Pinellas County Government: Residents Urged To Shelter In Place Ahead Of Tropical Storm Elsa

Press release from the Pinellas County Government:

July 6, 2021

At a press conference this morning, Pinellas County Government and the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office urged residents to make final preparations to shelter in place by this evening as Tropical Storm Elsa approaches the Tampa Bay area.  

To ensure safety, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office will limit barrier island access starting at 6 p.m. today until 7 a.m. Wednesday, Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri announced. Access will be permitted only for island residents, employees working on the islands and visitors staying at hotels or vacation rentals on the islands. 

The County is asking residents to shelter in place, unless in a low-lying area that is at risk of flooding. Pinellas County Emergency Management Director Cathie Perkins reminded residents in flood-prone areas that they should seek shelter with friends or family in a safer area if possible, or at one of the County’s two community shelters as a last resort. A mandatory evacuation has not been issued.  

Residents can check their risk of storm surge flooding at storm.pinellascounty.org.  

The following areas were noted as particularly at risk for flooding: 

·        Bay Pointe 

·        Caladesi and Sherwood Forest RV Park Area 

·        Crystal Beach Area  

·        Downtown Gulfport Area 

·        John's Pass Village area 

·        Mariners Cove Mobile Home Park  

·        Oldsmar (especially coastal areas) 

·        Riviera Bay Area  

·        Shore Acres Area  

·        Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks Area  

·        Tarpon Woods Subdivision Area 

·        Twin City Mobile Home Park Area 

Pinellas County officials also reminded residents that first responders will not be able to respond to calls once winds reach 40 miles per hour. 

Outer bands with strong winds and rain will reach Pinellas as early as 5 or 6 p.m., with storm impacts starting around 8 p.m. Pinellas County could see three to five feet of storm surge overnight and into tomorrow morning. The storm is expected to exit the area by 9 a.m. on Wednesday. Pinellas County is under a Hurricane Watch, Tropical Storm Warning, Storm Surge Warning and Flood Watch. 

The County has opened two shelters as a last resort for residents who do not have a safe place to shelter: 

·        The Lealman Exchange, located at 5175 45th St. N in St. Petersburg, is open for the general population, those with special needs and persons with pets.  

·        Ross Norton Recreation Center shelter, located at 1426 S. Martin Luther King Jr Ave. in Clearwater, is open to the general population.  

Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) will offer free rides to the two shelters. Pets will be permitted on evacuation buses as long as they are in a pet carrier. The latest information on PSTA bus service can be obtained by calling the InfoLine at 727-540-1900 or by visiting their website at https://psta.net/riding-psta/weather-alert/ 

Advice & Information for Residents 

·                    Turn off electrical breakers if your home begins to flood. 

·                    Always avoid driving through flooded streets and wading through flood waters. 

·                    To avoid risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, never use a generator indoors or inside of a garage. 

·                    Take photos of any belongings damaged specifically by this storm. 

·                    Residents should finish any remaining housing preparations now before the arrival of storm-force winds. Remove dead leaves and branches and bring in all large yard items, such as furniture, grills and bird baths. For more simple steps to make your home storm ready check out the 2021 Hurricane Preparedness Guide.  

·                    Residents can check their storm surge flood risk, report damage to their property or report public safety hazards at: https://storm.pinellascounty.org.  

·                    Monitor local news media, National Weather Service, www.pinellascounty.org, Facebook @PinellasCountyNews and Twitter @PinellasCoNews, search hashtag #PCElsa. 

·                    Register for emergency alerts at http://www.pinellascounty.org/alertpinellas/.  

This press release was produced by the Pinellas County Government. The views expressed here are the author’s own.