical storm winds is 2 a.m. and most likely 5 a.m. Western Alachua County is under a Hurricane Warning, while east of the I75 corridor is under a Tropical Storm Warning.

Please consider evacuation if you don’t feel safe or know your home is unsafe, please consider evacuation. Shelters will be opened at 10 a.m., and locations will be announced at that time. 

Alachua County will open two general population, pet-friendly shelters and a special medical needs shelter.

Those needing more information about the special needs shelter should call 352-955-2575. Those needing transportation to the special needs shelter should call as soon as possible.

Special needs shelters provide one cot per patient. Caregivers are asked to bring any needed bedding in case cots are unavailable. When packing to go to a shelter, please bring special dietary foods and any prescription medications. Also, bring spare clothing, personal care items (hygiene, toiletries, etc.), spare eyeglasses/contacts, and identification.

General population shelters do not provide cots or beds. Bring any needed bedding. When packing to go to a shelter, please bring special dietary foods, baby food, diapers (and other child necessities), prescription medications, and a small cooler of ice if refrigeration is needed, as the shelter cannot be responsible for your medications. Also, bring spare clothing, personal care items (hygiene, toiletries, etc.), spare eyeglasses/contacts, and identification.

Alachua County Animal Resources is closed today and tomorrow as they are focused on staffing pet-friendly shelters. The public will be informed when it reopens.

Citizens with pets are encouraged to bring basic pet supplies such as collars, leashes, crates, carriers, towels, blankets, pet medications, pet food, etc. 

Animal Resources will have supplemental supplies on hand for those in need. We encourage citizens to bring veterinary records indicating their pets are properly vaccinated. However, animals without such records will be vaccinated upon intake to minimize the spread of contagious diseases. Please remember that animals must be properly restrained throughout their stay at the emergency shelter for the safety of all involved citizens and pets.

You can find all the latest information for Alachua County at alachuacountyready.com. If you don’t have internet access or need additional information, dial 311 from your phone. If you live outside Alachua County or cannot dial 311, call 352-264-6557.

To receive all updates on County operations in response to Idalia, please text ALACHUA to 888-777.

You can check the latest forecast at weather.gov/jax.

For more information, contact Alachua County Communications Director Mark Sexton at 352-264-6979 or msexton@alachuacounty.us.

City of Gainesville, Florida

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (Aug.28, 2023) – A hurricane watch has been issued for Alachua County, meaning hurricane-force winds (sustained winds of 74 mph or higher) are possible in our area within the next 48 hours as T.S. Idalia continues moving northward into the Gulf of Mexico. The storm is expected to reach hurricane strength later today and become a major hurricane Tuesday night before making landfall.

City of Gainesville Emergency Management staff is actively monitoring the storm as there is increased risk for tornadoes from Tuesday evening through most of the day Wednesday. Neighbors are advised to finalize preparations today as rainfall is expected to reach 4-6 inches beginning tomorrow evening.

Alachua County has activated the 311 Rumor Control phone number. Please use it to verify the most up to the minute information on the storm. For life threatening emergencies, call 911. For emergencies that are not life threatening, call 352-955-1818.

Sandbag operations:

  • Pre-made sandbags will be available today from noon until 5 p.m., and from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. tomorrow, Aug. 29, at the Public Works administration building, 405 NW 39th Avenue. To best manage traffic to the Public Works facility, City officials ask neighbors to adjust their routes and drive north on NW 6th Street, turning right (east) on NW 39th Ave. There is a limit of 10 sandbags per vehicle.
  • Bags and sand to make sandbags will be available from noon until 5 p.m., and from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. tomorrow, Aug. 29, at Citizens Field, 1000 NE Waldo Rd. Please bring a shovel or trowel to fill sandbags at this location. A limit of 10 bags for filling will be provided per vehicle. Please access the site from NE 12th Avenue via Waldo Road, or travel south on NE 15th Street via NE 16th Avenue.
  • Alachua County has sandbags available for residents today, Aug. 28, until 5 p.m. and tomorrow from 8 a.m.-noon at Wayside Park (11855 N.W. US 441, Gainesville). There is a limit of 10 bags per person. More information is available on the Alachua County Ready website.

Additional resources:

  • Sign up for email, phone and text notifications at www.alertgnv.org.
  • Visit GRU.com/StormCentral for a list of important phone numbers in the event of service emergencies, as well as a link to the Gainesville Regional Utilities outage map with estimated time of restoration.
  • Develop a family emergency plan and build an emergency preparedness kit. Visit ready.gov for details.
  • Visit www.safeGNV.org for additional planning tips and all emergency management updates.

Newberry – Hurricane Idalia Information

Hurricane Idalia – Last updated 03:01 pm on 8/28

​The City of Newberry and Alachua County urges citizens to stay vigilant and prepared as we expect hurricane-force winds and heavy rain impacts to our area, starting with tropical-storm-force winds as early as Tuesday evening. There is a chance for tornadoes. For perspective, this is expected to be a much stronger storm than Tropical Storm Irma.

The Emergency Operation Center is at a Level 2 activation.  It will go to level 1 at 7 a.m. Tuesday.  

Sandbags are available at the City’s Public Work’s Compound at 120 NW 260th Street (across from Lois Forte Park). Residents need to bring their own shovels.

Please take the necessary precautions now to get you and your family ready. You should have your hurricane kits and plans in place. 

REPORT AN ISSUE

Residents needing to report a storm-related issue, other than an emergency, can report online (click here), by using our NewberryFLConnect smartphone application, or by calling 352-472-2161.

SHELTER INFORMATION 

Alachua County will be opening general population, pet friendly shelters, and a special medical needs shelter at 10 a.m. tomorrow morning (Tuesday 8/29).

Special needs shelters provide one cot per patient, but not the caregiver. Caregivers are asked to bring any needed bedding. When packing to go to a shelter, please bring special dietary foods and any prescription medications. Also, bring spare clothing, personal care items (hygiene, toiletries, etc.), spare eyeglasses/contacts, and identification.

Those needing more information about the special needs shelter should call 352-955-2575.

Shelters do not provide cots or beds. Bring any needed bedding. When packing to go to a shelter, please bring special dietary foods, baby food, diapers (and other child necessities), prescription medications, and a small cooler of ice if refrigeration is needed, as the shelter cannot be responsible for your medications. Also, bring spare clothing, personal care items (hygiene, toiletries, etc.), spare eyeglasses/contacts, and identification.

Pet-friendly shelters are intended to shelter cats, dogs, and their people safe. Citizens with pets are encouraged to bring basic pet supplies such as collars, leashes, crates, carriers, towels, blankets, pet medications, pet food, etc. Alachua County Animal Resources and Community Support Services staff will be on-site to encourage both people and animal safety. Animal Resources and Care will have supplemental supplies on hand for those in need. We encourage citizens to bring veterinary records indicating their pets are properly vaccinated. However, animals without such records will be vaccinated upon intake to minimize the spread of contagious diseases. Please remember that animals must be properly restrained throughout their stay at the emergency shelter for the safety of all involved citizens and pets.

Call 311 for more information. For the latest information on shelters, please visit the Alachua County Emergency Management Website (click here)

UTILITY ISSUES 

Power outages for City customers, downed trees, and water issues in the city’s service area may be reported online (www.NewberryFL.gov) or by calling 352-472-2161 ext 1.  All other emergencies should be reported to 911.

City of Newberry Electric Outages – 1-855-892-3861 or online here

Clay Electric Power Outages – 1-888-434-9844 or online here

Central Florida Electric Outages – 1-800-227-1302

SANDBAGS AND FLOODING

Sandbags are available at the City’s Public Work’s Compound at 120 NW 260th Street (across from Lois Forte Park). Residents need to bring their own shovels.

EVACUATIONS 

No evacuations have been ordered at this time. Please https://alachuacountyready.com/incidents/idalia for more info. 

CITY GOVERNMENT OFFICES 

Except for essential public safety services, City offices and facilities will be closed starting at 2 pm on Tuesday (8/29). Public safety vehicles and responders will stay out until wind speeds make responding too dangerous. The service will resume as soon as it is safe.

Please secure all active construction sites to prevent potential hazards from flying debris.