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LIVE BLOG: Updates on Hurricane Milton
Healthy State tells the stories you need to know to stay well, with a special focus on Florida.We'll bring you the latest fitness trends, new research on preventing and treating disease, and information about how health policy impacts your pocketbook.We report on health using all the tools at our disposal -- video, audio, photos and text -- to bring these stories to life.Healthy State is a project of WUSF Public Media in Tampa and is heard on public radio stations throughout Florida. It also is available online at wusfnews.org.

See A List of Cold Weather Shelters Open Tonight

With Tampa Bay area temperatures expected to drop into the low 30s tonight with wind chills even lower, cold weather shelters will open all over the Bay area. We'll update the list when we receive new information.

Hillsborough Countyoffers a number of shelter options. 

  • Brandon Community Center, 510 E. Sadie St., Brandon, 813-635-8179

Opens at 6 p.m., welcomes homeless individuals and families with children in the Brandon Area.

  • Metropolitan Ministries, 2010 N. Florida Ave., Tampa, After hours phone: 813-209-1077
  • Opens at 4 p.m., welcomes families.

  • Salvation Army, 1514 N. Florida Ave., Tampa, After hours phone: 813-221-4440
  • Opens at 4 p.m., welcomes adults only.

  • Jackson Springs Recreation Center, 8620 Jackson Springs Rd., Town 'N Country, 813-554-5064
  • Opens at 6:30 p.m., welcomes adults and families.

  • Wimauma Community Center, 5705 Hillsborough St., Wimauma, 813-635-3500
  • Opens at 6 p.m., welcomes adults and families.

    Operators of Hillsborough sheltersare also looking for donations of cold weather clothing like hats, gloves and scarves, as well as blankets and paper goods.

    Pinellas Countyshelters will open both Monday and Tuesday nights around 6 p.m. and accept guests all night long, closing at 6 a.m. Guests will be given a hot evening meal and breakfast in the morning. 

    • Peace Memorial Presbyterian Church, 110 S. Ft. Harrison Ave., Clearwater, 727-442-3677
    • St. Ceceila Catholic Church, 820 Jasmine Way, Clearwater, 727-447-3494
    • Boys & Girls Club of the Suncoast in Pinellas Park, 7790 61st Street N, Pinellas Park 727-574-5437
    • Northwest Presbyterian Church, 6330 54th Ave. N, St. Petersburg, 727-544-4551
    • Salvation Army, 1400 4th Street S, St. Petersburg, 727-822-4954
    • The Turning Point, 1810 5th Ave. N, St. Petersburg, 727-823-7811
    • St. Timothy’s Lutheran Church, 812 E. Tarpon Ave., Tarpon Springs

    Families with children are asked to call 727-528-5762 or 727-893-7627 to make arrangements to stay in a motel.

    Pasco County

    • Community Congregational Church, 6533 Circle Drive, New Port Richey, 727-597-0428.

    No families are allowed.

  • The Holy Ground Shelter, 8835 Denton Avenue, Hudson  Familiesare accepted.
  • United Way is going to provide cold weather hotel sheltering for families with children through Metropolitan Ministries. Families with children needing shelter tonight and tomorrow night on the west side of the county should call Dan Campbell at 727-385-4170.For shelter in East Pasco, call 813-810-8670.
  • Windmoor Healthcare is offering free cab service to anyone who needs a ride to a Pasco cold weather shelter. Call 727-548-5733 for more information.

    And Pasco County Transportation (PCT) is also providing free transportation to shelters on its 14, 21 and 30 bus routes. Passengers need to tell the driver they are headed to a cold weather shelter when they board.

    Hernando Countywill open two shelters, one for men and one for women.

    • Men's: 1090 Mondon Hill Road, Brooksville, 352-799-2912 ext.103
    • Women's: 1163 Howell Avenue, Brooksville, 352-799-2912 ext.109

    Copyright 2014 WUSF Public Media - WUSF 89.7

    Carol Gentry, founder and special correspondent of Health News Florida, has four decades of experience covering health finance and policy, with an emphasis on consumer education and protection.After serving two years as a Peace Corps volunteer in Colombia, Gentry worked for a number of newspapers including The Wall Street Journal, St. Petersburg Times (now Tampa Bay Times), the Tampa Tribune and Orlando Sentinel. She was a Kaiser Foundation Media Fellow in 1994-95 and earned an Master's in Public Administration at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government in 1996. She directed a journalism fellowship program at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for four years.Gentry created Health News Florida, an independent non-profit health journalism publication, in 2006, and served as editor until September, 2014, when she became a special correspondent. She and Health News Florida joined WUSF in 2012.
    Mark Schreiner is the assistant news director and intern coordinator for WUSF News.
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