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Volusia County Hurricane Milton 5am Update

Volusia County has been placed under both a Hurricane Watch and Flood Watch as Hurricane Milton gains strength and approaches Florida. Currently, the National Weather Service is predicting significant impacts from the storm to start arriving late Wednesday evening and lasting into Thursday morning. Local impacts potentially include up to 12 inches of rainfall, with higher localized amounts possible, and tropical storm to category 1-strength winds.

Evacuation Order

Volusia County has enacted an evacuation order for Hurricane Milton beginning at 8 a.m. TODAY, for the following:

• All areas east of the intracoastal waterway

• All manufactured and mobile homes

• All low-lying areas and other areas prone to flooding

• All campsites and RV recreational parks

Residents meeting the above criteria should seek short-distance evacuations to a nearby safe location, stay with friends or family, or stay at an emergency shelter.

Source: Volusia County

Peak Storm Surge Forecast

Flooding Fears Prompt Widespread Evacuations in Volusia Ahead of Hurricane Milton

Volusia County has expanded evacuation orders ahead of Hurricane Milton, now including low-lying areas west of the Intracoastal Waterway in addition to east-side zones. Officials warn the storm could cause flooding reminiscent of Hurricane Ian, with up to 15 inches of rain, five feet of storm surge, and potentially Category 1 winds. Mandatory evacuations are in place for residents in mobile homes and flood-prone areas. Schools will be closed Wednesday through Friday, and beach driving will be suspended. Shelters, including a pet-friendly one at Mainland High School, will open at 9 a.m. Wednesday. A countywide curfew will take effect from 8 p.m. Wednesday to 8 a.m. Thursday. Authorities stress the need for residents to take the storm seriously, as heavy rainfall and surges could pose serious threats despite the county not being in the direct path of the hurricane. Residents can check evacuation zones on the county’s website or call the information center.

Source: See Full Story at Ormond Observer

County Sandbag Distributions End Today At Noon

Volusia County sandbag operations will be open from 9 a.m. to noon today, while supplies last. This is the last opportunity for Volusia County residents to fill sandbags at the following locations:

• Volusia County Fire Rescue Station 22, Oak Hill Station, 213 N. U.S. Highway 1, Oak Hill

• Volusia County Fire Rescue Station 23, Turnbull Station, 1850 Pioneer Trail, New Smyrna Beach

• Volusia County Fire Rescue Station 34, Indian Mound Station, 1700 Enterprise-Osteen Road, Osteen

• Volusia County Fire Rescue Station 45, St. Johns Station, 2580 W. State Road 44, DeLand

• Volusia County Fairgrounds, 3100 E. New York Ave., DeLand

There is a limit of 10 sandbags per household and residents are reminded to bring a shovel. Proof of Volusia County residency is required at all five County-operated locations. Several municipalities are also distributing sandbags. Most require proof of residency within their jurisdiction. Residents living in incorporated cities should contact their local government for eligibility guidelines.

Volusia County staff will continue coordinating with state officials and the National Weather Service to assess potential local impacts from the storm. Residents can stay updated by downloading the Volusia Emergency Management app, following the County’s social media channels, or visiting www.volusia.org.

Source: Volusia County

Votran Prepares for Hurricane Milton with Free Rides to Shelters and Service Adjustments

Votran will operate regular bus routes as long as storm conditions permit today, Oct. 9. Based on current weather projections, final buses will depart their starting points at 4 p.m., with all operations ending at 5 p.m. All Votran vehicles will be removed from the roads once winds reach sustained speeds of 35 mph. After the storm, Votran will assess the roads and resume once conditions allow.

In coordination with Volusia County Emergency Management, Votran is facilitating emergency preparations. With emergency shelters across Volusia County opening tomorrow morning, Votran will offer free transportation to these locations. During a declared emergency evacuation order, all Votran bus stops will serve as evacuation assembly points.

For individuals with special needs who cannot access regular bus stops, Votran encourages them to contact their customer service team directly to arrange transportation as soon as possible.

Shelter Transfer Points and Special Routes

Starting at 9 a.m. today, four transfer points will facilitate transitions between Votran and school buses bound for shelters. These points include the Transfer Plaza in Daytona Beach, DeLand ITF (Routes 30 & 31), Market Place Connection Point in Orange City (Routes 31 & 33), and the Julia & Sams Connection Point in New Smyrna Beach (Route 40, NSB Flex, and Edgewater Flex Services).

A special evacuation route will also operate in Edgewater and Oak Hill from 8 a.m. Wednesday until weather conditions deteriorate. This route, marked "Evacuation Bus," will travel along US-1 from New Smyrna Beach to Oak Hill, looping back to where evacuees can transfer to school buses.

Route 60 will run hourly on Wednesday. The last full route departs from the Transfer Plaza and Amelia Superstop at 3:32 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., respectively. A final trip at 4:02 p.m. from the Transfer Plaza will only go as far as the Volusia County Branch Jail.

Limited Votran Gold and VoRide Operations

On Wednesday, Votran Gold Service will prioritize life-sustaining trips and automatically cancel all non-essential trips. The service will conclude at noon. The Votran office lobby will remain closed on Wednesday and Thursday.

VoRide services in West Volusia will continue as long as safety allows. Riders are advised to complete essential travel before conditions deteriorate.

Post-Storm Services and Re-entry

Votran is committed to facilitating evacuees' swift return to their homes. This decision will be coordinated with county, state, and municipal law enforcement agencies, as well as adjacent counties, and publicly announced.

Upon resumption after the storm, Votran bus service will follow a modified schedule until road conditions are deemed safe for travel. Some routes may be altered or suspended based on roadway assessments.

Contact Votran

For further information or assistance, residents can contact Votran at the following numbers: Daytona Beach at 386-761-7700, West Volusia at 386-943-7033, and New Smyrna Beach at 386-424-6800.

Source: Volusia County

Volusia County Shelters to Open Today for Hurricane Milton

In preparation for Hurricane Milton, Volusia County is partnering with Volusia County schools to utilize multiple schools as emergency shelters. The following list of shelters will open at 9 a.m. on today.

General population shelters

• Creekside Middle School, 6801 Airport Road, Port Orange

• DeLand High School, 800 N. Hill Ave., DeLand

• University High School, 1000 W. Rhode Island Ave., Orange City

• Mainland High School, 1255 W. International Speedway Blvd., Daytona Beach

• Volusia County Fairgrounds, 3150 E. New York Ave., DeLand

Special needs shelters:

• Galaxy Middle School, 2400 Eustace Ave., Deltona

• David C. Hinson Sr. Middle School, 1860 N. Clyde Morris Blvd., Daytona Beach

By designating these facilities as shelters in advance, we can ensure that resources are readily available to those in need. Do not bring alcoholic beverages, smoking materials, vaping devices, valuables, weapons, excessive or heavy luggage.

General population shelters

General population shelters are stocked with necessities, including food, water, and a place to sleep. Shelters are not homes or hotels. These accommodations are for survival and are oftentimes crowded and provide little privacy or comfort.

Special needs shelters

Special needs shelters, which will be staffed by health care professionals, will also be available. Evacuees should be accompanied by only one caregiver. These shelters are not for isolated patients or people who need 24-hour dedicated care, a hospital bed, a ventilator, or other complex care. These individuals should discuss other shelter arrangements with their primary care physician, home health service provider, or caregiver.

Pet friendly shelters
Pets will be accepted at DeLand High School, Mainland High School, and Volusia County Fairground shelters, however, owners must bring a few days' worth of pet food and prescription pet meds, food bowls and water bowls, leashes and collars for each pet, Pet ID tags filled out with contact information, drinking water, potty pads or cat litter, crates, and copies of pet medical records.

Transportation to shelters
Votran and Volusia County Schools will provide free transportation to public shelters. All Votran bus stops are evacuation assembly points during an evacuation order. Bus space is limited. Evacuees should take only essential items, such as personal identification, food, bedding, clothing, and medications. Carry-on items are limited to a pillow, blanket, and one carry-on bag (not larger than 22” x 16” x 8”). Residents can also bring a folding chair (i.e. lounge chair to sit or sleep on). 

Volusia County will continue coordinating with state officials and the National Weather Service to assess potential local impacts from the storm. Residents can stay updated by downloading the Volusia Emergency Management app, following the County’s social media channels, or visiting www.volusia.org.

Source: Volusia County

Wednesday Night Curfew Announced for Volusia County Ahead of Hurricane Milton

A curfew has been announced for Volusia County beginning at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 9., and lasting until 8 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 10, to discourage unnecessary traffic
during the height of the storm. The curfew does not apply to:

• Regular members of law enforcement bodies

• Regular employees of businesses, industries, or government entities while traveling for their jobs

• All emergency workers

Any person who knowingly violates this ordinance shall, upon conviction, be subject to a fine of up to $500 and/or imprisonment in the county jail for up to 60 days. Volusia County staff will continue coordinating with state officials and the National Weather Service to assess potential local impacts from the storm. Residents can stay updated by downloading the Volusia Emergency Management app, following the County’s social media channels, or visiting www.volusia.org.

Source: Volusia County

Where To Find Gas For Milton Prepping

As Hurricane Milton approaches Florida, residents are preparing for potential fuel shortages. The GasBuddy Outage Tracker is offering a vital resource, allowing drivers to search for nearby gas stations and filter results based on fuel and power availability. By sharing their location, users can quickly find stations with gas or determine which are experiencing outages. The tracker is designed to be user-friendly, especially as residents scramble to secure fuel ahead of the storm. GasBuddy’s app, available on both Android and iOS, also provides mobile access to the tracker, ensuring drivers can stay updated while on the road. The phone app will give you prices as well.

Source: My News 13

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