Central Florida is bracing for another major weather system as Hurricane Milton is expected to impact the Gulf Coast region and make its way across the I-4 Corridor. The storm reached Category 1 status on Sunday afternoon and increased to a Category 4 hurricane on Monday morning with sustained winds at 150 mph. The storm is expected to maintain Category 4 status as it makes its way toward the state and the long-range forecast has it slightly decreasing to Category 3 before making landfall on Wednesday, just south of the Tampa Bay area. Forecasters advise that the track can still shift toward the north or south as Milton moves closer to the state.
According to the National Hurricane Center, rainfall not associated with Milton will impact the Central Florida area through Tuesday. Heavier rains, possible tropical storm-force winds, and the potential for flooding will begin on Wednesday afternoon/evening and extend into Thursday. Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency on Sunday for 51 counties, including Orange and Seminole. Residents are advised to remove loose items and large debris from their yards.
Winter Park is currently following the Adaptive Flood Management Guide that was adopted last year and used during Hurricane Helene. Management procedures are based on the following checklist timeline:
- Seven days prior to a storm: Lower lake elevations where possible; remove Lake Killarney’s six drain well risers and Lake Bell’s top weir board.
- Five days prior to a storm: Inspect control and outflow structures and leaf trap devices on lakes; clear all control structures of debris.
- Three days prior to storm: Inspect and clear debris from culvert boxes under bridges on Temple Trail, Sterling and Pennsylvania avenues; inspect drain well intakes on all landlocked lakes and canals within the city’s Chain of Lakes and Howell Creek; coordinate the anticipated removal of fallen tree and debris clearance in creeks and conveyances; prepare sandbag distribution for residents.
- Two days prior to storm: Remove MLK Park drain well and Winter Park Racquet Club pond outfall board.
- One day prior to storm: Remove retractable grass carp barriers at lakes Bell and Berry.
Winter Park residents can pick up sandbags at Rollins Softball Field parking lot, 452 Harper St., on Monday, Oct. 7, from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. A limit of eight sandbags will be given to each resident or owner of a business within the city limits and proof of residency (driver’s license, valid ID or utility bill statement) is required. The usual fill-it-yourself model will be followed with city staff providing shovels, bags and sand on a first-come, first-served basis. Anyone physically unable to fill their own sandbags will be assisted by city staff. The distribution entrance will be from Harper Street with the exit at Comstock Avenue.
Closings and cancellations
Rollins College posted a social media notice on Sunday that all in-person classes and events are canceled October 7-11. The campus will close at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 8, and residential students must evacuate campus and follow their emergency evacuation plan by 5 p.m. that day. Students needing assistance can contact care@rollins.edu or call 407-646-2345.
Valencia College posted that classes will be in session on Monday but in-person and online classes will be canceled Tuesday through Thursday. Plans are to reopen Friday but students should check the college website for updates.
Orange County Public Schools posted on its website that “OCPS Safety & Emergency Management team is coordinating operations with the Orange County Office of Emergency Management.” An update on closings will be posted Monday.
SunRail will halt service on Tuesday, Oct. 8, to begin preparing for the storm. Services will be temporarily suspended Wednesday, Oct. 9, and updates will be provided through the SunRail website, SunRail Alerts app, and social media platforms. For more information, visit SunRail.com.
According to an announcement from Gov. Ron DeSantis, tolls will be suspended in western Central Florida as of 10:30 a.m. Monday.
Additional closings and cancellations will be posted as they are received.
The list of official City of Winter Park information resources is as follows:
- citEnews email service – cityofwinterpark.org/citEnews
- Facebook – facebook.com/WinterParkEmergencyInfo
- Twitter – twitter.com/WinterParkFla
- Nextdoor – sign up at nextdoor.com
- City’s emergency alert system – sign up at cityofwinterpark.org/outreach
- A checklist of items and procedures can be found in the city’s Hurricane Preparedness Guide
Additional resources:
- Non-emergency information line 407-599-3494 (live during Emergency Operation Center activation)
- Report electric utility power outages to 1-877-811-8700
- Report water & wastewater utilities outages to 407-599-3219
