10/08/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/08/2024 07:45
Two additional general population emergency shelters are now open at Lealman Innovation Academy (4900 28th St. N., St. Petersburg) and Clearwater Fundamental Middle School (1660 Palmetto St., Clearwater).
Eight shelters are now available in Pinellas County (Anyone can go to a pet-friendly shelter, but only special needs residents can go to a special needs shelter).
A complete list of open shelters can be found at disaster.pinellas.gov. Additional shelter openings will be announced if needed.
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.
Mandatory evacuations in effect for all Zone A, B, and C (including high-rise buildings), all countywide mobile home parks, all residents with special needs. Plan to be in the location where you will ride out the storm, outside of an evacuation zone, before tropical storm winds arrive in our area on Wednesday.
Regular PSTA service and barrier island service (buses and trolleys) ends at 2 p.m. today, but buses will continue to provide free rides to the shelters on the Pinellas mainland until 7 p.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.
The State of Florida is also offering free shuttles to shelters. Reservations are not required. Times and locations can be found at FloridaDisaster.org/Updates (see "Evacuation Assistance"). Call 800-729-3413 for more information.
The County Information Center remains open 24 hours a day. Call (727) 464-4333. Residents who are deaf or hard of hearing can contact the County Information Center via online chat at www.bit.ly/PinellasChat