Bracing for Milton + Gators Win Streak

Happy (err…kinda?) Monday, Gainesville.

It was a busy and fun weekend in Gainesville with a lot of positivity, but unfortunately, Hurricane Milton looms and all hands are on deck for preparation. We’ll continue to highlight opportunities to help, and details about preparation as best we can.

Sending all the good vibes to you all and our friends to the south as we brace for impact on Wednesday.

🌡️ Monday: High is 82°F and Low is 69° with 88% chance of rain ☔️ , Friday: High is 82°, low of 70° with 88% chance of rain ⛈️ 

📰 The General Scoop:

• Guaranteed Transfer from Santa Fe to UF Thanks to the new Going Gator transfer program, Santa Fe and Florida Gateway College students now have guaranteed admission into 18 UF majors through the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Starting in Summer B 2025, students with an Associate in Arts degree, the right prerequisites, and a 2.5 GPA can transfer seamlessly into UF. Bonus: you get specialized advising and success workshops to make the transition smoother.

• Florida Preps for Milton Evacuations: Just a week and a half after Hurricane Helene, Florida is bracing for another major storm—Hurricane Milton. Governor Ron DeSantis and Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie are preparing for the largest evacuation since 2017's Hurricane Irma. Milton, expected to hit mid-week as a Category 3 hurricane, could bring 10-20 feet of storm surge along the Gulf Coast from Tampa to Naples which would be devastating. Some are wondering about the debris that lines the curbs that could become flying projectiles as winds pick up again. DeSantis ordered debris collection centers to stay open 24 hours to allow for as much removal as possible before Milton’s landfall.

🌀 Hurricane Clean up and Recovery:

• Donate to the Florida Disaster Fund This has been activated by the state and is privately funded. The funds directly assist the Florida communities impacted by disaster.

• Free tarps in Gainesville In response to Hurricane Helene, the city of Gainesville is distributing 1,200 free tarps to help neighbors with storm recovery. Each household can claim up to two tarps while supplies last. Distribution is happening at the former RTS Administration facility near Depot Park, with pick-up times on Friday (11 AM - 7 PM), Saturday and Sunday (9 AM - 4 PM), and Monday (11 AM - 7 PM).

🏅 Sports News:

• 🏈 The Gators are back in business with their first back-to-back wins in almost a year! Florida took down the UCF Knights 24-13, thanks to a lockdown defensive performance and some key offensive moments (despite the lack of scoring in the second half). The Gators face the Vols in Knoxville this weekend (October 12th)

• 🏐 Florida volleyball drops one to the defending national champs, Texas on Sunday. The Gators lost in 3 sets. Their new record is 10-4, 1-2 in the SEC.

• ⚽️ Fear not, Gators! We didn’t get swept by the Longhorns. Gator soccer beat #22 Texas 2-1.

📆 Things to Do:

^{Monday October 7th}

🍕 Kid’s Pizza Making Class @ V Pizza (4:30 PM - 5:30 PM) Let the little ones unleash their inner chef! At this fun class, kids get to make their own pizza creations. Parents, it’s a win-win—you get dinner and an experience for $20.

_{Tuesday October 8th}

🚚 UF Mover Guys New Location Ribbon Cutting (4:00 PM - 8:00 PM) The Greater Gainesville chamber is hosting a ribbon cutting for longstanding local business, UF Mover Guys. Join the fun before the storm!

🍷 Tasting Tuesday at the Good Pour (3:00 PM - 6:00 PM) Come on out to the Good Pour between 3-6 on Tuesdays to sample some premium wines. Don’t mind if I do!

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Have a great week, and be safe!
Lauren
Swamptown Scoop