Hurricane Ian Is Approaching Florida — Here’s How to Prepare

Hurricane Ian is expected to make landfall along the west coast of Florida on Wednesday, September 28th, with extreme weather conditions expected throughout much of the state.

Disney World, Universal Orlando, and other theme parks in Florida have announced that they will close on Wednesday and Thursday in order to keep guests and employees safe. The Orlando International Airport will also be closing on Wednesday, and there are evacuation orders in place for some counties. If you’re in Florida now, you need to prepare now for the coming storm — here’s how you can do that.

We gathered information about available shelters, school closures, sandbag pick-up locations, and more to help you prepare for the coming hurricane.

Shelters

Each county in Florida has a list of available shelters, which will open on an “as needed” basis. You can find a complete list of shelters in Florida on the Florida Disaster website. For example, the following shelters are available in Orange County:

Note that not all shelters are pet-friendly. You should look up the shelters in your county to find out which allow pets. Service animals are permitted in all shelters.

Make sure you bring the following with you to the shelter:

• Water and food (3-day supply — The American Red Cross and/or Salvation Army provides food at the shelters, but you are encouraged to bring some food, snacks, and water with you.)
• Clothing and bedding
• Personal items, toiletries, and medications
• First-aid supplies
• Important papers
• Miscellaneous items like games, toys, battery-powered radios, and flashlights
• Identification card
• Medical Information card
• Daily prescriptions (2-week supply)
• Non-prescription medicines (2-week supply)
• Mobile phone charger, if needed
• Other special items such as eyeglasses, hearing aids, prosthetic devices, walkers, special dietary foods, etc.
• Medical supplies that you utilize on a daily basis — this includes any portable oxygen, cannula, diabetes testing kit, nebulizer, etc.
• A book, magazine, or something to occupy your time while you wait for the storm to pass

Discounted Hotels

Some Orlando hotels have begun offering special pricing so that evacuees can have a place to ride out the storm that’s more affordable than a normal hotel room would usually be. Rosen Hotels & Resorts activated its Florida Resident Distress Rates for its properties in the Orlando area.

Here’s a look at the new rates:

$119 per night (not including taxes): 

• Rosen Shingle Creek

$109 per night (not including taxes):

• Rosen Centre

$99 per night (not including taxes):

• Rosen Inn Plaza

$69 per night (not including taxes):

• Rosen Inn International
• Rosen Inn Closest to Universal
• Rosen Inn Pointe Orlando
• Rosen Inn Lake Buena Vista

Rosen Hotels and Resorts is pet-friendly as well, and there is no additional pet fee during distress rates. They have free WiFi and there are no resort fees.

Gas Prices in Florida

Whether for evacuation or for power outages, many Floridians are looking to fill up on gasoline before the storm hits. To find the nearest available gas station to you, you can use a tracker like GasBuddy, which filters stations by “Has Fuel & Power,” “Has No Power,” “Limited Fuel Options,” and “Has No Fuel and Power.”

AAA has reported that gas prices have risen a bit as Hurricane Ian approaches Florida. Currently, the average price for a gallon of gas in Florida is $3.394.

According to CNN, “Hurricane Ian is not expected to pose a major threat to the national supply of oil and gasoline even as the Category Three storm derails some oil production in the Gulf of Mexico.” However, it’s possible that there will be some local supply issues in Florida as many people prepare for the storm.

If you’re not able to fill up your car and need to get to a shelter, you can use a rideshare service instead — Uber is offering free rides to evacuees in some parts of Florida.

Rideshare Deals

Uber is offering free rides to shelters for those living on Florida’s Gulf Coast who need to temporarily relocate due to Hurricane Ian. The free round-trip rides (up to $30 each way) are only offered to and from state-approved evacuation shelters.

To access this deal, follow these steps:

1. Open the Uber app
2. Tap “Account” on the bottom right
3. Tap “Wallet”
4. Scroll down to “+ Add Promo Code”
5. Enter code IANRELIEF
6. Select any Hillsborough, Pinellas, Manatee, & Pasco County state-approved Florida evacuation shelter listed.

This offer is good for up to 2 trips per rider, and Uber has confirmed that the drivers’ earnings will not be affected.

School Closures

Here’s a full list of school closures announced for Florida ahead of Hurricane Ian. Check the Florida Department of Education website for the latest updates on school closures.

K12 School Closures

• A.D. Henderson University School (FAU Lab School) will be closed Wednesday, September 28, 2022.
• Alachua County Schools will be closed Wednesday, September 28 through Friday, September 30, 2022.
• Baker County Schools will be closed Wednesday, September 28 through Friday, September 30, 2022.
• Bay County Schools will be closed Thursday, September 29, 2022.
• Bradford County Schools will be closed Wednesday, September 28 through Friday, September 30, 2022.
• Brevard County Schools will be closed Wednesday, September 28 and Thursday, September 29, 2022.
• Broward County Schools will be closed Wednesday, September 28 and Thursday, September 29, 2022.
• Charlotte County Schools will be closed Tuesday, September 27 through Thursday, September 29, 2022.
• Citrus County Schools will be closed Wednesday, September 28 through Friday, September 30, 2022.
• Clay County Schools will be closed Wednesday, September 28 through Friday, September 30, 2022.
• Collier County Schools will be closed Tuesday, September 27 and Wednesday, September 28, 2022.
• Columbia County Schools will be closed Wednesday, September 28 through Friday, September 30, 2022.
• DeSoto County Schools will be closed Tuesday, September 27 through Thursday, September 29, 2022.
• Dixie County Schools will be closed Wednesday, September 28 through Friday, September 30, 2022.
• Duval County Schools will have early release Wednesday, September 28 and will be closed Thursday, September 29 and Friday, September 30, 2022.
• Flagler County Schools will be closed Wednesday, September 28 through Friday, September 30, 2022.
• Gilchrist County Schools will be closed Wednesday, September 28 through Friday, September 30, 2022.
• Glades County Schools will be closed Tuesday, September 27 through Thursday, September 29, 2022.
• Gulf County Schools will be closed Wednesday, September 28 and Thursday, September 29, 2022.
• Hamilton County Schools will be closed Thursday, September 29 and Friday, September 30, 2022.
• Hardee County Schools will be closed Tuesday, September 27 and Wednesday, September 28, 2022.
• Hendry County Schools will be closed Tuesday, September 27 and Wednesday, September 28, 2022.
• Hernando County Schools will be closed Tuesday, September 27 through Friday, September 30, 2022.
• Highlands County Schools will be closed Wednesday, September 28 and Thursday, September 29, 2022.
• Hillsborough County Schools will be closed Monday, September 26 through Thursday, September 29, 2022.
• Indian River County Schools will be closed Wednesday, September 28 and Thursday, September 29, 2022.
• Jefferson County Schools will be closed Thursday, September 29 and Friday, September 30, 2022.
• Lafayette County Schools will be closed Thursday, September 29 and Friday, September 30, 2022.
• Lake County Schools will have early dismissal on Tuesday, September 27 and will be closed Wednesday, September 28 through Friday, September 30, 2022.
• Lee County Schools will be closed Tuesday, September 27 and Wednesday, September 28, 2022.
• Levy County Schools will be closed Wednesday, September 28 and Thursday, September 29, 2022.
• Madison County Schools will be closed Friday, September 30, 2022.
• Manatee County Schools will be closed starting Tuesday, September 27, 2022 until further notice.
• Marion County Schools will be closed Wednesday, September 28 through Friday, September 30, 2022.
• Martin County Schools will be closed Wednesday, September 28 and Thursday, September 29, 2022.
• Miami-Dade County Schools will be closed Wednesday, September 28 and Thursday, September 29, 2022.
• Monroe County Schools will be closed Tuesday, September 27 and Wednesday, September 28, 2022.
• Nassau County Schools will be closed Wednesday, September 28 through Friday, September 30, 2022.
• Okeechobee County Schools will be closed Wednesday, September 28, 2022.
• Orange County Schools will be closed Wednesday, September 28 through Friday, September 30, 2022.
• Osceola County Schools will be closed Tuesday, September 27 through Friday, September 30, 2022.
• Palm Beach County Schools will be closed Wednesday, September 28, 2022.
• Pasco County Schools will be closed Tuesday, September 27 through Friday, September 30, 2022.
• Pinellas County Schools will be closed Tuesday, September 27 through Friday, September 30, 2022.
• Polk County Schools will be closed Tuesday, September 27 through Thursday, September 29, 2022.
• Putnam County Schools will be closed Wednesday, September 28 through Friday, September 30, 2022.
• Sarasota County Schools will be closed Tuesday, September 27 through Thursday, September 29, 2022.
• Seminole County Schools will be closed Wednesday, September 28 through Friday, September 30, 2022.
• St. Johns County Schools will be closed Wednesday, September 28 through Friday, September 30, 2022.
• St. Lucie County Schools will be closed Wednesday, September 28 and Thursday, September 29, 2022.
• Sumter County Schools will have early dismissal on Tuesday, September 27 and will be closed Wednesday, September 28 and Thursday, September 29, 2022.
• Suwannee County Schools will be closed Wednesday, September 28 through Friday, September 30, 2022.
• Taylor County Schools will be closed Wednesday, September 28 through Friday, September 30, 2022.
• Volusia County Schools will be closed Wednesday, September 28 and Thursday, September 29, 2022.
• UF Lab will be closed Wednesday, September 28 and Thursday, September 29, 2022.
• Union County Schools will be closed Thursday, September 29 and Friday, September 30, 2022.

Florida College System Closures

• Broward College will close at 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, September 27 and remain closed through Thursday, September 29, 2022.
• College of Central Florida will be closed Wednesday, September 28 through Saturday, October 1, 2022.
• College of the Florida Keys will be closed Tuesday, September 27, 2022.
• Daytona State College will be closed Wednesday, September 28 and Thursday, September 29, 2022.
• Eastern Florida State College will be closed Wednesday, September 28 through Friday, September 30, 2022.
• Florida Gateway College will be closed Thursday, September 29 through Sunday, October 2, 2022.
• Florida State College at Jacksonville will be closed Wednesday, September 28 through Friday, September 30, 2022.
• Florida SouthWestern State College will be closed Tuesday, September 27 through Friday, September 30, 2022.
• Gulf Coast State College (Gulf/Franklin Locations) will be closed Wednesday, September 28 and Thursday, September 29, 2022.
• Hillsborough Community College will be closed Tuesday, September 27 through Sunday, October 2, 2022.
• Indian River State College will close Tuesday, September 27 at 5:00 p.m. through Thursday, September 29, 2022.
• Lake-Sumter State College will be closed Wednesday, September 28 through Friday, September 30, 2022.
• Miami-Dade College will close at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, September 27 and remain closed through Wednesday, Septmeber 28, 2022.
• New College of Florida will be closed Wednesday, September 28 through Friday, September 30, 2022.
• Palm Beach State College will be closed Wednesday, September 28, 2022.
• Pasco-Hernando State College will be closed Tuesday, September 27 through Friday, September 30, 2022.
• Polk State College will close at 12:00 p.m. Tuesday, September 27 and remain closed through Thursday, September 29, 2022.
• Santa Fe College will close at 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, September 27 and remain closed through Sunday, October 2, 2022.
• Seminole State College will close at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, September 27 and remain closed through Sunday, October 2, 2022.
• South Florida State College will be closed Tuesday, September 27 through Thursday, September 29, 2022.
• St. Petersburg College will be closed Tuesday, September 27 through Sunday, October 2, 2022.
• State College of Florida will be closed Tuesday, September 27 through Friday, September 30, 2022.
• Valencia College will be closed Wednesday, September 28 through Sunday, October 2, 2022.

State University Closures

• Florida A&M University will be closed Tuesday, September 27 through Friday, September 30, 2022.
• Florida Gulf Coast University will be closed Tuesday, September 27 through Friday, September 30, 2022.
• Florida International University will close at 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, September 27 and remain closed Wednesday, September 28, 2022.
• Florida Polytechnic University will be closed Tuesday, September 27 through Friday, September 30, 2022.
• Florida State University will be closed Tuesday, September 27 through Friday, September 30, 2022. (Tallahassee & Panama City)
• New College of Florida classes will be canceled Monday, September 26 through Friday, September 30, 2022.
• University of Central Florida will be closed Wednesday, September 28 through Friday, September 30, 2022.
• University of Florida will be closed Wednesday, September 28 through Friday, September 30, 2022.
• University of North Florida will be closed Wednesday, September 28 through Saturday, October 1, 2022.
• University of South Florida classes will be canceled Monday, September 26 through Thursday, September 29, 2022. Campuses will be closed starting Tuesday, September 27, 2022.

Note that several university testing sites and centers will also be closed this week for the storm.

Sandbag Pick-up Locations

Sandbags can be used to build a floodwall in your doorways in order to prevent flooding in your home.

Many communities are offering free sandbags to residents ahead of the hurricane. From our research, it looks like most counties in Florida have at least a few options for where you can go to find sandbags.

For example, if you live in Orange County, you can pick up sandbags at Maitland Community Park from 9AM to 5PM on Tuesday, September 27th.

To find a sandbag pick-up location near you, check online. Wesh 2 has several locations listed, and NPR has a helpful map that shows many locations in North and Central Florida.

Other Reminders

A few more things you should remember when preparing for a hurricane:

• Make sure you have an emergency supply kit that’s equipped with First Aid supplies.
• Pay attention to evacuation orders and evacuate immediately if one is announced for where you live.
• Check on your neighbors to make sure they’re prepared for the storm as well. If possible, lend a hand to help them get ready.
• Ensure you have flood insurance for your home.

For more information about how Hurricane Ian is impacting theme parks in Florida, check out the following posts:

• Universal Orlando Will CLOSE Due to Hurricane Ian
• Disney World Parks CLOSING Due to Hurricane Ian
• Everything You Need to Know About Disney World Cancelation Policies During a Hurricane
• How Disney World Prepares for a Hurricane
• What You Need to Know About Hurricane Ian

Keep following AllEars for more of the latest updates on Hurricane Ian’s impact on Florida.

Click here to learn about the Orlando International Airport’s response to Hurricane Ian.

What are your best tips for preparing for a hurricane? Let us know in the comments.

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