Amid dire warnings and predictions of giant storm surges, Floridians puzzled over how far to flee was far enough — or whether to flee at all.

Orange County is asking residents who require a Person with Special Needs (PSN) Shelter to please dial 3-1-1 or 407-836-3111. You can find important information on what to bring to a shelter by visting ocfl.net/shelters .

Hurricane Milton strengthened into a dangerously powerful hurricane on a path toward Florida population centers, threatening a 12-foot storm surge in Tampa Bay and setting the stage for potential mass evacuations less than two weeks after a catastrophic Hurricane Helene swamped the coastline.