As the community recovers from Hurricane Milton, various relief efforts are underway across Hernando County. Lyft is offering discounted rides for those impacted by the hurricane. By using the code MILTONRELIEF24, residents can receive $50 off their next two rides, up to $25 per ride, until October 15. The promo can be applied via the Lyft app, and further details are available on Lyft’s website.
The Hernando County government has also launched an online form for property owners and businesses to report hurricane-related damage. Residents are encouraged to submit the form with accurate details and photo evidence of the damage. For further assistance, the county’s Emergency Management website provides additional resources.
Have questions? Visit Hernando County’s Emergency Management website at http://www.HernandoCounty.us/EM.
Hurricane Milton Damage Reporting Form
During the aftermath of the storm, residents are warned to stay alert for scams, particularly involving repair services, tree removal and water treatment. Any suspicious activity should be reported to the Florida Attorney General’s office at 1-866-966-7226. Additionally, price gouging for essential goods, such as food, gas and ice, is illegal. Residents should report any exorbitant pricing for these items to the same number.
If you encounter any suspicious activity, please report the information to the Florida Attorney General’s office by calling 1-866-966-7226 to report scams.
To help manage flooding from the Withlacoochee River, sandbag stations are open daily at two locations: Ridge Manor Community Center (34240 Cortez Blvd. Ridge Manor, FL 33523) and Spring Lake Methodist Church (4191 Spring Lake Hwy. Brooksville, FL 34601). Residents are advised to follow specific guidelines when filling and stacking sandbags to ensure effective flood protection. The landfill is also waiving fees for storm-related debris disposal until further notice.
The Public Information Center (PIC) remains open for any storm-related inquiries from 7 a.m.-5 p.m. and can be reached at 352-754-4083. Due to the hurricane, the Waterways Advisory Committee meeting scheduled for October 14 has been canceled and will now take place on December 9.
The Withlacoochee River Electric Company is actively working to restore power to areas impacted by the storm. David Lambert, general manager, shared the following information, while power has been restored to 107,000 members, additional crews are being dispatched to the hardest-hit areas to restore power for another 30,000 members. Despite flooding and downed power lines, the company expects to have 95% of outages resolved by the end of the day. Residents still without power are encouraged to contact the company at (352) 596-4000.
Sheriff Al Nienhuis provided an update on fuel shortages and shared tips for conserving gas during the current situation. While some gas stations are back up and running, not all have fuel available, and those that do may have limited supplies due to the need to prioritize first responders and areas in greater need. The gas supply is coming from Jacksonville and northern areas, so patience is essential as Hernando County awaits more deliveries. Sheriff Nienhuis urges residents to avoid unnecessary trips if they have enough fuel and don’t need to refuel immediately. For those needing gas, he asks for patience while waiting in line, as the supply chain is still reopening, and restocking stations will take time. He emphasized that the next couple of days could be challenging, and residents are encouraged to be patient and understanding.
Coffee shops that are open and have working wifi are listed below:
Caffe Connection
4196 Mariner Blvd., Spring Hill, FL 34609
Starbucks locations
13163 Cortez Blvd., Brooksville, FL 34613
190 Mariner Blvd., Spring Hill, FL 34609
Dunkin’ locations
Shopping Center, 13179 Cortez Blvd., Coastal Blvd., Spring Hill, FL 34613
13300 Cortez Blvd., Spring Hill, FL 34613 (located in Walmart Supercenter)
4196 Mariner Blvd., Spring Hill, FL 34609
