Hurricane Ian: Pet-friendly, special needs, public shelters in Tampa Bay

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — As Hurricane Ian makes its way toward Tampa Bay, several area counties are opening shelters to help residents ride out the storm. Ian strengthened into a poweful Category 3 storm Tuesday morning and has continued to intensify as it moves over Cuba.

Tampa Bay is in the direct path of the storm, and is currently under a hurricane warning. Mandatory and voluntary evacuations have been ordered for residents in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Sarasota, Manatee, Pasco and Hernando counties, prompting shelters in some counties to open. Hurricane Ian batters Cuba as it heads toward Tampa Bay Here is a county-by-county list of shelters in the Tampa Bay area: Hillsborough County Public shelters Benito Middle, 10101 Cross Creek Blvd.

, TampaBevis Elementary, 5720 Osprey Ridge Dr. , LithiaBowers-Whitley Career Center, 13609 N. 22nd St.

, TampaBoyette Springs Elementary, 10141 Sedgebrook Dr. , RiverviewBrandon High School, 1101 Victoria St. , BrandonCimino Elementary, 4329 Culbreath Rd.

, ValricoDorothy York Innovation Academy , 5995 Covington Garden Drive, Apollo BeachHammond Elementary, 8008 N. Mobley Rd. , OdessaJennings Middle, 9325 Govenors Rd.

, SeffnerKnights Elementary, 4815 N. Keene Rd. , Plant CityLockhart Elementary, 3719 N 17TH St.

, TampaMarshall Middle, 18 S. Maryland Ave. , Plant CityMartinez Middle, 5601 W.

Lutz Lake Fern Rd. , LutzMcKitrick Elementary, 5503 Lutz Lake Fern Rd. , LutzMiddleton High School, 4801 N 22nd St.

, TampaMulrennan Middle, 4215 Durant Rd. , TampaNelson Elementary, 5413 Durant Rd. , TampaNewsome High School, 16550 Fishhawk Blvd.

, LithiaPizzo Elementary, 11701 Bull Run, TampaPride Elementary, 10310 Lions Den Dr. , TampaReddick Elementary, 325 West Lake Dr. , WimaumaSessums Elementary, 11525 Ramble Creek Dr.

, TampaSummerfield Elementary, 11990 Big Bend Rd. , RiverviewTomlin Middle, 501 N. Woodrow Wilson, Plant CityTurkey Creek Middle, 5005 Turkey Creek Rd.

, Plant CityTurner Elementary, 9020 Imperial Oaks Blvd. , TampaValrico Elementary, 609 S Miller Rd. , ValricoWharton High School, 20150 Bruce B.

Downs Blvd. , Tampa More information about the shelters is on the county’s website. Special needs shelters Erwin Technical, 2010 E.

Hillsborough Ave. , Tampa (Pet-friendly)Riverview High School, 11311 Boyette Rd. , Riverview (Pet-friendly)Strawberry Crest High School, 4591 Gallagher Rd.

, Dover (Pet-friendly)Sumner Elementary, 16650 Co. Rd. 672, Riverview (Pet-friendly) To register online for a special needs shelter in Hillsborough County, click here.

Pet-friendly shelters The county has eight more pet-friendly shelters that are not special needs: Barrington Middle, 5925 Village Center Dr. , LithiaBartels Middle, 9190 Imperial Oaks Blvd. , TampaBurnett Middle, 1010 N Kingsway Rd.

, SeffnerDurant High School, 4748 Cougar Path, Plant CitySickles High School, 7950 Gunn Highway, TampaShields Middle, 5732 Beth Shields Way, RuskinSmith, SGT Paul Middle ,14303 Citrus Pointe Dr. , TampaSteinbrenner High School ,5575 W. Lutz Lake Fern Rd.

, Lutz To review pet shelter requirements, click here. Pinellas County Public shelters Lealman Exchange, 5175 45th St. N.

, St. PetersburgRoss Norton Recreation Center, 1426 S Martin Luther King Jr Ave, Clearwater Special needs shelters Dunedin Highland Middle, 70 Patricia Avenue, DunedinJohn Hopkins Middle, 701 16th St S, St. Petersburg Pet-friendly shelters Largo High, 410 Missouri Ave, Largo To review pet shelter requirements, click here.

For more information about shelters in Pinellas County, click here. Sarasota County Public shelters (all pet-friendly) Atwater Elementary School, 4701 Huntsville Ave, North PortBooker High School, 3201 N Orange Ave, SarasotaBrookside Middle School, 3636 S Shade Ave, SarasotaFruitville Elementary School, 601 Honore Ave, SarasotaGulf Gate Elementary School, 6500 S Lockwood Ridge Road, SarasotaHeron Creek Middle School, 6501 W Price Boulevard, North PortNorth Port High School, 6400 W Price Boulevard, North PortPhillippi Shores Elementary School, 4747 S Tamiami Trail, SarasotaRiverview High School, 1 Ram Way, SarasotaSouthside Elementary School, 1901 Webber St, SarasotaTaylor Ranch Elementary School, 2500 Taylor Ranch TrailWoodland Middle School, 2700 Panacea Boulevard, North Port More information is available on the Sarasota County website. Manatee County Public shelters Bayshore Elementary School, 6120 26th Street West, BradentonFreedom Elementary School, 9515 State Road 64 East, BradentonGullett Elementary School, 12125 44th Ave.

East, BradentonHarvey Elementary School, 8610 115th Ave. East, ParrishLee Middle School, 4000 53rd Avenue West, BradentonMcNeal Elementary School, 6325 Lorraine Road, BradentonMiller Elementary School, 601 43rd Street West, BradentonMyakka Elementary School, 37205 Manatee Ave. , Myakka CityRogers Garden Elementary School, 515 13th Ave West, BradentonWilliams Elementary School, 3404 Fort Hamer Road, ParrishWillis Elementary School, 14705 The Masters Avenue, Bradenton Pet-friendly shelters Braden River High School, 6120 26th Street West, BradentonManatee High School, 902 33rd Street Court West, BradentonMills Elementary School, 7200 69th Street East, Palmetto Pasco County Public shelters Centennial Middle School, 38505 Centennial Road, Dade CityCypress Creek High School, 8701 Old Pasco Road, Wesley ChapelCypress Creek Middle School, 8845 Old Pasco Road, Wesley ChapelPasco Middle School, 13925 14th Street, Dade CityThomas E.

Weightman Middle School, 30649 Wells Road, #3903, Wesley ChapelWesley Chapel High School, 30651 Wells Avenue, Wesley Chapel Special needs shelters Fasano Regional Hurricane Center, 11611 Denton Avenue, Hudson (also pet-friendly)Wiregrass Ranch High School, 2909 Mansfield Boulevard, Wesley Chapel (also pet-friendly) Pet-friendly shelters Fivay High School, 12115 Chicago Avenue, HudsonRiver Ridge Middle and High Schools, 11646 Town Center Road, New Port RicheySunlake High School, 3023 Sunlake Boulevard, Land O’ Lakes Hernando County Special needs shelters Challenger K-8, 13400 Elgin Blvd. , Spring Hill Pet-friendly shelters Enrichment Center Inc. of Hernando County, 800 John Gary Grubbs Blvd.

, BrooksvilleExplorer K-8, 10252 Northcliffe Boulevard. , Spring Hill How to find your evacuation zone If you go to a shelter, be sure to bring the following items with you in addition to emergency supplies such as food, medicine, first aid kits, etc. : Pillows, blankets, sleeping bags or air mattressesExtra clothing, shoes, eyeglasses, hearing aids (and batteries), etc.

Personal toiletries, towelsFolding chairs, lawn chairs or cots Personal hygiene items (toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, etc. )Quiet games, books, playing cards and favorite toys for childrenImportant personal information (driver’s license, special medical information, insurance policies and property inventories, photographs).