Emergency Shelters

If you must evacuate to a shelter, be advised:

• Shelters are opened on an “as-needed” basis
• Shelter openings may vary with each emergency
• Never go to a shelter unless local officials have announced it is open

The County operates 3 types of shelters during an emergency:

• General Population Emergency Shelters
• Pet-friendly Emergency Shelters
• Special Needs Shelters

Evacuation and shelter tools

• Find Your Evacuation Zone

Locate Nearby Evacuation Shelters

General population emergency shelters

These shelters are intended to provide immediate protection and save the lives of those in the path of a catastrophic and deadly storm. It’s important to have a plan – shelters are not resorts. If you do need to shelter in a County evacuation shelter keep in mind:

• Evacuation shelters will not have cots, blankets, or supplies like face masks and hand sanitizer
• Each resident may only have space the size of approximately one sleeping bag or 20 square feet
• Bring your disaster kit with bedding, medications, hygiene items, and any other specific items you might need for your family.
• Alcohol, illegal drugs, and weapons are not permitted
• Plan for delays; transportation could take 90 minutes or longer and will have to make multiple stops
• Add money to your disaster fund for transportation service. You can always take a shared service like Uber, Lyft, cab companies, etc.
• Sheltering in place is a practical option to consider if you live in a sound structure outside of the evacuation area (especially if built since 2002 and not located in a flood prone area)
• Evacuate tens of miles instead of hundreds of miles
• The Hillsborough County Hurricane Evacuation Assessment Tool (HEAT) which includes real-time open/closed shelter locations, evacuation zones, and HART evacuation routes

Pet-friendly emergency shelters

We offer pet-friendly shelters during an evacuation emergency. When the shelter list is put out it will note which shelters are designated as pet-friendly.

To shelter your pet in case of emergency you must bring:

• Proof of current rabies vaccination and license for dogs and cats
• Pet must be on a leash or in a carrier
• A crate large enough for your pet to stand up and turn around. Cats need a crate large enough to contain litter and food/water
• Bring all pet supplies to include: crate, food, water, litter, treats, cleaning supplies, medicines, etc.
• You are responsible for the care of your pet while in the shelter
• Cohabitation of pets and owners is not permitted

If you are unable to meet these requirements, please make other arrangements to shelter your pet. Visit our Pet Disaster Planning page to learn more.

Special needs shelters

The County provides special needs shelters for residents whose medical condition may require the use of electrical equipment, oxygen, dialysis, or individuals with physical, cognitive, or medical conditions that may require assistance from medical professionals. Although special needs shelters provide more care than a general shelter, they DO NOT provide continuous bedside nursing, only assistance with daily functions and medical monitoring.

If you believe you or someone you know may need a special needs shelter it is highly recommended you pre-register for the Special Needs Shelter Program before hurricane season. Follow these instructions to register for a special needs shelter.