Every U-Haul store in Florida is offering a month of free storage services as residents ready for the Category 5 storm

TAMPA, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 7, 2024-- U-Haul is now offering 30 days free self-storage and U-Box portable container use across Florida in preparation for Hurricane Milton, a Category 5 storm projected to hit the state later this week.

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All 172 U-Haul self-storage centers across Florida are offering 30 days of free self-storage and U-Box portable storage container use ahead of Hurricane Milton, a category 5 storm poised to hit the state's western Gulf Coast later this week. (Photo: Business Wire)

Less than two weeks after Hurricane Helene brought damaging floodwaters and high winds to the Big Bend region and western Gulf Coast communities, Milton has rapidly intensified and is forecasted to pack life-threatening storm surge along Florida’s western Gulf Coast.

All 14 U-Haul Companies with operations in Florida have made their 172 centers available to offer the disaster relief program, including several companies in southeastern Florida that were outside the impact zone of Helene but could be impacted by the expanding reach of Milton. This allows every Floridian to access 30 days of free storage at any U-Haul center in the state, whether preparing for Milton or needing help during the clean-up process from Helene.

“Floridians have to remain vigilant with another powerful hurricane barreling our way, and it’s a stressful time for families looking to stay out of harm’s way,” said Mario Martinez, U-Haul Area District Vice President for Florida’s southern region. “Finding safety away from the storm and protecting your family comes first. But if we can help by securing a family’s valued possessions in a U-Haul facility during these storms at no cost for one month, we are happy to provide that service to our neighbors.”

The free offer applies to new self-storage and U-Box rentals and is based on availability at each individual Company-owned and -operated location. Please reference the cities below with participating stores and contact your nearest U-Haul office to arrange 30 days of free storage services:

U-Haul Co. of Clearwater (18 stores)
(727) 288-9919
Participating store locations: Clearwater, Largo, New Port Richey, Palm Harbor, Pinellas Park, Port Richey, Seminole, St. Petersburg

U-Haul Co. of East Orlando (11 stores)
(407) 208-2996
Participating store locations: Kissimmee, Orlando

U-Haul Co. of East Tampa/Lakeland (6 stores)
(813) 655-4434
Participating store locations: Brandon, Lake Wales, Lakeland, Tampa, Thonotosassa

U-Haul Co. of Eastern Florida (11 stores)
(561) 638-9428
Participating store locations: Boynton Beach, Fort Pierce, Melbourne, Merritt Island, Palm Bay, Palm Beach Gardens, Rockledge, Titusville, West Palm Beach

U-Haul Co. of Fort Lauderdale (14 stores)
(954) 942-1101
Participating store locations: Coconut Creek, Fort Lauderdale, Margate, Miami Gardens, North Miami Beach, Pompano Beach, Sunrise, West Park, Wilton Manors

U-Haul Co. of Gainesville (15 stores)
(352) 377-7311
Participating store locations: Brooksville, Eustis, Gainesville, Hudson, Leesburg, Ocala, Spring Hill

U-Haul Co. of Jacksonville (15 stores)
(904) 781-9404
Participating store locations: Atlantic Beach, Fernandina Beach, Jacksonville, Neptune Beach, St. Augustine

U-Haul Co. of Miami (12 stores)
(305) 756-4639
Participating store locations: Homestead Hialeah, Key Largo, Medley, Miami, North Miami, Perrine

U-Haul Co. of North Orlando (13 stores)
(407) 578-1344
Participating store locations: Altamonte Springs, Apopka, Daytona Beach, Debary, Longwood, New Smyrna Beach, Orange City, Orlando, Sanford, Winter Park

U-Haul Co. of Tallahassee (14 stores)
(866) 723-3056
Participating store locations: Jacksonville, Middleburg, Orange Park, Tallahassee

U-Haul Co. of West Orlando (8 stores)
(407) 240-9982
Participating store locations: Clermont, Haines City, Kissimmee, Ocoee, Orlando

U-Haul Co. of West Tampa (13 stores)
(813) 247-5016
Participating store locations: Odessa, Oldsmar, Tampa

U-Haul Co. of Western Florida (12 stores)
(941) 359-2413
Participating store locations: Bradenton, Fort Myers, Naples, North Fort Myers, North Port, Palmetto, Port Charlotte, Sarasota, Sebring

U-Haul Co. of S. Alabama (*10 stores in Florida)
(800) 633-6819
Participating store locations: Fort Walton Beach, Milton, Panama City, Pensacola

In addition to its 30 days free self-storage disaster relief program, U-Haul is proud to be at the forefront of aiding communities in times of need as an official American Red Cross Disaster Responder.

About U-HAUL

Founded in 1945, U-Haul is the No. 1 choice of do-it-yourself movers with more than 23,000 rental locations across all 50 states and 10 Canadian provinces. The U-Haul app makes it easy for customers to use U-Haul Truck Share 24/7 to access trucks anytime through the self-dispatch and -return options on their smartphones with our patented Live Verify technology. Our customers' patronage has enabled the U-Haul fleet to grow to 192,000 trucks, 138,700 trailers and 39,500 towing devices. U-Haul is the third largest self-storage operator in North America with 1,024,000 rentable units and 88.5 million square feet of self-storage space at Company-owned and -managed facilities. U-Haul is the top retailer of propane in the U.S. and the largest installer of permanent trailer hitches in the automotive aftermarket industry. Get the U-Haul app from the App Store or Google Play .

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241007180191/en/

Sydney Ellis
Jeff Lockridge
E-mail: publicrelations@uhaul.com
Phone: 602-263-6981
Website: uhaul.com

Source: U-Haul Holding Company