Northwest Florida is preparing to help evacuees and victims of the storm

Milton is expected to make landfall in the Tampa Bay area late Wednesday or early Thursday as a Category 3 or stronger storm.

None of Okaloosa County’s hurricane shelters located in schools are currently open, county public information officer Nick Tomecek said today.

“Although we are not in the path of the storm, we anticipate some associated weather conditions such as high offshore waves, high surf heights and increased currents,” officials with Visit Destin-Fort Walton Beach, the county’s tourism division, said in a Facebook post today . “Text BEACH to 44144 for current water conditions.”

They also shared a link to shelters for hurricane evacuees: https://go.destinfwb.com/4eWB2LK

Local vacation rental agencies like Scenic Stays offer discounted rates for evacuees.

“If you or someone you know is in the path of Hurricane Milton, our doors in Northwest Florida are open,” Scenic Stays officials said on Facebook Monday. “While you make evacuation plans, Scenic Stays is offering 35% off our entire inventory from Panama City Beach to Navarre Beach with promo code MILTON at checkout.”

For equine evacuation, the June Ates Arena and the Santa Rosa County Fairgrounds are open to hurricane evacuees’ horses and horse trailers.

“Please bring generators and portable pens as we are limited to the actual hookup locations and number of stands available,” arena officials said on Facebook Sunday. “We currently have 15 stands under roof. If you have other members of your fur family, please bring leashes and/or tie lines. We cleared about 15 acres for horse trailers and RVs. You don’t have to be a member of the equine community if you need accommodation.”

The arena is located at Exit 31 on Interstate 10. The GPS address is 8700 Bobby Brown Rd., Milton, FL 32583. For more information, call 850-463-8619.

Since Santa Rosa County has accepted the equine evacuation order, the need for additional space in Okaloosa County and the region has not been deemed necessary at this time, according to Tomecek.

On September 27, one day after Category 4 Hurricane Helene made landfall in the Big Bend area, Okaloosa County Sheriff Eric Aden and 17 OCSO deputies and staff arrived in Madison County, east of Tallahassee, to assist in recovery efforts to help recover after the storm. During 12- to 14-hour days, they helped clear downed trees, power lines and debris from roads and responded to emergency calls before returning home on Oct. 1.

The OCSO will also send a group of volunteers to help with recovery efforts after Hurricane Milton in Central Florida, but the timing and location of their mission are not yet known, OCSO spokeswoman Michele Nicholson said this afternoon.

Following Hurricane Helene, several firefighters from the Crestview Fire Department supported water rescue operations and supplemented emergency services in the Mayo area between Steinhatchee and Live Oak.

Members of the CFD are being deployed to assist people in Central Florida following the landfall of Hurricane Milton, Crestview officials said.