Be aware of where you live and whether it is likely you will need to evacuate. If you live on a barrier island, near the coast, in a flood zone or in a mobile home within the warning area, there's a good possibility you'll need to leave. If so, figure out well in advance where you will go - either to the home of a friend or relative, a hotel farther inland or, as a last resort, to a shelter. Use MyTampaAddress to determine what evacuation zone you are located in. The Hillsborough County Hurricane Guide can also help you determine if you live in an evacuation zone and can help you identify Red Cross shelters closest to you.

In the event of an emergency, the media will be notified as to which shelters will open and what times.

In the event of an emergency, all shelters may not be opened. Shelters are opened based on the severity of an emergency and the number of residents to be impacted. In an emergency, residents must tune to the media to find out which are open and the times they are open.

For more information:
Hillsborough County Shelter information

Tampa Shelters

Shelter #	Name	Address	Designations
1	Wharton High School	20150 Bruce B. Downs Blvd
4	Chiles Elementary	16541 W Tampa Palms Blvd
5	Middleton High School	4801 N 22nd St	%
8	Sickles High School	7950 Gunn Hwy	@ %
11	Pizzo Elementary School	11701 Bull Run Dr	%
16	Oak Park Elementary School	2716 N. 46th St
18	Lake Magdalene Elementary School	2002 Pine Lake Dr
22	Adams Middle School	10201 N Boulevard
23	Deer Park Elementary School	11605 Citrus Park Dr	&
27	Benito Middle School	10101 Cross Creek Blvd
31	Bartels Middle School	9020 Imperial Oak Blvd	@ %
32	Sheehy Elementary School	6402 N 40th St
36	Smith Middle School	14303 Citrus Pointe Dr. Citrus Park	%
40	Forest Hills Elementary	10112 N Ola Ave
41	Crestwood Elementary School	7824 N. Manhattan Ave
45	Pride Elementary School	10310 Lions Den Dr
50	Bryant Elementary School	13910 Nine Eagles Rd	#
58	Tampa Bay Blvd Elementary School	3111 Tampa Bay Blvd
62	Turner Elementary School	9190 Imperial Oak Blvd
Special Needs	Erwin Technical Center	N 22nd St & E Hillsborough Ave

Designations:

Shelters with ADA accessible restrooms

% Shelters open for lower intensity storms

@ Pet friendly shelters

& Shelters not open for Category 5 hurricanes

# Shelters not open for Category 4 or 5 hurricanes

Special Needs Shelters

There are three Special Needs (Medical) Shelters in Hillsborough County. A special needs shelter is a temporary emergency facility capable of providing care to residents whose medical condition is such that it exceeds the capabilities of the Red Cross Shelter but is not severe enough to require hospitalization. Health Department doctors and nurses support these shelters. 

In order to accommodate residents who need evacuation assistance to a Special Needs Shelter, it is most important that they register prior to June 1st in advance of hurricane season. This will help in determining which shelter they should go to and what, if any assistance they require to evacuate.

For more information:
Hillsborough County Special Needs Shelter information

Sheltering Pets 

Public shelters do not accept pets, so if you are planning to evacuate during a storm, you must plan in advance where your pets will go. Do not leave pets home alone. It could be days or weeks before you return and your pets could starve to death, or flooding could cause needless drowning deaths.

There are pet friendly hotels and motels where the entire family can stay, and pet shelters are located throughout the county. Put your pet into a carrier as soon as possible when you are preparing to leave, as this will reduce stress and keep them from getting lost.

For more information:
Pet Shelter information
American Red Cross Shelter information