Tampa Republic

Ahead of Tropical Storm Milton, the City of Tampa and Hillsborough County have announced the temporary closure of their Comfort Stations. The stations, which provide essential services such as mobile laundry, showers, electronic charging stations, food, water, and permitting assistance for repairs, will cease operations at 7 p.m. today until further notice.

These facilities have been operating at three locations across Tampa: Marjorie Park Marina on Columbia Drive, DeSoto Park on Corrine Street, and Gandy Civic Association on West Oklahoma Avenue. They are expected to resume services in affected neighborhoods once it is deemed safe to do so.

Mayor Jane Castor addressed the situation by acknowledging the ongoing challenges faced by residents following Hurricane Helene. "We know that many residents are still reeling from the effects of Hurricane Helene," said Mayor Castor. She emphasized that forecasts for the storm's trajectory have grown more concerning. "We will continue to monitor the track of this storm so we can re-open these service stations to provide relief to those in need as they focus on recovery."

For any inquiries or general questions regarding this development, residents can reach out via phone at (813) 274-8211 or visit the city's contact point located at 306 East Jackson Street in Tampa.