City workers pack bags of sand at E.G. Simmons. | Photo by Hillsborough County.
Hurricane Ian is intensifying as it moves toward Florida — and the Tampa Bay area.
While storms can change quickly, forecasters predict Hurricane Ian will hit Tampa Bay tonight. Officials have already ordered evacuations for parts of Hillsborough and Pinellas counties, shut down schools, and opened shelters.
To prepare, we’ve rounded up everything you can do to be hurricane-ready in Tampa Bay, Fl.
📱 Stay informed
Have urgent questions regarding the storm? Tampa Bay’s Citizen Information Line is officially open. Call 833-TPA-INFO (872-4636) for direct assistance from 8 a.m. to 12 a.m. starting tonight, Sept. 27. Text TAMPAREADY to 888-777 to sign up for storm alerts, or TAMPALISTA to 888-777 for alerts in Spanish.
To sign up for text alerts in Pinellas County, click here.
The American Red Cross suggests having one gallon of water per person, per day, as well as non-perishables. Don’t forget to pack your hand-held can opener.
🧰 Have a hurricane kit
You know the essentials: a first-aid kit, flashlights, medications, et cetera. For a comprehensive list, check out our hurricane kit must-haves.
🏠 Prepare your home
First Response HVAC gave us a pro tip: “We recommend turning your unit off as the storm gets closer. Your home will cool down as the storm passes and you do not run the risk of further damage due to flood water in your running unit.”
Additionally, TECO Tampa Electric recommends taking precautionary measures like knowing your evacuation zone, boarding windows, securing outdoor belongings, making an emergency plan for your family, and unplugging any appliances you have to avoid electrical mishaps.
🚗 Have an evacuation plan
As of Monday night, a mandatory evacuation has been issued for Hillsborough County residents in Zone A and voluntary evacuation for Zone B, according to Hillsborough County Emergency Management. Pinellas County issued an evacuation order for residents in Zone A Monday, and Zone B and C dwellers should evacuate today.
If you need to leave your house, stay with someone who has a safe space or relocate to a hotel or out of the area. Tampa also has 41 public shelters (see here), four of which identify as special needs shelters and twelve of which accept certain pets. If you do head to a shelter, don’t forget to bring your medications, water, food, changes of clothes, and other essential items.
Tampa Bay Farmers Market | Tues., Sept. 27 | 8 a.m-6 p.m. | 10001 N. Armenia Ave. | Free | With 25+ artisanal vendors, peruse and shop for produce, coffee, and other finds sourced by local businesses. 🍎
Learn and Play Tampa Bay - North Tampa | Tues., Sept. 27 | 10:15 a.m.-11:45 a.m. | Children’s Board Family Resource Center, 116 W. Fletcher Ave. | Free | Bring your children for play sessions, bilingual sing-along songs, interactive games, and story time. 📘
Lagwagon: 30 Years On The Wagon Tour | Tues., Sept. 27 | 7 p.m.-11 p.m. | The Ritz Ybor | $28.50 | Jam out to hits from their latest album, “Railer,” and enjoy a night of energetic rhythms. 🎸
Wednesday
Preseason: Lightning v. Hurricanes | Wed., Sept. 28 | 7 p.m. | Amalie Arena | $14 | Cheer on your Tampa Bay Lightning as they take on the Carolina Hurricanes for a preseason hockey game. 🏒
Tampa Bay Real Estate Network Networking Launch | Wed., Sept. 28 | 6-9 p.m. | Aloft Tampa Midtown, 3650 Midtown Dr. | Free | Don’t miss the chance to connect and engage with 100 industry + trade professionals, hosted by Tampa Business Club. 📱
Ben Bryan | Wed., Sept. 28 | 6-10 p.m. | Green Iguana Bar & Grill, 4029 S West Shore Blvd. | Free | Celebrate your midweek with Mojo sliders and a cocktail as you enjoy live music from local artist, Ben Bryan. 🎤
Plan Ahead
Eleventh Annual Tampa Bay Pig Jig | Sat., Oct. 22 | 1 p.m.-10 p.m. | Julian B. Lane Park | Get ready to attend this live music benefit event hosted by NephCure Kidney International, featuring music guests Sam Hunt, the Ambassadors, Kip Moore, and Bahamas.
Riverwalk Trick or Treat | Sat. Oct. 29 | 4-7 p.m. | Tampa Riverwalk | Free | Come decked out in your Halloween costume with the community to get your candy fix at 50 different stations throughout Riverwalk.
With Hurricane Ian on the move, please note events are subject to be postponed or canceled. Be sure to check in with event hosts and businesses via social media to be aware of any cancellations or event updates.
We have amonthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.
For tickets to local and regional events, check out our 6AM Tickets resale marketplace.*
With Hurricane Ian approaching the Bay area, it’s good to get a plan of action. Some areas of Hillsborough + Pinellas have already evacuated. Make sure to check your zone. Here’s a breakdown of what you need to know and where you should go in the event of a local evacuation. 🌀 (WFLA)
Open/Opening
All three Hillsborough County sandbag locations are open tomorrow. They open at 7 a.m. The time they will close is to be determined. (Bay News 9)
Civic
St. Petersburg announced city closures on Tuesday and Wednesday this week due to Tropical Storm Ian. This includes the Florida Department of Health centers, which will be closed until further notice.
Open
Shelters in both Hillsborough and Pinellas have begun accepting walk-ins. If you need to evacuate, make sure to check your nearest shelter’s guidelines and properly protect your home for the storm.
Outdoors
Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council are calling for active solutions to ensure the city’s economy and health can withstand the rising temperatures of Florida weather. The University of Florida + City of Tampa are working together on creating community resources for hardening infrastructure to survive hot weather impact. (Tampa Bay Times)
Sports
It must be deja vú. The Tampa Bay Bucs will take on the Kansas City Chiefs this Sunday at RayJay, the first time the teams have played on the same field since the Super Bowl two seasons ago. Kick off is scheduled for 8:20 p.m. (Buccaneers)
Real Estate
The keys to St. Pete Beach’s high-end, Mediterranean-style Hotel Zamora, have been given to someone new. Developer Sherman Associatespurchased the modern boutique hotel for $34.7 million. This same investor is linked to projects like Aloft and Canopy. 🏨 (Tampa Bay Times)
Number
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will meet to discuss possibilities of creating restricted areas as 1,100 manatees died in the Tampa Bay area, an all time record. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will meet to discuss possibilities of creating restricted areas so manatees can be protected effectively. (Creative Loafing Tampa Bay)
Between 2019 and 2020, 5,147 residentsrelocated from Pinellas County to Hillsborough County. With this increase, the central biz district has reached full capacity, alluring new comers with the area’s artistic, modern innovation. (Tampa Bay Business Journal)
Shop
Football season is in full swing. If you’re headed to a game this fall, don’t forget to pack your game day essentials in a stadium approved bag. This clear crossbody with 8,000+ positive reviews is a must + we also love this trendy fanny pack option.*
Eat
Skip the meal hassle with Sunbasket, a meal kit delivery service that makes healthy eating beyond easy. Sunbasket offers 10 different meal plans that work for those with dietary preferences and specific restrictions (think: paleo, gluten-free, veg, diabetes-friendly + more). Bonus: Sign up for $100 off your first four deliveries. 🥕 *
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THE WRAP
Today’s issue was written by Victoria.
Editor’s pick: Oxford Exchange is by far one of my favorite weekend spots. Have you checked out its new look?
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