TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — The Pasco County Commission issued a local state of emergency ahead of Hurricane Helene Tuesday afternoon.

This followed Gov. Ron DeSantis’ state of emergency that covered 63 counties, including Pasco County.

Helene is expected to make landfall somewhere on Florida’s Gulf Coast Thursday.

Evacuations

Mandatory evacuations start Wednesday at 9:00 a.m. for the following areas:

• Evacuation Zone A
• Everyone living in a manufactured home, mobile home or RV anywhere in Pasco
• Everyone in low-lying areas or areas prone to flooding
• Everyone in an area ordered evacuated by local authorities due to life-safety hazards

Voluntary evacuations will go into effect Wednesday at 9:00 a.m. for the following:

• Evacuation Zones B and C
• Everyone registered with Pasco as a Special Needs Resident
• Everyone who would be vulnerable in the event of a power loss

Shelters will be open Wednesday and a list of shelters will be posted on MyPasco.net

School closures

Pasco County Schools announced that after-school activities will be canceled Wednesday, but schools will open as scheduled.

All schools and offices will be closed on Thursday. They will reopen on Friday depending on the storm.

Pasco Sandbag locations

Pasco County Emergency Management said it has two 24-hour sandbag locations for residents to use.

These are located at the Magnolia Valley Golf Course at 7223 Massachusetts Avenue in New Port Richey and the Pasco Public Works C-Barn at 30908 Warder Road in San Antonio, Florida.

Four other sandbag sites will operate from sunrise to sunset. These are:

• Veterans Memorial Park at 14333 Hicks Road in Hudson
• Pasco Fire Rescue Station #29 at 6907 Dairy Road in Zephyrhills
• Heritage Park at 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd in Land O’ Lakes,
• Former Dade City Police Department building at 38042 Pasco Avenue in Dade City (This site is only for Dade City residents)