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Many emergency shelters close as Florence effects lessen

Posted at 12:32 PM, Sep 11, 2018
and last updated 2018-09-11 12:33:56-04

HAMPTON ROADS, Va. - With Hurricane Florence heading towards our area, it's important to know where to go in the event you need to evacuate your home.

Here's a list of area emergency shelters open to the public.

Click here to track Hurricane Florence

All three of Chesapeake's shelters will close at 7 p.m. Friday, September 14.

Norfolk shelters:

In response to Governor Northam’s decision to lift the mandatory evacuation of Zone A, the City of Norfolk will move to consolidate, and close city shelters according to this schedule:

  • Crossroads Elementary & Southside STEM Academy will close at 1 p.m. Friday
  • Bayview Community Center & Norview High School will close at 10 a.m. Saturday

Residents are asked to take the following action if they parked vehicles in an ODU or City parking garage:

ODU: Residents should remove vehicles by 8 a.m. Monday

City: Residents should remove vehicles by 9 a.m. Monday

Click here for more Norfolk shelter information.

Suffolk shelters:

Due to the change in the track of Hurricane Florence and the downgrade of the impact to the City of Suffolk at this time, City Manager Patrick Roberts announced this afternoon that the King’s Fork High School emergency shelter, located at 351 Kings Fork Road, will open as originally planned this evening, Wednesday, September 12th, at 8:00 p.m., however, the Nansemond River High School emergency shelter will not be opening at this time unless there is a need based on the current weather forecast.

We will make further determinations related to the status of emergency shelters moving forward on Thursday afternoon.

Should citizens have questions as it relates to the emergency shelter or if they need to make accommodations for a pet since the King’s Fork High School emergency shelter is not pet-friendly, please contact the Suffolk Police Department non-emergency number at 923-2350.  As a reminder, there are no pet drop-offs permitted at emergency shelters, and citizens would need to remain at the shelter during the entire timeframe their pet is being accommodated.

Click here for more Suffolk shelter information.

Hampton shelters:

All shelters in Hampton closed as of 2 p.m. Friday.

Portsmouth  shelters:

Shelters open Wednesday, September 12 at 1 p.m.

  • I.C. Norcom High School, 1801 London Blvd., medical needs accommodations

Effective at 11 a.m. Thursday, the City of Portsmouth will close the emergency shelter at Woodrow Wilson High School. The City will consolidate and transport the individuals who are currently in the Woodrow Wilson School shelter to the shelter at I.C. Norcom High School.

Effective at 11 a.m. Friday, the Churchland Middle School shelter has been closed.

Click here for more Portsmouth shelter information.

Surry County:

Opening Wednesday at 6 p.m.

  • LPJ Middle School, 4155 New Design Rd Dendron

Any animals brought to the shelter will be transported, by ACO, to the Surry County Animal Control for temporary housing.

Virginia Beach shelters:

  • Kellam High School – 51 Occupants (46 General Shelter and 5 Medically Friendly)
  • Landstown Elementary School - Emergency Pet Shelter – 6 dogs

Shelters will close at noon Friday and pets will be transferred to the Virginia Beach Animal Care and Adoption Center, 341 S. Birdneck Road. Owners have been notified of the transfer and new pick-up location.

Click here for more Virginia Beach shelter information.

Newport News shelters:

The following shelters are open for those who have no alternative. Remember to bring bedding, food & water, medicines, games, clothes, etc.

  • Warwick High School – 51 Copeland Lane – General Population and Residents with Pets – Owners must remain at the shelter with their pets (no drop-offs). Animals must be in cages. Owners will be required to care for their pets while staying at the shelter and provide all food, water and medicines.

Denbigh High School, which was originally to be a shelter for overflow only, will now be closed.

As of 10:30 p.m. Wednesday, the shelter at Menchville High School has been closed. The shelterees (7) are being transferred to the state-managed shelter at Christopher Newport University.

Additionally, a state-managed shelter has now opened up at Christopher Newport University. Read the full state news release

Click here for more information on how the Newport News is preparing for Hurricane Florence.

Many cities have posted important information on their sites specific to their respective areas. Go to your city's government site for more.