Pinellas Update #6: Evacuations ordered for Zone A, mobile home residents

Pinellas Update #6: Evacuations ordered for Zone A, mobile home residents

Latest storm/incident developments

• Pinellas County has issued a mandatory evacuation order for residents in Zone A and all mobile homes countywide forTropical Storm Helene. The order takes effect at 9 a.m. today, Wednesday, Sept. 25, and includes high-rise buildings in Evacuation Zone A, which will not be a safe place to ride out the storm.
• The County has opened six shelters, including shelters that can accommodate pets and people with special medical needs. (See info below.)
• Tropical Storm Helene is expected to strengthen to a major hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico by Thursday. Even though it is currently forecast to pass offshore of Pinellas County, it is anticipated to bring tropical storm force winds and life-threatening storm surge flooding of 5-8 feet and flash flooding to our area.
• Pinellas County remains under a Storm Surge Warning, Tropical Storm Warning,Hurricane Watch and Flood Watch. High winds are expected throughout the County. The biggest impacts are expected on Thursday, Sept. 26, with dangerous storm surge impacts continuing after the storm exits the area.

Pinellas County response/action

• Six shelters are open for residents who need to evacuate and do not have a safe place to stay with family or friends.
• Special needs resident transportation began this morning at 9 a.m.
• Pinellas County Emergency Management is coordinating directly with the staff of residential healthcare facilities in Evacuation Zone A. Currently, 26 such facilities are ordered to evacuate.
• The Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners declared a State of Local Emergency on Tuesday in an emergency meeting.
• The County Information Center (CIC) is open 24 hours for preparedness questions. Call (727) 464-4333. Residents who are deaf or hard of hearing can contact the CIC via online chat at www.bit.ly/PinellasChat.
• Check your evacuation zone one of these ways:
  • Visit disaster.pinellas.gov
  • Register for emergency alerts through Alert Pinellas
  • Download the Ready Pinellas app.
  • Call the County Information Center (727) 463-4333
  • Residents who are deaf or hard of hearing can contact the County Information Center via online chat at www.bit.ly/PinellasChat.

Emergency shelters

• If you can shelter safely outside of the evacuation zones, either at home, in a hotel, or with a friend or family member, please do so. Hotel accommodation information can be found at visitstpeteclearwater.com/info/pre-storm-information.

• The following shelters will open at 9 a.m.:
• Dunedin Highland Middle: 70 Patricia Ave, Dunedin (special needs)
• Gibbs High: 850 34th St S, St. Petersburg (pet friendly)
• John Hopkins Middle: 701 16th St S, St. Petersburg (special needs)
• Largo High: 410 Missouri Ave, Largo (pet friendly)
• Lealman Innovation Academy: 4900 28th St N, Lealman
• Palm Harbor University High - Building 19: 1900 Omaha St, Palm Harbor (special needs, pet friendly and general population)
• Palm Harbor University High - Main Building: 1900 Omaha St, Palm Harbor (pet friendly)

What to bring to shelter

Special needs shelters: Dunedin Highland Middle, John Hopkins Middle, and Palm Harbor University High. Bring bedding, medications, written instructions or orders regarding your care, and any medical supplies you need, including oxygen concentrator, walker, etc.

Pet-friendly shelters: Palm Harbor, Largo, and Gibbs high school shelters are equipped for pets. Residents must bring a carrier, supplies, license and immunization records.

For a detailed list of what to bring to a general shelter, see: disaster.pinellas.gov.

Shelter transportation: Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) will offer free rides to the shelters starting today at 9 a.m. Pets are allowed on the bus: cats and small dogs in a crate; large dogs on a muzzle leash. For the latest information on PSTA bus service, call the InfoLine at (727) 540-1900, psta.net, or the mobile app Transit.

Advice & Information for Residents

• During Hurricane Ian, 40.8 percent of local residents decided to stay home because they were worried about traffic. Remember: you don't have to go far; just go somewhere outside of the ordered evacuation zones. If you want to go further, leave earlier for a smoother drive.
• Emergency responders will not be able to respond to most calls once sustained winds have reached dangerous speeds or floodwaters become too dangerous.
• Protect your pets. Among Pinellas County pet owners who decided not to evacuate for Hurricane Ian, 51.4 percent indicated that having a pet played a significant role in their decision to stay home. Protect your pets by getting them - and you - out of an ordered evacuation zone.
• If you can shelter safely outside of the evacuation zones in a hotel or with a friend or family member, please do so.
• Road closure information will be pushed to the Waze app for real-time updates.
• If an emergency shelter is your best option, pack essential items but pack light. Space is very limited.
• Stay informed: Monitor local news media, National Weather Service, disaster.pinellas.gov, Facebook @PinellasGov, X @PinellasGov, and X @PinellasEM; search hashtag #PCHelene. Check for updates regularly as storm forecasts and guidance can change quickly.
• Register for emergency alerts at disaster.pinellas.gov and download the Ready Pinellas app in the App Store or Google Play store for real-time storm updates.