DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office Message On Hurricane Milton

As Hurricane #Milton approaches, DeSoto County may face strong winds, heavy rain, and potential flooding. The DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office is here for you, and we will continue to work around the clock to keep our community safe throughout the storm.

It is important to stay informed and prepared for any situation. Please keep the following tips in mind:

𝐅𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲: Know your evacuation zone. If you’re told to leave, PLEASE do so. Avoid driving through flooded areas. Just a few inches of water can cause vehicles to stall or be swept away. Keep in mind that flooding may occur even if we aren’t in the direct path of the hurricane.

𝐄𝐯𝐚𝐜𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐙𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐩: https://experience.arcgis.com/…/09d6d5951…/page/Page/…

𝐆𝐞𝐭 𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞: If you need food, the All Faiths Food Bank DeSoto Food and Resource Center (1021 E Oak St., Arcadia) will be open:

Monday, Oct. 7 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 8 from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

𝐒𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐛𝐚𝐠 𝐏𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐮𝐩: Monday 10/7/24 and Tuesday 10/8/24 from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. SANDBAGS will be available at the DeSoto County Roads and Bridges Facility, 1894 NE McKay St, Arcadia, FL 34266. Open to public. County residents only, please bring identification showing that you reside in the county.

𝐒𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧:

Opening Tuesday, 10/8/24, starting at 12 PM Noon. The location for the Special Needs Shelter is South Florida State College at 2251 NE Turner Ave #2700, Arcadia, FL 34266, and the General Population Shelter will be at the Turner Center: 2250 NE Roan St, Arcadia, FL 34266.

If you or someone you love is electrically dependent, please register for the special needs shelter ASAP at snr.flhealthresponse.com or in person at 2200 NE Roan St, Arcadia, FL 34266.

If you plan to utilize a shelter, be prepared! Here’s what to bring:

– Your full emergency supply kit

– Any necessary medical supplies

– Special dietary items

– ID or passport

– Comfort items like pillows, blankets, or bed rolls

– Pack some items to help pass the time, such as playing cards, board games, or laptops for movies.

**𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫: 𝐍𝐨 𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬, 𝐚𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐡𝐨𝐥, 𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐥 𝐝𝐫𝐮𝐠𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐝.

𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 with real-time updates right on your mobile device. Download our app today for the latest alerts, news, and safety info!

iOS: https://shorturl.at/fgYtG

Android: https://shorturl.at/h5Y0L

𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐝: Monitor updates through DeSoto County Emergency Management (EOC) for the latest storm developments, including evacuation notices and flood warnings. You can find them on social media or by visiting their official website.

863-993-4831

𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐈𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐬: High winds can turn everyday items like lawn furniture or trash cans into dangerous projectiles. Be sure to secure or bring in anything outside your home that could blow away.

𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐎𝐮𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐬: Charge your electronic devices, gather flashlights, batteries, and other essentials in case of temporary power loss.

FPL’s Power Tracker: https://www.fplmaps.com/

Remember, the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office is committed to serving you during the storm. Whether it’s responding to emergencies or offering assistance, we’re on duty 24/7. If you need help, don’t hesitate to contact us through our non-emergency line at 863-993-4700, or dial 9-1-1 for emergencies.

Stay safe, stay informed, and together, we’ll weather the storm.

– Sheriff Jim Potter & The DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office

Important Accounts to Follow: