Updated 9/28/2022 at 11:00 a.m. EDT
Hurricane Ian is expected to make landfall this afternoon in the Florida Suncoast. Evacuation in key areas right now is critical—and people with pets must ALWAYS evacuate with them.
Alley Cat Allies is collecting a list of pet-friendly shelters in the area to help keep you informed. Keep in mind that hotels in Florida and beyond have been heavily encouraged to waive pet restrictions for the duration of the emergency. Call hotels in safe areas and find out. Airbnb hosts also often allow those in need to bring their pets during emergency situations.
For all shelters, assume you must bring your own supplies for yourself and for your pets. If you can, bring your own cots, blankets, toiletries, clothes, snacks, water, medications and medical needs items, identification, phones and chargers, etc. For pets, bring them IN THEIR CRATE and try to collect the following items:
- Pet first-aid kit
- Supply of prescription medications for pets
- Veterinary and microchip ID records for both pet and community cats
- Pet food and dishes (the collapsible kind work well)
- Litter box and litter
- Leash and collar
- Crate or carrier
- Blankets or towels
- Photos of pets and cats in colonies in case they need to be identified
Learn more about disaster preparation for your cats and other pets here.
Pet-Friendly Shelters for Hurricane Ian
Brevard County
- Max K. Rodes Community Center, 3410 Flanagan Avenue, West Melbourne, FL 32904
- Walter Butler Community Center, 4201 N Cocoa Boulevard, Cocoa, FL 32927
- Wickham Park Community Center—2815 Leisure Way, Melbourne, FL 32935
Learn more about Brevard County emergency shelters.
Charlotte County
- Babcock School Field House—43301 Cypress Parkway, Punta Gorda, FL 33982
- Liberty Elementary School—370 Atwater Street, Port Charlotte, FL 33954
- Neil Armstrong Elementary School—22100 Breezeswept Avenue, Port Charlotte, FL 33952
- Kingsway Elementary School—23300 Quasar Boulevard, Port Charlotte, FL 33980
- Harold Avenue Regional Park Recreation Center—23400 Harold Avenue, Port Charlotte, FL 33980
Learn more about Charlotte County emergency shelters.
Collier County
- Oak Ridge Middle School—14975 Collier Boulevard, Naples, FL 34119
- Corkscrew Middle School—1165 Oil Well Road, Naples, FL 34120
- Golden Gate Middle School—2701 48th Terrace SW, Naples, FL 34116
- Immokalee Middle School—401 North 9th Street, Immokalee, FL 34142
Learn more about Collier County emergency shelters.
Flagler County
- Bunnell Elementary School—305 North Palmetto St, Bunnell, FL 32110
Learn more about Flagler County emergency shelters.
Hernando County
- D.S. Parrott Middle School—19220 Youth Drive, Brooksville, FL 34601
- The Mining Association Enrichment Center—800 John Gary Grubbs Boulevard, Brooksville, FL 34601
- Explorer K-8—10252 Northcliffe Boulevard, Spring Hill, FL 34608
Learn more about Hernando County emergency shelters.
Hillsborough County
- Barrington Middle—5925 Village Center Drive, Lithia, FL 33547
- Bartels Middle—9190 Imperial Oaks Boulevard, Tampa, FL 33647
- Burnett Middle—1010 N Kingsway Road, Seffner, FL 33584
- Durant High School—4748 Cougar Path, Plant City, FL 33567
- Erwin Technical (special needs)—2010 E. Hillsborough Avenue, Tampa, FL 33610
- Riverview High School (special needs)—11311 Boyette Road, Riverview, FL 33569
- Shields Middle—15732 Beth Shields Way, Ruskin, FL 33573
- Sickles High School—7950 Gunn Highway, Tampa, FL 33626
- Smith, SGT Paul Middle—14303 Citrus Pointe Drive, Tampa, FL 33625
- Steinbrenner High School—5575 W. Lutz Lake Fern Road, Lutz, FL 33558
- Strawberry Crest High School (special needs)—4691 Gallagher Road, Dover, FL 33527
- Sumner High School (special needs)—10650 Co. Road, 672, Riverview, FL 33579
- Yuengling Center (special needs)—12499 USF Bull Run Drive, Tampa, FL 33617
Learn more about Hillsborough County emergency shelters.
Lake County
- Villages Elementary (special needs)—695 Rolling Acres Road, Lady Lake, FL 32159
- Leesburg Elementary (special needs)—2229 South Street, Leesburg, FL, 34748
- Umatilla Elementary (special needs)—401 Lake Street, Umatilla, FL 32784
- Lost Lake Elementary (special needs)—1901 Johns Lake Road, Clermont, FL 34711
- Astatula Elementary (special needs)—13925 Florida Avenue, Astatula, FL 34705
- Treadway Elementary—10619 Treadway School Road, Leesburg, FL 34788
- Spring Creek Charter—44440 Spring Creek Road, Paisley, FL 32767
- Mascotte Charter—460 Midway Avenue, Mascotte, FL 34753
- Round Lake Charter – 31333 Round Lake Rd, Mount Dora, FL 32757
Learn more about Lake County emergency shelters.
Lee County
- Dunbar High School—3800 Edison Avenue, Fort Myers, FL 33916
- East Lee County High School—715 Thomas Sherwin Avenue, Lehigh Acres, FL 33974
- Estero Recreation Center—9200 Corkscrew Palms Boulevard, Estero, FL 33928
- Gateway High School—13820 Griffin Drive, Fort Myers, FL 33913
- Harns Marsh Middle School—1820 Unice Avenue, N. Lehigh Acres, FL 33971
- Hertz Arena—11000 Everblades Parkway, Estero, FL 33928
- Island Coast High School—2125 DeNavarra Parkway, Cape Coral, FL 33909
- Manatee Elementary—5301 Tice Street, Fort Myers, FL 33905
- Oak Hammock Middle School—5321 Tice Street, Fort Myers, FL 33905
- South Fort Myers High School—14020 Plantation Road, Fort Myers, FL 33912
- Tortuga Preserve Elementary—1711 Gunnery Road N., Lehigh Acres, FL 33971
- Treeline Elementary School—1090 Treeline Avenue, Fort Myers, FL 33913
- Varsity Lakes Middle School—801 Gunnery Road North, Lehigh Acres, FL 33971
- Veterans Park Recreation Center—49 Homestead Road S., Lehigh Acres, FL 33936
Learn more about Lee County emergency shelters.
Manatee County
- Braden River High School—6120 26th Street W, Bradenton, FL 34207
- Buffalo Creek Middle School—7320 69th Street E, Palmetto, FL 34221
- Manatee High School—902 33rd St Ct W, Bradenton, FL 34205
- Mills Elementary School—7200 69th Street E, Palmetto, FL 34221
Learn more about Manatee County emergency shelters.
Marion County
- Vanguard High—7 NW 28th Street, Ocala, FL 34475
Learn more about Marion County emergency shelters.
Orange County
- Apopka High School—555 Martin Street, Apopka, FL 32712
- Oak Ridge High School—6000 Winegard Road, Orlando, FL 32809
- Timber Creek High School—1001 Avalon Park Boulevard, Orlando, FL 32828
Learn more about Orange County emergency shelters.
Osceola County
- Kissimmee Middle School—2410 Dyer Boulevard, Kissimmee, FL 34741
- Liberty High School—4250 Pleasant Hill Road, Kissimmee, FL 34746
Learn more about Osceola County emergency shelters.
Pasco County
- Fivay High School—12115 Chicago Avenue, Hudson, FL 34669
- River Ridge Middle and High Schools—11646 Town Center Road, New Port Richey, FL 34654
- Sunlake High School—3023 Sunlake Boulevard, Land O’ Lakes, FL 34638
- Wiregrass Ranch High School—2909 Mansfield Boulevard, Wesley Chapel, FL 33543
- Fasano Regional Hurricane Center (special needs)—11611 Denton Avenue, Hudson, FL 34667
Learn more about Pasco County emergency shelters.
Pinellas County
- Largo High School—410 Missouri Avenue North, Largo, FL 33770
- Gibbs High School—850 4th Street South, St. Petersburg, FL 33711
Learn more about Pinellas County emergency shelters.
Polk County
- Lake Region High School—1995 Thunder Road, Eagle Lake, FL 33839
- Tenoroc High School—4905 Saddle Creek Road, Lakeland, FL 33801
- Haines City High School—2800 Hornet Drive, Haines City, FL 33844
Learn more about Polk County emergency shelters. There is a hotline toll-free at 866-661-0228.
Sarasota County
- Atwater Elementary School—4701 Huntsville Avenue, North Port, FL 34288
- Booker High School—3201 N. Orange Avenue, Sarasota, FL 34234
- Brookside Middle School—3636 South Shade Avenue, Sarasota, FL 34239
- Fruitville Elementary School—601 N. Honore Avenue, Sarasota, FL 34232
- Gulf Gate Elementary School—6500 S. Lockwood Ridge Road, Sarasota, FL 34231
- Heron Creek Middle School—6501 W. Price Boulevard, North Port, FL 34291
- North Port High School—6400 West Price Boulevard, North Port, FL 34291
- Phillippi Shores Elementary School—4747 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34231
- Riverview High School—1 Ram Way, Sarasota, FL 34231
- Southside Elementary School—1901, Webber Street, Sarasota, FL 34239
- Taylor Ranch Elementary School—2500 Taylor Ranch Trail, Venice, FL 34293
- Woodland Middle School—2700 Panacea Boulevard, North Port, FL 34289
Learn more about Sarasota County emergency shelters.
Seminole County
- Lyman High School—865 Ronald Reagan Boulevard, Longwood, FL 32750
- Bentley Elementary (special needs)—2190 S Oregon Avenue, Sanford, FL 32771
Learn more about Seminole County emergency shelters.
Sumter County
- Sumter Fairgrounds—7620 SR 471, Webster, FL 33597
- South Sumter High School—706 N. Main St, SR 475, Bushnell, FL 33513
- Wildwood Elementary School—300 Huey Street, Wildwood, FL 34785
- Webster Elementary School—349 S Market Blvd, SR 471, Webster, FL 33597
- Center Hill Recreation Center—74 S. Virginia Avenue, Center Hill, FL 33514
- Wildwood Community Center (special needs)—6500 Powell Road, Wildwood, FL 34785
Learn more about Sumter County emergency shelters.
Volusia County
- Mainland High School—1255 W. International Speedway Boulevard, Daytona Beach, FL 32114
- DeLand High School—800 N. Hill Avenue, DeLand, FL 32724
- Atlantic High School (special needs)—1259 Reed Canal Road, Port Orange, FL 32129
- Galaxy Middle School (special needs)—2400 Eustace Avenue, Deltona, FL 32725