Hurricane Ian Updates

St. Pete Beach Webcam Links

09.28.2022: 5:00pm Update

• While Hurricane Ian is currently south of our area, the evacuation order still stands for the barrier islands.  The storm is heading NE and is likely going to bring strong winds and more rain through Thursday morning.  
• There is a recommendation to shelter in place.  This is not the time to get out and explore as the conditions may rapidly change.  
• Due to the possibility of heavy rain, drivers are advised to use extreme caution when encountering flooded intersections & other roadway structures impeded by flood waters. Drivers are advised to employ the “turn around, don’t drown®!” motto when presented with flood waters.

09.28.2022: 11:30am Update

• There are reports of power outages in areas of St. Pete Beach.  
  • Safety Messaging from Duke Energy:
    • Downed power lines. Always assume downed lines are energized and stay away. Also, remember that power lines can be hidden by debris and standing water, so use extreme caution in flooded areas.
    • Operate generators safely. Remember to always follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
• View Generator Safety Tips from Chief Elder HERE.

09.27.2022: 7:30pm Pinellas County Update

Latest storm/incident developments

• Pinellas County remains under a Hurricane Warning and Storm Surge Warning for Hurricane Ian. A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area. A Storm Surge Warning means there is a danger of life-threatening inundation from rising water moving inland from the coastline and Tampa Bay. 

• Hurricane Ian is expected to reach the Tampa Bay area as a strong hurricane. Residents should plan for the possibility of winds greater than 110 mph. Tornadoes are also possible. While there is still some uncertainty with the track, size and intensity of the storm, Pinellas County will see very significant rain, damaging winds, and life-threatening storm surge.

• Rainfall totals of 8 to 15 inches are expected through Friday, with some areas getting up to 30 inches. Low-lying areas of Pinellas County inland from the coast are expected to flood. Flooding is different from storm surge but can still be life-threatening.

Pinellas County response/action

• Pinellas County is urging residents to shelter in place by no later than midnight tonight. Tropical force winds are expected to arrive by early Wednesday and will create hazardous driving conditions.

 Pinellas County has issued a mandatory evacuation order for Evacuation Zones A, B, and C, including all mobile homes and manufactured homes. Residents who need to go to a public shelter can find locations at http://storm.pinellascounty.org. 

• Anyone in these zones who hasn’t evacuated yet should do so immediately. Once sustained winds have reached 40 mph, emergency responders will stay off the roads and will not be able to respond to most calls.

• The County also has ordered mandatory evacuations of all health care facilities in Zones A, B and C. Those evacuations should be complete or nearing completion.

• The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office has closed the barrier islands to inbound traffic and will not allow access until after the storm.

Advice & Information for Residents

• If you are evacuating, do so immediately. Public shelters could fill up, or you may not be able to get there. 

• If you can shelter safely at home, in a hotel, or with a friend or family member, please do so.

Specific Warning for Tarpon Woods Area

• At 11 a.m. Tuesday, the water level of Brooker Creek was 10.8 feet at USGS Gage 02307359. Roadway flooding will occur when the gage exceeds 12.0 feet. 

• Heavy rainfall associated with Hurricane Ian is expected. National Hurricane Center is projecting several feet of storm surge in the area as well. The rainfall and storm surge coupled with high tides about 7 p.m. Wednesday night and 6 a.m. Thursday morning will likely cause extensive flooding in the area. 

• Public Works staff has pre-staged pumps in anticipation of flooding. However, pumping will not be effective with the projected storm surge. 

Shelters

• Pinellas County has opened 25 shelters throughout the county. Locations and capacity status can be found at http://storm.pinellascounty.org. Special needs and pet-friendly shelters can be located by using the dropdown menu. 

• Residents with special needs who require transportation can sign up by calling the County Information Center at (727) 464-4333. Transportation will end at 9 p.m. tonight.

• Rideshare service Uber has also announced free rides to and from public shelters up to $30 each way for those evacuating the storm. Enter code IANRELIEF and select the shelter where you are going. 

General

• The County Information Center is now open for 24 hours.. 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 

• The State of Florida has suspended tolls on all major toll roads in the region.

09.27.2022: 5:30pm Update

Access to Barrier Islands Closing:

Important Message from PInellas County Sheriff's Office:

St. Pete Beach Sanitary Sewer System:

Due to the storm movement further south, the surge inundation of the County’s pump stations is reduced to the point we do not have the need to shut down the system at this time.  We will be monitoring the performance of the system as the storm moves through the area and update as necessary.    Please continue to follow us on social media and subscribe to alerts HERE.

09.27.2022: 1:15pm Update

Due to Hurricane Ian's latest updates, officials from Pinellas County, St. Petersburg, and the other barrier island communities will assess timing and determine the need to turn off the sanitary sewer system in evacuation zone A at 5:00 p.m. today.  Please continue to follow us on social media and subscribe to alerts HERE.

09.27.2022: 8:30am Update

09.26.2022: 5:30pm Update

The entire city of St. Pete Beach is in a mandatory evacuation zone which goes effect today at 6:00 p.m. Everyone is expected to be off the island seeking higher ground during the storm.

Tomorrow, September 27th, 2022, the sanitary sewer system in Evacuation Zone A communities will be turned off.  This means that anyone who does not evacuate should not use any water on their property.  Should one use the plumbing on their property, it would stay in the lateral lines on site and eventually cause a back up.  This service is being turned off in order to avoid any extensive damage to the system from fresh water contamination.

Service will be returned as soon as possible pending damage assessments following Hurricane Ian.

Messages from Pinellas County:

The National Weather Service has issued a Storm Surge Warning for your area in Pinellas County. See www.weather.gov/tampa for more info.

Hurricane Warning and Storm Surge Warning Issued for Pinellas County. A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected within the warning area, in this case within 24 to 36 hours. Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion. A Storm Surge Warning means there is a danger of life-threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the coastline, during the next 36 hours.

09.26.2022: 3:30pm Update

Mandatory Evacuation

From the Pinellas County Emergency Management 

IMPORTANT: Effective 6 p.m. today, all residents in Evacuation Zone A (including all mobile home residents) will be under mandatory evacuation orders. Mandatory orders for evacuation zones B and C will be effective tomorrow morning at 7 a.m. All residential healthcare facilities will be under mandatory evacuation orders starting today as well.

Closures

Freebee service will stop today at 6:00 pm. 

City Offices, the St. Pete Beach Library, and Community Center will be closing today at 6:00 pm and will not reopen to the public until Friday, September 30th, 2022.  This is subject to change.

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Pinellas County is recommending that Zone A should evacuate asap.  It is not a mandatory evacuation yet, however if/when evacuations become mandatory, we will have major traffic issues and congestion.  

Please visit the Pinellas County website for quick reference on county resources and storm surge mapping. 

YES- High rise condos and hotels need to evacuate. There may be no power or functioning water systems.  You do not want to be stuck with zero access to emergency medical help if needed.

Sandbags:

We are running low on BAGS but have more sand being delivered to Horan Park Parking Lot and Egan Park.  

Closures:

Concession stands and the Community Center will be closing at end of day today and will not reopen until Friday.*

City Hall, Library, and City Offices will close to the public at noon tomorrow at will reopen Friday.*

Freebee:

Freebee will stop service at noon tomorrow, Tuesday September 27^th and will resume Friday, September 30th.*

*Please note hours and availability may change.  Stay informed through social media and website updates and well as St. Pete Beach Alerts.  Sign up for alerts HERE.

Construction Sites:

Our team is visiting construction sites today and tomorrow to help ensure they are being managed safely.  If they are not we will begin issuing violations by noon tomorrow.

Public Works:

The team will work to ensure all construction signs are removed by end of day tomorrow.

Garbage Collection:

Trash collection will continue today and tomorrow.  Recycling will NOT take place on Wednesday, September 28th, 2022.  Do NOT prune trees and bushes.  We will not be able to schedule a pick up of landscaping debris before the storm.

09.25.2022

• The sandbag stations located at Egan Park, and the Horan Park parking lot have been depleted of sand this afternoon, Sunday, September 25th, 2022, and will be replenished, and reopened tomorrow, Monday, September 26th, 2022 at 9:00 a.m.
• Please note: sandbags are utilized for a deterrent to rain, not for storm surge, or tidal flooding. 
• Please review additional guidance regarding hurricane preparedness from Pinellas County Government HERE

Message from Pinellas County Government:

• National Hurricane Center predicts Ian will become a major hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico.

• While the future path is still uncertain, major flooding and wind damage is expected in Pinellas County.

• Special needs shelters and two general population shelters will open Monday afternoon. Additional sheltering and evacuation plans will be announced Monday at a 10 a.m. press conference at the Emergency Operations Center. 

• Visitors are encouraged to proactively evacuate as precautionary measure.

Special needs evacuation

• Special needs shelters will open Monday, Sept. 26, at 6 p.m. Residents with special needs who require transportation to a safe location until the storm threat passes can still sign up by calling the County Information Center at 727-464-4333.  

Emergency shelters

• Residents should finalize their sheltering plans soon, whether it is in their non-evacuation zone home, in a hotel, or with a friend or family member.

• Two general populations shelters will open Monday, Sept. 26, at 6 p.m. for those needing emergency shelter:

• Ross Norton Recreation Center (1426 S M.L.K. Jr Ave, Clearwater, FL 33756)
• Lealman Exchange (5175 45th St N, St. Petersburg)

• Additional shelters will open Tuesday morning. More details will be provided at the press conference.

• Follow the latest updates on Alert Pinellas, Ready Pinellas, www.pinellascounty.org, County social media and local media. 

General

• Pinellas County schools will be closed Tuesday and Wednesday.

• County Information Center remains open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. 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

Advice & Information for Residents and Visitors

• Visitors are encouraged to evacuate beginning Monday.

• Finalize your disaster preparedness kits. 

• If you are leaving the county, plan to leave early and be sure to secure your property before you go.

• Take photographs of your home and valuable items for insurance purposes in case damages occur.

• Know your evacuation zone. Pinellas County updated evacuation zones for the 2022 hurricane season. Check your evacuation zone one of these ways:

• Storm.pinellascounty.org
• Download the new Ready Pinellas app
• If your property has a landline: Call (727) 453-3150 and enter your 10-digit home phone number
• Residents who are deaf or hard of hearing can contact the County Information Center via online chat at www.bit.ly/PinellasChat

• Monitor local news media, National Weather Service, pinellascounty.org, Facebook @PinellasCountyNews and Twitter @PinellasCoNews.

• Register for emergency alerts at http://www.pinellascounty.org/alertpinellas and download the new Ready Pinellas app in the App Store or Google Play store for real-time storm updates.

09.24.2022

It’s too soon to know whether Tropical Storm Ian will impact our community. 

This weekend is the time to make sure you are prepared, and signed up for alerts from Pinellas County Government, and the City of St. Pete Beach. 

09.23.2022

Sand bag distribution sites are being setup at both Egan Park (parking lot next to the boat parking) and Horan Parking Lot (on the wall next to Public Works). There are bags and shovels at both locations. Staff will not officially open these locations until Monday, but all residents will be able to self serve over the weekend. 

On Monday and Tuesday of next week, we will staff sand bag distribution sites from 9am until 3pm.  An ID will be required to verify residential status, as the sand bags are only available to residents of St. Pete Beach.