Public Shelter Information

Written By Brian Roberts

When to Use Shelters

Public emergency shelters are a last resort for people who must evacuate and cannot stay with family, friends, or at a hotel outside of the mandated evacuation zone(s). They are intended only for residents who are in zones ordered to evacuate, or who are dependent on electricity for home medical needs, or who live in homes or manufactured housing that are susceptible to wind damage. Convenience and comfort items will be minimal.

Shelter Locations

  • Shelters will be open 24/7 when in use. Nobody will be turned away. Stay safe when traveling to a shelter.

  • For a MAP of emergency shelters, go to HCFL dot gov slash residents slash Stay hyphen Safe (https://hcfl.gov/residents/stay-safe). Click on Evacuation Shelters. On the map, you can type in any Hillsborough County address and find the nearest shelters. Or, I can advise you of the nearest sheltering options. (Provide the caller with the location of open shelters nearest to them.)

What to Take

(Read the list of supplies below. You may advise callers to go online to Ready.gov/Kit if they don’t want to write everything down during this call.)

When going to a public shelter, bring only essential items, including the following:

  • Masks are strongly recommended at shelters but not required.

  • Hand sanitizer and cleaning supplies for your family’s use.

  • All medicines, essential personal supplies, and hygiene items.

  • Any special dietary foods you may require.

  • Baby supplies if applicable.

  • Important papers, including your driver’s license or government-issued ID, special medical information, insurance policies, property inventories, and your insurance agent’s name and number.

  • Wear comfortable clothing and shoes. Bring a few changes of clothes and one pair of extra footwear for each person.

  • Bedding or sleeping bags, if you have them.

  • Non-perishable snacks and beverages. It’s best not to count on the shelter to provide these. Supplies can become limited.

  • Magazines, books, cards, games, small toys, and other activities to help you pass the time.

Brian Roberts
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Shelter-in-Place Guidelines