Hurricane Irma is forcing Central Florida attractions — including Walt Disney World’s four theme parks — to close to guests for multiple days, starting this evening.

Orlando International Airport was bustling with traffic shortly after 8 a.m. and operating normally. Multiple inbound flights to Orlando were about half full. Passengers filled seats around departing gates as usual. The airport determined it would close at 5 p.m.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme parks will close at 7 p.m. today, followed by Magic Kingdom and Epcot at 9 p.m. All four are expected to stay closed through Monday, Disney officials announced Friday afternoon.

Water park Typhoon Lagoon will close at 5 p.m. and will not operate Sunday or Monday. Blizzard Beach, which was closed Friday, also will be unavailable Sunday and Monday.


Saturday’s end-of-night finales at Disney parks, such as “Rivers of Light” show at Animal Kingdom and the “Happily Ever After” fireworks at Magic Kingdom, have also been pulled from the lineup.

Stores at Disney Springs will close by 9 p.m. and will not be open for business Sunday or Monday.

Universal’s parks are closing at 7 p.m., and will be fully closed Sunday and Monday. On Tuesday, the park anticipates normal operating hours, it said in a statement.

SeaWorld Orlando plans to close by 5 p.m., pending further updates about the storm, and will remain closed Sunday and Monday. Aquatica water park will be closed today, Sunday and Monday. Discovery Cove, SeaWorld’s day resort, will be closed Sunday and Monday.


Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and Adventure Island, its water park, will be closed today through Monday.

Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando Resort also canceled some events, including Saturday portions of Christian music festivals Night of Joy and Rock the Universe. Disney also canceled the Sunday edition of its Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom.

Legoland Florida theme park and its water park in Winter Haven will be closed through Monday. All arriving Legoland Beach Retreat guests will be lodged instead at Legoland Hotel.

Legoland said it was encouraging guests to seek other accommodations “as we cannot guarantee resort amenities or access to electricity during severe weather.” It said guests can reschedule trips and reservations without cancellation fees, and provided the county’s information hotline for shelters, which is 863-401-2234, or www.polk-county.net.


Orlando Eye, the observation wheel on International Drive, will be closed today and not reopen until the storm passes, a spokeswoman said. Sister attractions Madame Tussauds Orlando and Sea Life Aquarium will be closed through Monday. The entire I-Drive 360 complex will close at 4 p.m. Saturday. A reopening date has not been set.

Orlando Science Center will be closed Saturday, Sunday and Monday. If Orange County and Seminole County schools remain closed, the science center will begin offering break camp for students in kindergarten through fifth grade on Tuesday, safety and weather permitting. Call 407-514-2000 after 5 p.m. Monday to confirm if camp will be running.

The Orange County Regional History Center in downtown Orlando will be closed Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

Gatorland plans to be open today during its normal operating hours, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and close Sunday and Monday, according to a Saturday news release.


Fun Spot locations in Kissimmee and near International Drive in Orlando will be open normal hours on Saturday, a spokesman said Friday. Scheduled hours are 10 a.m. to midnight for both attractions.

The Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens in Sanford will be closed for three days, starting Saturday. ZOOm Air Orlando, which operates on zoo grounds, will also be closed during that period.

Walt Disney World is closing its Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground by 2 p.m. Saturday, a spokeswoman said Thursday, as well as Treehouse Villas of Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort. Guests will have the option to stay elsewhere on property.

Universal Orlando canceled Saturday’s portion of its two-night Rock the Universe event scheduled for this weekend, as well as a worship service Sunday, and moved today’s performances indoors. Saturday ticket holders can attend any night through Dec. 20 or get a refund.


Universal Orlando Resort visitors can reschedule or seek refunds, a spokesman said.

“We have an affirmative, no-questions-asked policy for guests who tell us they want to change plans or seek a refund because of a named storm involving the Orlando area or where they are traveling from,” Universal’s Tom Schroder said via email earlier this week.

Walt Disney World Resort policy allows people to reschedule or cancel their vacation packages and most room-only reservations without any fees if a hurricane warning is issued by National Hurricane Center for the Orlando area or a visitor’s residence within seven days of the traveler’s scheduled arrival, according to Disney’s website.

SeaWorld’s Florida parks are also rescheduling or refunding any vacation package or individual park tickets booked through SeaWorld Vacations, Busch Gardens Vacations, DiscoveryCove.com, SeaWorld.com, BuschGardens.com. It will not apply any cancellation or change fees for this service.


SeaWorld said it has a comprehensive weather preparedness plan, and security and zoological staff will remain on property in secure locations during the storm.

“We’re also providing support and temporary housing for animals from other zoological facilities in coastal areas expected to have greater impact. Guests are encouraged to check our websites and follow our social media channels for more updates,” SeaWorld’s statement said.

Paul Brinkmann and Iliana Limón Romero contributed. dbevil@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-5477; Twitter, @ThemeParks

1 / 129 Hurricane Irma is felt through the Sand Lake Hills subdivision in Dr. Phillips, Orlando in the evening of, Sunday, September 10, 2017. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/ Orlando Sentinel) (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda / Orlando Sentinel) 2 / 129 Hurricane Irma is felt through the Sand Lake Hills subdivision in Dr. Phillips, Orlando in the evening of, Sunday, September 10, 2017. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/ Orlando Sentinel) (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda / Orlando Sentinel) 3 / 129 Hurricane Irma is felt through the Sand Lake Hills subdivision in Dr. Phillips, Orlando in the evening of, Sunday, September 10, 2017. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/ Orlando Sentinel) (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda / Orlando Sentinel) 4 / 129 Hurricane Irma is felt through the Sand Lake Hills subdivision in Dr. Phillips, Orlando in the evening of, Sunday, September 10, 2017. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/ Orlando Sentinel) (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda / Orlando Sentinel) 5 / 129 Hurricane Irma is felt through the Sand Lake Hills subdivision in Dr. Phillips, Orlando in the evening of, Sunday, September 10, 2017. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/ Orlando Sentinel) (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda / Orlando Sentinel) 6 / 129 A car is smashed by a fallen tree in the Lake Underhill area of Orlando on Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017. (Caitlin Doornbos, Orlando Sentinel) (Caitlin Doornbos / Orlando Sentinel) 7 / 129 Large branches of a tree fall on a car in Altamonte Springs on late Sunday afternoon. The area was under a tornado warning and a curfew was about to begin when the branches fell. (Iliana Lim—n Romero, Orlando Sentinel) (Iliana Lim—n Romero / Orlando Sentinel) 8 / 129 Three-year-old Noah McWilliams holds his hand to his ear while his father and members of the Grace Baptist Church attach a plywood board to protect the side entrance of the Eustis church from Hurricane Irma. The noise of the power saw, drills and hammers hurt the boyÕs ears as a heavy rain fell Sunday. Pastor Steve Westbrook, carrying a hammer in the background, philosophized about Hurricane Irma: ÒI know a fella who was held up in an elevator many years ago. A man demanded his money or his life. He believed the same things I do. He told the robber, ÔYou serious? YouÕre threatening me with heaven?Õ ThatÕs kind of what we feel like. If we make it through, thatÕs great. If we donÕt, well thatÕs better yet.Ó (Stephen Hudak, Orlando Sentinel) (Stephen Hudak / Orlando Sentinel) 9 / 129 Standing outside Waffle House in Mount Dora, the only restaurant they could find open Sunday, South Florida evacuee Michelle Valdez holds her baby Damian while asking her husband, Jaime, what to order. They left South Florida earlier in the week to stay with an aunt in Tavares, hoping to escape the hurricaneÕs wrath. Michelle Valdez said she called 100 places before she found one that was open Ð the Waffle House on U.S. Highway 441 in Mount Dora. (Stephen Hudak, Orlando Sentinel) (Stephen Hudak / Orlando Sentinel) 10 / 129 Although Hurricane Irma was headed toward Central Florida, some businesses were open Sunday, including the Citgo of Mount Dora, owned by Vic Patel, foreground. He had no fuel, but customers came for cigarettes, drinks and snacks and to use the ATM. (Stephen Hudak, Orlando Sentinel) (Stephen Hudak / Orlando Sentinel) 11 / 129 Vic Patel, owner of the Citgo of Mount Dora, waits on a customer at his mini-mart Sunday. The gas station, which ran out of fuel a few days ago, welcomed customers despite the approaching threat of Hurricane Irma. PatelÕs convenience store was one of the few businesses open on Sunday in northern Lake County. (Stephen Hudak, Orlando Sentinel) (Stephen Hudak / Orlando Sentinel) 12 / 129 The Coca-Cola Orlando Eye looms among Hurricane Irma’s gray clouds, while a bright red sign says “Closed” and “Be Safe” on Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017. (Paul Brinkmann, Orlando Sentinel) (Paul Brinkmann / Orlando Sentinel) 13 / 129 Storms clouds move in over the skyline of downtown Orlando, as hurricane Irma makes its way up the Florida peninsula, Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) (Joe Burbank / Orlando Sentinel) 14 / 129 Storms clouds move in over the skyline of downtown Orlando, as hurricane Irma makes its way up the Florida peninsula, Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) (Joe Burbank / Orlando Sentinel) 15 / 129 All quiet at the Lowe’s in Casselberry, as businesses closed early while hurricane Irma makes its way up the Florida peninsula, Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) (Joe Burbank / Orlando Sentinel) 16 / 129 A mix of guests check in at Coco Key Water Park Resort in Orlando Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017 including local residents, evacuees from both of Florida’s coasts, tourists and contractors. (Paul Brinkmann, Orlando Sentinel) (Paul Brinkmann / Orlando Sentinel) 17 / 129 Storms clouds move in over the skyline of downtown Orlando, in this view from Geico Garage at the Amway Center, as hurricane Irma makes its way up the Florida peninsula, Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) (Joe Burbank / Orlando Sentinel) 18 / 129 A goose eyes a couple walking by the seabird sculpture at Lake Eola in downtown Orlando, as hurricane Irma makes its way up the Florida peninsula, Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) (Joe Burbank / Orlando Sentinel) 19 / 129 A couple out for a walk at Lake Eola in downtown Orlando, as hurricane Irma makes its way up the Florida peninsula, Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) (Joe Burbank / Orlando Sentinel) 20 / 129 A pedestrian makes his way in the rain in downtown Orlando, as hurricane Irma makes its way up the Florida peninsula, Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) (Joe Burbank / Orlando Sentinel) 21 / 129 Guests at the Days Inn in Fern Park, as hurricane Irma makes its way up the Florida peninsula, Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) (Joe Burbank / Orlando Sentinel) 22 / 129 Frank Rocha fled the Atlantic Coast, from Boca Raton, with his family, including Anthony, 7, Julia, 10, and Matt, 14. They were camping out in their hotel lobby on Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017 during the light rain, where Coco Key Water Park Resort set up a big screen TV for movies, and a wet bar. (Paul Brinkmann, Orlando Sentinel) (Paul Brinkmann / Orlando Sentinel) 23 / 129 A few stragglers were out on International Drive on Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017 buying T-Shirts Sunday morning as light rains began in Orlando. (Paul Brinkmann, Orlando Sentinel) (Paul Brinkmann / Orlando Sentinel) 24 / 129 Marion Schoeller, 70, of Eustis said on a normal Sunday sheÕd be watching NFL games, but on the first weekend of games she was preoccupied with Hurricane Irma and went to a shelter at Umatilla Elementary that was available for people with special needs. Schoeller, who has post-polio syndrome, said she most feared losing electricity. ÒI need power,Ó she said, explaining she needs juice for her power wheelchair as well as her BiPAP machine, which provides breathing assistance while sheÕs sleeping. ÒThe people are just wonderful,Ó she said. ÒWeÕre all getting along really well.Ó (Jerry Fallstrom, Orlando Sentinel) (Jerry Fallstrom / Orlando Sentinel) 25 / 129 Palm Bay officer Dustin Terkoski walks over debris from a two-story home at Palm Point Subdivision in Brevard County after a tornado touched down on Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017. (Red Huber, Orlando Sentinel) (Red Huber / Orlando Sentinel) 26 / 129 Palm Bay Fire Fighters go house to house after a possible tornado touched down at Palm Pam Bay Estates Sunday, September 10, 2017 as hurricane Irma made landfall in the state of Florida (Red Huber/Staff Photographer) (Red Huber / Orlando Sentinel) 27 / 129 A mobile homes were damaged after a possible tornado touched down at Palm Pam Bay Estates Sunday, September 10, 2017 as hurricane Irma made landfall in the state of Florida (Red Huber/Staff Photographer) (Red Huber / Orlando Sentinel) 28 / 129 Aden Alcroix-Camper, 11, walks through debris from a 2nd story roof is scattered over 2 block area after a possible tornado touched down at Palm Bay Point subdivision Sunday, September 10, 2017 as hurricane Irma made landfall in the state of Florida (Red Huber/Staff Photographer) (Red Huber / Orlando Sentinel) 29 / 129 Palm Bay Public Works move debris from a 2nd story roof is scattered over 2 block area after a possible tornado touched down at Palm Bay Point subdivision Sunday, September 10, 2017 as hurricane Irma made landfall in the state of Florida (Red Huber/Staff Photographer) (Red Huber / Orlando Sentinel) 30 / 129 Debris from a 2nd story roof is scattered over 2 block area after a possible tornado touched down at Palm Bay Point subdivision Sunday, September 10, 2017 as hurricane Irma made landfall in the state of Florida (Red Huber/Staff Photographer) (Red Huber / Orlando Sentinel) 31 / 129 Debris from a 2nd story roof is scattered over 2 block area after a possible tornado touched down at Palm Bay Point subdivision Sunday, September 10, 2017 as hurricane Irma made landfall in the state of Florida (Red Huber/Staff Photographer) (Red Huber / Orlando Sentinel) 32 / 129 a Palm Bay Fire fighter steps over downed power lines and debris from a 2nd story roof is scattered over 2 block area after a possible tornado touched down at Palm Bay Point subdivision Sunday, September 10, 2017 as hurricane Irma made landfall in the state of Florida (Red Huber/Staff Photographer) (Red Huber / Orlando Sentinel) 33 / 129 Taking a respite with family and friends before the full brunt of Hurricane Irma hits, Courtney Schieber, 32, of Mount Dora takes a selfie of the group on Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017, at the Village Coffee Pot in downtown Mount Dora. At left is her husband, Dustin Schieber, 38, a Seminole County firefighter. “Every other coffee shop is closed and I needed coffee,” Courtney Schieber said. “We didn’t want to be stuck in the house anymore.” But she realizes that may be the case Monday. The couple have three kids -- Bre, 11, Hazel 6, and Eli, 4. Village Coffee Pot owner Akhtar Hussain, 58, said he decided to open on Sunday to help people who wanted a respite from Irma. (Jerry Fallstrom, Orlando Sentinel) (Jerry Fallstrom / Orlando Sentinel) 34 / 129 Churchgoers rush through the rain and wind gusts from the early effects of Hurricane Irma as they leave late morning services at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Leesburg on Sunday, September 10, 2017. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) (Stephen M. Dowell / Orlando Sentinel) 35 / 129 Churchgoers rush through the rain and wind gusts from the early effects of Hurricane Irma as they leave late morning services at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Leesburg on Sunday, September 10, 2017. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) (Stephen M. Dowell / Orlando Sentinel) 36 / 129 Churchgoers rush through the rain and wind gusts from the early effects of Hurricane Irma as they leave late morning services at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Leesburg on Sunday, September 10, 2017. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) (Stephen M. Dowell / Orlando Sentinel) 37 / 129 Churchgoers rush through the rain and wind gusts from the early effects of Hurricane Irma as they leave late morning services at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Leesburg on Sunday, September 10, 2017. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) (Stephen M. Dowell / Orlando Sentinel) 38 / 129 In about 40mph winds Patrick Danver, 67, of Satellite, Beach, Florida uses an umbrella to shield from the driving rain Sunday, September 10, 2017 as hurricane Irma made landfall in the state of Florida (Red Huber/Staff Photographer) (Red Huber / Orlando Sentinel) 39 / 129 In about 40mph winds with an ominous sky to the south looms as Dennis Poley,44, left, Axl Poley, 5,center and Tegan Poley, 7, of South Patrick Shores conducts a wave in Brevard County Sunday, September 10, 2017 as hurricane Irma made landfall in the state of Florida. (Red Huber/Staff Photographer) (Red Huber / Orlando Sentinel) 40 / 129 In about 40mph winds ominous sky to the northeast looms to the south as Dennis Poley,44, left, of South Patrick Shores conducts a wave in Brevard County Sunday, September 10, 2017 as hurricane Irma made landfall in the state of Florida. (Red Huber/Staff Photographer) (Red Huber / Orlando Sentinel) 41 / 129 Visiting from Scotland, Stephanie Sanderson (front), her husband Greg Ritchie, (behind Stepanie) and Alex Hardie walk with their families down a nearly deserted Internationl Drive in Orlando on September 10, 2017 as wind and rain from Hurricane Irma arrives in Central Florida. (Jacob Langston/Orlando Sentinel) (Jacob Langston / Orlando Sentinel) 42 / 129 Florida Gov. Rick Scott in the Emergency Operations Center, with Amy Godsey, state meteorologist with the Division of Emergency Management in Tallahassee on Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017. (Gray Rohrer, Orlando Sentinel) (Gray Rohrer / Orlando Sentinel) 43 / 129 Tourists walk past the WonderWorks attraction on a nearly deserted Internationl Drive in Orlando on September 10, 2017 as wind and rain from Hurricane Irma arrives in Central Florida. (Jacob Langston/Orlando Sentinel) (Jacob Langston / Orlando Sentinel) 44 / 129 Visiting from Scotland, Alex Hardie and Natalie Hardie (background) and Greg Ritchie (front) walk with their families down a nearly deserted Internationl Drive in Orlando on September 10, 2017 as wind and rain from Hurricane Irma arrives in Central Florida. (Jacob Langston/Orlando Sentinel) (Jacob Langston / Orlando Sentinel) 45 / 129 A couple and their daughter walk in the rain around Crane’s Roost Park in Altamonte Springs on Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017 ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Irma. (Martin Comas, Orlando Sentinel) (Martin Comas / Orlando Sentinel) 46 / 129 Chino Batista applies some final touches Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017 to the boarded up front window of his home on Alameda Drive in Sorrento. “We don’t necessarily know how bad things might get,” said Batista, a military veteran. “If we need a rescue to come, I feel like it’s of the essence that they know not only which family it is…how many adults, how many children..but primarily the location of where the people might be situated.” He also organized his neighbors so they can pool their resources if needed. (Stephen Hudak, Orlando Sentinel) (Stephen Hudak / Orlando Sentinel) 47 / 129 A sign Sunday in front of a quiet Howey Community Church in Howey-in-the-Hills on State Road 19 offered encouragement to motorists. With Hurricane Irma looming, most churchgoers in Howey and across Central Florida stayed home to gear up for what could be substantial damage from the monster storm. (Jerry Fallstrom, Orlando Sentinel) (Jerry Fallstrom / Orlando Sentinel) 48 / 129 In rain gear, Grace and Alan Bird walked their dog Fergus on Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017 on a sidewalk that runs along the 10th hole of Eagle Dunes Golf Course near Sorrento. The natives of Scotland, who have weathered other Florida hurricanes, were unimpressed with Irma so far. “It’s like a good summer’s day in the north of Scotland,” Grace said. “But we’re ready – just in case.” (Stephen Hudak, Orlando Sentinel) (Stephen Hudak / Orlando Sentinel) 49 / 129 Dottie Hammer walks her sisterÕs dog, Elphy, and her own granddog, Lola, a pug on Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017. Dottie, 67, fled Coral Springs on Wednesday for the safety of her sisterÕs home in Sorrento. ÒBut Irma followed me,Ó she said. The drive from south Florida which normally takes four hours took nine because of congested roadways. ÒMy little community in Coral Springs will handle a Cat 3 beautifully. But they were saying this was much bigger,Ó she said of television weather reports. (Stephen Hudak, Orlando Sentinel) (Stephen Hudak / Orlando Sentinel) 50 / 129 Matt Harris, 48, and his dad, Bob Harris, 73, watch rain Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017 from inside Matt’s garage in Sorrento, Florida. Both are hurricane veterans, having endured Andrew, Charley and Wilma, among others. “I don’t think we’re going to get much, but we’re waiting,” said Matt, who boarded up windows at his home and the homes of some neighbors. Matt nudged his dad to come to Sorrento from Bradenton and the father was grateful as news reports showed Irma coming ashore nearby. (Stephen Hudak, Orlando Sentinel) (Stephen Hudak / Orlando Sentinel) 51 / 129 Jelisyana Harris (right) kisses her sister, Ajahliyah Haslim, as mom, Michelle Mays (left), watches while the family waits out Hurricane Irma at the Orlando Union Rescue Mission. The family is pictured on Saturday night, September 9, 2017. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) (Stephen M. Dowell / Orlando Sentinel) 52 / 129 Jelisyana Harris (right) holds her baby sister, Ajahliyah Haslim while the family waits out Hurricane Irma at the Orlando Union Rescue Mission. They are pictured on Saturday night, September 9, 2017. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) (Stephen M. Dowell / Orlando Sentinel) 53 / 129 Michelle Mays (top) is pictured with her daughters, Jelisyana Harris (middle), and Ajahliyah Haslim (bottom) while the family waits out Hurricane Irma at the Orlando Union Rescue Mission. The family is pictured on Saturday night, September 9, 2017. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) (Stephen M. Dowell / Orlando Sentinel) 54 / 129 A Sunoco station is out of gasoline in Leesburg on Saturday, September 9, 2017. Approaching Hurricane Irma is making fuel hard to find. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) (Stephen M. Dowell / Orlando Sentinel) 55 / 129 A Sunoco station is out of gasoline in Leesburg on Saturday, September 9, 2017. Approaching Hurricane Irma is making fuel hard to find. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) (Stephen M. Dowell / Orlando Sentinel) 56 / 129 Pluris Partners building on East Robison is boarded up with ply wood with the words â€œGod Bless Orlandoâ€ spray painted on them before the arrival of Hurricane Irma on Sept. 9, 2017. (Aileen Perilla/ Orlando Sentinel) (Aileen Perilla / Orlando Sentinel) 57 / 129 Miroslava Roznovjakova, left, and her husband Ray Hayyat adds some last minute pieces of wood to their store on Daytona Beach on September 9, 2017. The owners of the Fantasy Beachwear shop at the corner of Ocean Avenue and Main Street on the beachside have been in business for 25 years and have done this a number of times for previous storms. (Jacob Langston/Orlando Sentinel) (Jacob Langston / Orlando Sentinel) 58 / 129 A surfer carry his board past the boarded up Cocoa Beach pier Friday, September 9, 2017 as hurricane Irma approaches the state of Florida. (Red Huber/Staff Photographer) (Red Huber / Orlando Sentinel) 59 / 129 The shelter at Liberty High School in Kissimmee filled to capacity around 2:30pm on Saturday afternoon, September 9, 2017 and posted signs to other shelters that are available in Osceola County. (Jacob Langston/Orlando Sentinel) (Jacob Langston / Orlando Sentinel) 60 / 129 The shelter at Liberty High School in Kissimmee filled to capacity around 2:30pm on Saturday afternoon, September 9, 2017 and posted signs to other shelters that are available in Osceola County. (Jacob Langston/Orlando Sentinel) (Jacob Langston / Orlando Sentinel) 61 / 129 With her car filled with their belongings, Kissimmee resident Michelle Perez and her dog â€œMojoâ€ wait for her family to try to check into he shelter at Liberty High School in Kissimmee. The shelter filled to capacity around 2:30pm on Saturday afternoon, September 9, 2017 and posted signs to other shelters that are available in Osceola County. (Jacob Langston/Orlando Sentinel) (Jacob Langston / Orlando Sentinel) 62 / 129 Enterprising residents fill up sandbags using sand from a large sand berm along the side of Cypress Pkwy in Haines City in Polk County on Saturday, September 9, 2017 in preparation for Hurricane Irma. (Jacob Langston/Orlando Sentinel) (Jacob Langston / Orlando Sentinel) 63 / 129 Enterprising residents fill up sandbags using sand from a large sand berm along the side of Cypress Pkwy in Haines City in Polk County on Saturday, September 9, 2017 in preparation for Hurricane Irma. (Jacob Langston/Orlando Sentinel) (Jacob Langston / Orlando Sentinel) 64 / 129 Mojo Man Swimwear & Clothing on Orange Ave. in Orlando has a message for Hurricane Irma on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2017. (Hal Boedeker, Orlando Sentinel)) 65 / 129 A house in Orange City is boarded up and marked with spray paint urging Hurricane Irma to “leave us alone.” (Chris Hays/Orlando Sentinel) 66 / 129 Peter Cost, 63, Cape Canaveral, Florida takes important documents from his mobile home Friday, September 9, 2017 as decided to evacuate his home as hurricane Irma approaches the state of Florida. (Red Huber/Staff Photographer) (Red Huber / Orlando Sentinel) 67 / 129 Peter Cost, 63, Cape Canaveral, Florida takes important documents from his mobile home Friday, September 9, 2017 as decided to evacuate his home as hurricane Irma approaches the state of Florida. (Red Huber/Staff Photographer) (Red Huber / Orlando Sentinel) 68 / 129 With all the windows boarded up Ryan Hamby,33, and his girl friend Mogan Dickson, 28, and her dog ‘Dante” sit on his front porch Friday, September 9, 2017 as hurricane Irma approaches the state of Florida. They decided to ride out the storm when the storm track shifted . Hammy bought his home a month ago. (Red Huber/Staff Photographer) (Red Huber / Orlando Sentinel) 69 / 129 Floridians made last preparations Saturday, including Steve Ellis, who collected scrap plywood from where works, drove to Lowes on S.R. 436, which was closed, and gave away the plywood. Ellis is sleeveless. Taking two sheets is Mike Tom. (Kevin Spear / Orlando Sentinel) 70 / 129 Floridians made last preparations Saturday, including Steve Ellis, who collected scrap plywood from where works, drove to Lowes on S.R. 436, which was closed, and gave away the plywood. Ellis is sleeveless. Taking two sheets is Mike Tom. (Kevin Spear / Orlando Sentinel) 71 / 129 Floridians made last preparations Saturday, including Steve Ellis, who collected scrap plywood from where works, drove to Lowes on S.R. 436, which was closed, and gave away the plywood. Ellis is sleeveless. Taking two sheets is Mike Tom. (Kevin Spear / Orlando Sentinel) 72 / 129 Hurricane Irma veers toward Florida’s Gulf Coast Saturday as Floridians finish preparing for the storm and visitors rush to leave the state. (Kevin Spear / Orlando Sentinel) 73 / 129 Hurricane Irma veers toward Florida’s Gulf Coast Saturday as Floridians finish preparing for the storm and visitors rush to leave the state. This photo show Cynthia Rivera, loading plastic sand bags with her bare hands. “I’m from New York. This is my first hurricane,” she said. (Kevin Spear / Orlando Sentinel) 74 / 129 A large crane sits on the west side of I-4 on Lake Ivanhoe on Sep. 9, 2017. (Aileen Perilla/ Orlando Sentinel) (Aileen Perilla / Orlando Sentinel) 75 / 129 A large crane sits on the west side of I-4 on Lake Ivanhoe on Sep. 9, 2017. (Aileen Perilla/ Orlando Sentinel) (Aileen Perilla / Orlando Sentinel) 76 / 129 Mark Ziebarth and his Tanner, along with a friend Keith Thomas, try and sneak in a couple rounds of golf at Dubsdread Golf Course before the arrival of Hurricane Irma on Sept. 9, 2017. Ziebarth was happy to see the golf course was opened in order to stretch his legs before being cooped up for 24 hours. (Aileen Perilla/ Orlando Sentinel) (Aileen Perilla / Orlando Sentinel) 77 / 129 Mark Ziebarth and his Tanner, along with a friend Keith Thomas, try and sneak in a couple rounds of golf at Dubsdread Golf Course before the arrival of Hurricane Irma on Sept. 9, 2017. Ziebarth was happy to see the golf course was opened in order to stretch his legs before being cooped up for 24 hours. (Aileen Perilla / Orlando Sentinel) 78 / 129 Shaun and Stephanie Stief, pose for a photo after saying their wedding vows underneath a large moss covered Oak tree at the Historic Dubsdread in Orlando on Sep. 9, 2017. The Stief’s, whose wedding was originally scheduled for Sunday, were happy and relieved they were still able to have the wedding of their dreams and that they beat any rain during the ceremony. (Aileen Perilla/ Orlando Sentinel) (Aileen Perilla / Orlando Sentinel) 79 / 129 Luke Guarnaccia and Nicole Insignares, walk their dog after grabbing breakfast at Benjamin’s French Bakery before the arrival of Hurricane Irma on Sept. 9, 2017. Guarnaccia and Insignares traveled from Broward County and are staying with friends in Downtown Orlando.(Aileen Perilla/ Orlando Sentinel) (Aileen Perilla / Orlando Sentinel) 80 / 129 Babs Wade, of Key West, walks her two dogs Noodle and Kit before the arrival of Hurricane Irma on Sept. 9, 2017. Wade traveled 9 hours after evacuating from Key West and is lodging in a nearby hotel. (Aileen Perilla/ Orlando Sentinel) (Aileen Perilla / Orlando Sentinel) 81 / 129 A man jogs along the Lake Eola before the arrival of Hurricane Irma on Sept. 9, 2017. (Aileen Perilla/ Orlando Sentinel) (Aileen Perilla / Orlando Sentinel) 82 / 129 Charlie Manfre spins his son Aiden, 6, at a playground in Lake Eola before the arrival of Hurricane Irma on Sept. 9, 2017. Manfre, who wife is 38 weeks pregnant, traveled with his family from Clermont to stay close to Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies just in case she were to go into labor during Hurricane Irma. (Aileen Perilla/ Orlando Sentinel) (Aileen Perilla / Orlando Sentinel) 83 / 129 Christy Manfre supervises her sons Aiden, 6, and Nolan, 3, as the play on a jungle gym at Lake Eola before the arrival of Hurricane Irma on Sept. 9, 2017. Manfre, who is 38 weeks pregnant, traveled with her family from Clermont to stay close to Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies just in case she where to go into labor during Hurricane Irma. (Aileen Perilla/ Orlando Sentinel) (Aileen Perilla / Orlando Sentinel) 84 / 129 Finding shelter at a covered bus stop in Cocoa Beach as little as it is homeless Andrew Castillo, 44, left,checks on Sandra Workman, 36, Friday, September 9, 2017 as hurricane Irma approaches the state of Florida. “Sandra is not feeling well, we don’t leave a man or woman behind.”,said Castillo. Five homeless people are sticking together to weather the storm. (Red Huber/Staff Photographer) (Red Huber / Orlando Sentinel) 85 / 129 A surfer finds a good wave at Cocoa Beach Friday, September 9, 2017 in the Atlantic Ocean as hurricane Irma approaches the state of Florida. (Red Huber/Staff Photographer) (Red Huber / Orlando Sentinel) 86 / 129 Maddie Puritan, 11yr. and Lisa Puritan, 50, do a selfie Friday, September 9, 2017 at Cocoa Beach as hurricane Irma approaches the state of Florida. (Red Huber/Staff Photographer) (Red Huber / Orlando Sentinel) 87 / 129 Sightseers capture the approaching hurricane Irma Friday, September 9, 2017 at Cocoa Beach, Florida. (Red Huber/Staff Photographer) (Red Huber / Orlando Sentinel) 88 / 129 Hurricane Irma veers toward Florida’s Gulf Coast Saturday as Floridians finish preparing for the storm and visitors rush to leave the state. Azucena Fontiveros, right, holds a bag to be filled with sand. (Kevin Spear / Orlando Sentinel) 89 / 129 Hurricane Irma veers toward Florida’s Gulf Coast Saturday as Floridians finish preparing for the storm and visitors rush to leave the state. (Kevin Spear / Orlando Sentinel) 90 / 129 Hazel Salazar from Miami lets her two small dogs frolic in the ocean the beach in Daytona Beach on September 9, 2017 as Hurricane Irma approaches. Her son is a student at Embryâ€“Riddle Aeronautical University, so she evacuated Miami to come to Daytona Beach to be with him and for safer ground. (Jacob Langston/Orlando Sentinel) (Jacob Langston / Orlando Sentinel) 91 / 129 Hazel Salazar from Miami walks her two small dogs past boarded up store front windows on the beach side in Daytona Beach on September 9, 2017 as Hurricane Irma approaches. Her son is a student at Embryâ€“Riddle Aeronautical University, so she evacuated Miami to come to Daytona Beach to be with him and for safer ground. (Jacob Langston/Orlando Sentinel) (Jacob Langston / Orlando Sentinel) 92 / 129 Miroslava Roznovjakova leans onto a piece of plywood while her husband Ray Hayyat adds some last minute pieces of wood to their store on Daytona Beach on September 9, 2017 in preparation for Hurricane Irma . The owners of the Fantasy Beachwear shop at the corner of Ocean Avenue and Main Street on the beachside have been in business for 25 years and have done this a number of times for previous storms. (Jacob Langston/Orlando Sentinel) (Jacob Langston / Orlando Sentinel) 93 / 129 Houses in a neighborhood near the University of Central Florida are boarded up in anticipation of the arrival of Hurricane Irma. (Naseem Miller, Orlando Sentinel) 94 / 129 Houses in a neighborhood near the University of Central Florida are boarded up in anticipation of the arrival of Hurricane Irma. (Naseem Miller, Orlando Sentinel) 95 / 129 Traffic rolls at a crawl on the northbound lanes of Florida’s Turnpike near the intersection of I-75 in Wildwood on Friday, September 8, 2017. Motorists are evacuating for the anticipated arrival of Hurricane Irma. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) (Stephen M. Dowell / Orlando Sentinel) 96 / 129 Electrical utilities crews prepare for the incoming Hurricane Irma at Orlando Utilities Commission on Sep. 8, 2017. (Aileen Perilla/ Orlando Sentinel) (Aileen Perilla / Orlando Sentinel) 97 / 129 Traffic rolls at a crawl on the northbound lanes of Florida’s Turnpike near the intersection of I-75 in Wildwood on Friday, September 8, 2017. Motorists are evacuating for the anticipated arrival of Hurricane Irma. (Stephen M. Dowell / Orlando Sentinel) 98 / 129 A crew gathers for a meeting to prepare for the incoming Hurricane Irma at Orlando Utilities Commission on Sep. 8, 2017. (Aileen Perilla/ Orlando Sentinel) (Aileen Perilla / Orlando Sentinel) 99 / 129 Neighbors Tammy Sharp, 45, and Jeff Reichardt, 60, measure plywood boards for ReichardtÕs home on Marbella Drive in Sorrento Springs east of Eustis. The two teamed up Friday morning after learning Hurricane Irma had shifted and could bring 100-mph winds into Central Florida. After they protect ReichardtÕs house, theyÕre going to protect SharpÕs home next door. (Stephen Hudak, Orlando Sentinel) (Stephen Hudak / Orlando Sentinel) 100 / 129 Workers board up the windows of a Home Goods store in Tampa on N. Dale Mabry Hwy. on Friday, Sept. 8, 2017 in anticipation of the arrival of Hurricane Irma over the weekend. (Alicia DelGallo, Orlando Sentinel) (Alicia DelGallo / Orlando Sentinel) 101 / 129 Chris Wellhauser, 47, of Tavares , right, and Brian Mier, 50, pose together after teeing off on the first hole of Eagle Dunes in Sorrento to play a round of golf as Hurricane Irma approaches Central Florida. “Nothing better to do right now,” said Wellhauser, who boarded up his home and stocked his family’s shelves earlier in the week in anticipation of the storm. (Stephen Hudak, Orlando Sentinel) (Stephen Hudak / Orlando Sentinel) 102 / 129 Chris Wellhauser, 47, of Tavares , right, and Brian Mier, 50, pose together after teeing off on the first hole of Eagle Dunes in Sorrento to play a round of golf as Hurricane Irma approaches Central Florida. “Nothing better to do right now,” said Wellhauser, who boarded up his home and stocked his family’s shelves earlier in the week in anticipation of the storm. (Stephen Hudak, Orlando Sentinel) (Stephen Hudak / Orlando Sentinel) 103 / 129 People continue to stream into Disney’s Animal Kingdom on Friday, Sept. 8, 2017 ahead of the imminent arrival of Hurricane Irma over the weekend. (Dewayne Bevil, Orlando Sentinel) (Dewayne Bevil / Orlando Sentinel) 104 / 129 Hurricane Irma is causing plywood to sell fast in Orlando. At Home Depot on Colonial and Semoran in Orlando, the shelves are empty. (Michael Williams, Orlando Sentinel) (Michael Williams / Orlando Sentinel) 105 / 129 George Harris, 67, of Tavares rode his three-wheel bicycle on Friday, Sept. 8, 2017, to the Sunoco gas station off U.S. Highway 441 in Tavares and waited in line to fill up a gas can. Preparing for a possible power outage from Hurricane Irma, the retiree said was getting gas for his two generators “in case I need it, or I’ll mow some grass if I don’t need it.” (Jerry Fallstrom, Orlando Sentinel) (Jerry Fallstrom / Orlando Sentinel) 106 / 129 People are buying fence panels because all the plywood is gone from Home Depot on Alafaya north of Lake Underhill on Friday, Sept. 8, 2017 ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Irma. (Lisa Cianci, Orlando Sentinel) (Lisa Cianci / Orlando Sentinel) 107 / 129 Near empty shelves at Home Depot on Alafaya north of Lake Underhill on Friday, Sept. 8, 2017 ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Irma. (Lisa Cianci, Orlando Sentinel) (Lisa Cianci / Orlando Sentinel) 108 / 129 Empty shelves at Home Depot on Alafaya north of Lake Underhill on Friday, Sept. 8, 2017 ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Irma. (Lisa Cianci, Orlando Sentinel) (Lisa Cianci / Orlando Sentinel) 109 / 129 Empty shelves at Home Depot on Alafaya north of Lake Underhill on Friday, Sept. 8, 2017 ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Irma. (Lisa Cianci, Orlando Sentinel) (Lisa Cianci / Orlando Sentinel) 110 / 129 People wait to pick up hurricane supplies at the Home Depot in Casselberry on Friday, Sept. 8, 2017 ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Irma. (Kyle Arnold, Orlando Sentinel) (Kyle Arnold / Orlando Sentinel) 111 / 129 Empty shelves at Home Depot on Alafaya north of Lake Underhill on Friday, Sept. 8, 2017 ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Irma. (Lisa Cianci, Orlando Sentinel) (Lisa Cianci / Orlando Sentinel) 112 / 129 Patty Lillie of Winter Park picks up hurricane supplies at the Home Depot in Casselberry on Friday, Sept. 8, 2017 ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Irma. (Kyle Arnold, Orlando Sentinel) (Kyle Arnold / Orlando Sentinel) 113 / 129 Tyrone Tomlinson, 27, of Orlando became resourceful in using a family wheelchair to retrieve free sand bags to be used on a front porch of their family home in Orlando. People fill up sand bags Thursday, September 7, 2017 as hurricane Irma approaches the state of Florida. Long lines of vehicles waited for hours to get a 10 sand bag limit located at City of Orlando Public Works ,1010 Woods Ave. (Red Huber/Staff Photographer) (Red Huber / Orlando Sentinel) 114 / 129 Jair Vargas ,28, of orlando loads his last sand bag into his vehicle. People fill up sand bags Thursday, September 7, 2017 as hurricane Irma approaches the state of Florida. Long lines of vehicles waited for hours to get a 10 sand bag limit located at City of Orlando Public Works ,1010 Woods Ave. (Red Huber/Staff Photographer) (Red Huber / Orlando Sentinel) 115 / 129 Tyrone Tomlinson, 27, of Orlando became resourceful in using a family wheelchair to retrieve free sand bags to be used on a front porch of their family home in Orlando. People fill up sand bags Thursday, September 7, 2017 as hurricane Irma approaches the state of Florida. Long lines of vehicles waited for hours to get a 10 sand bag limit located at City of Orlando Public Works ,1010 Woods Ave. (Red Huber/Staff Photographer) (Red Huber / Orlando Sentinel) 116 / 129 Long lines of vehicles wrap around Columbia St. and Woods Ave. as people wait to load free sand bags into their vehicles. People fill up sand bags Thursday, September 7, 2017 as hurricane Irma approaches the state of Florida. Long lines of vehicles waited for hours to get a 10 sand bag limit located at City of Orlando Public Works ,1010 Woods Ave. (Red Huber/Staff Photographer) (Red Huber / Orlando Sentinel) 117 / 129 People fill up sand bags Thursday, September 7, 2017 as hurricane Irma approaches the state of Florida. Long lines of vehicles waited for hours to get a 10 sand bag limit located at City of Orlando Public Works, 1010 Woods Ave. (Red Huber/Staff Photographer) (Red Huber / Orlando Sentinel) 118 / 129 Shoppers at Costco in Altamonte Springs, Fla., wait in line for the arrival of a shipment of water during preparations for the impending arrival of Hurricane Irma, Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2017. These residents waited in line starting at 7am for an 11am water delivery. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) 3017048 (Joe Burbank / Orlando Sentinel) 119 / 129 Shoppers at Costco in Altamonte Springs, Fla., wait in line for the arrival of a shipment of water during preparations for the impending arrival of Hurricane Irma, Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2017. These residents waited in line starting at 7am for an 11am water delivery. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) 3017048 (Joe Burbank / Orlando Sentinel) 120 / 129 Drivers wait in line for gasoline at the Costco in Altamonte Springs, Fla., ahead of the anticipated arrival of Hurricane Irma, Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2017. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) 3017048 (Joe Burbank / Orlando Sentinel) 121 / 129 Drivers wait in line for gasoline at the Costco in Altamonte Springs, Fla., ahead of the anticipated arrival of Hurricane Irma, Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2017. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) 3017048 (Joe Burbank / Orlando Sentinel) 122 / 129 Shoppers at Costco in Altamonte Springs, Fla., wait in line for the arrival of a shipment of water during preparations for the anticipated arrival of Hurricane Irma, Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2017. These residents waited in line starting at 7am for an 11am water delivery. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) 3017048 (Joe Burbank / Orlando Sentinel) 123 / 129 Shoppers at Costco in Altamonte Springs, Fla., wait in line to checkout during preparations for the anticipated arrival of Hurricane Irma, Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2017. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) 3017048 (Joe Burbank / Orlando Sentinel) 124 / 129 John Law, Eustis, fuels up extra gas cans at Wawa on South Orange Avenue in Orlando Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2017. (Kyle Arnold / Orlando Sentinel) 125 / 129 In preparation for Hurricane Irma, John Rosner shovels sand into a sandbag held by his wife, Lalaine Rosner, on Sept. 6, 2017, behind the Groveland Fire Department. (Jerry Fallstrom / Orlando Sentinel) 126 / 129 Residents of Waterford Lakes board up their houses on Sunday, Sept. 10, in preparation for Hurricane Irma. (Roger Simmons / Orlando Sentinel) 127 / 129 Residents of Waterford Lakes board up their houses on Sunday, Sept. 10, in preparation for Hurricane Irma. (Roger Simmons / Orlando Sentinel) 128 / 129 Residents of Waterford Lakes board up their houses on Sunday, Sept. 10, in preparation for Hurricane Irma. (Roger Simmons / Orlando Sentinel) 129 / 129 Residents of Waterford Lakes board up their houses on Sunday, Sept. 10, in preparation for Hurricane Irma. (Roger Simmons / Orlando Sentinel)


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