10/06/2016
Stay safe everyone!
BREAKING NEWS: Due to new and stronger wind advisories issued as a result of Hurricane Matthew, Marion County Emergency Management is STRONGLY recommending that anyone in the eastern portion of Marion County living in non-site built homes (such as mobile homes) EVACUATE to safer housing or to one of our three shelter locations. Those locations are:
-Belleview Middle School
10500 SE 36th Avenue
Belleview, Florida 34420
This will be a special needs and a general population shelter. MCSO Emergency Management will be providing transportation for any special needs individuals. Please call the Citizen Information Line at 352-369-7500 to arrange this transportation. For special needs individuals, please bring any special needs supplies, equipment, medications or food that you need. This shelter will open at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 6th. No pets will be accepted at this shelter. If you are a special needs individual with a pet, Marion County Animal Services will provide transportation for your pet to Animal Services to shelter them during the storm.
-Vanguard High School
7 NW 28th Street
Ocala, Florida 34475
This shelter is for the general population and is pet friendly. Please bring your pet's food, proof of updated vaccination information and bring any supplies you need for your pets. Pets also must be kept in cages. Pet owners (non-special needs) must stay at the pet-friendly shelter (Vanguard) with their pets; they cannot drop off their pets and supplies at the shelter. This shelter will open at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 6th.
-MCSO Multi-Purpose Room
692 NW 30th Avenue, Ocala
This general population shelter opened at 12:00 noon on Thursday, October 6th. This is not a special needs shelter and will not be accepting house pets.
Transportation for those in need will not be able once the winds increase, so do not wait to evacuate. Citizens can speak to an Emergency Management representative by calling the Citizens Information Line at 352-369-7500 for any questions about the storm. Citizens can also sign up to receive emergency notifications through Alert Marion by visiting www.alertmarion.com. For real-time updates on Hurricane Matthew's potential impact(s) on Marion County, follow the Marion County Sheriff's Office page and website, www.marionso.com.