Gabrielle Russon
A mandatory curfew is going into effect for all of Osceola County — including Kissimmee and St. Cloud — at 8 p.m. on Wednesday until 10 a.m. on Thursday, officials said.
The curfew comes as Osceola County urges residents to stay off the roads and find a safe place to ride out Hurricane Milton.
The countywide curfew doesn’t apply to essential workers, including first responders and health care professionals.
Individuals going to or from work must have a photo ID and a work phone number, the county said in a press release.
Midday Wednesday, the county said 609 people were staying at its emergency hurricane shelters.
“The shelters with the largest capacity right now are: Celebration High School, Harmony High School, Liberty High School,” the county said on X.
Part of Disney World falls in Osceola County as the theme park capital of the world is closed for business.
Orlando International Airport ceased commercial flights and shut down Wednesday morning.
Disney World, home to the world’s No. 1 theme park, had a phased-in shutdown with the guests asked to leave by 2 p.m.
A new report estimated Milton could cost Disney World up to $200 million.
The rest of the parks are also shut down too.
Universal also closed at 2 p.m. on Wednesday.
Gov. Ron DeSantis warned the state is “prepared to receive a major hit” in “the next 24 hours.”
“We will get through this,” DeSantis said at the Emergency Operations Center.
Milton is expected to strike the state as a major hurricane later Wednesday or early Thursday. Earlier, the National Hurricane Center reported Milton’s winds reached speeds up to 145 mph as it heads toward shore, where the storm will eventually weaken.
Thousands of Floridians evacuated their homes while thousands more are bunkering down to shelter while schools, businesses and nonessential government services are suspended and life stops.
