St. Petersburg officials say back-to-back hurricanes have better prepared the city for the 2025 storm season, which begins in less than three weeks.

Speaking from the Northeast Water Reclamation Facility on Tuesday, Mayor Ken Welch emphasized infrastructure upgrades and increased storm readiness. The city shut down the low-lying plant during Hurricanes Helene and Milton but has since fast-tracked flood resilience improvements.

“We haven’t just been recovering—we’ve been learning and acting with urgency,” Welch said. “Storms are only growing stronger. It’s not a question of if, but when we get hit.”

Welch unveiled progress on the St. Pete Agile Resiliency (SPAR) Plan, launched in response to intensifying weather patterns driven by climate change. Key upgrades include elevating equipment, staging critical resources, and cross-training staff.

Public Works Administrator Claude Tankersley noted the site now includes an 11-foot-high platform for new generators—two feet above the base flood elevation. Eventually, all three city water reclamation plants are expected to withstand up to a 15-foot storm surge.

SPAR initiatives also include:

• Deployable flood barriers and waterproofing at water treatment plants
  
• An AquaFence system protecting a downtown sewage lift station
  
• A new pump station near Lake Maggiore
  
• A sewer lateral rebate program for homeowners
  

“Many of these projects will wrap up by year’s end,” Welch said, adding that the city is seeking more funding to accelerate future improvements.

Other efforts include backup power systems, boosted internet access, citywide emergency equipment staging, and three new high-water rescue vehicles. Emergency Management has conducted full-scale training, and new pumps will be deployed at lift stations during severe weather.

Welch urged residents to prepare their homes and stay informed. “The city is ready—but we need the community to be ready too,” he said.

City Council Chair Copley Gerdes praised the team’s dedication since Hurricane Milton, which left behind 2.1 million cubic yards of debris—enough to fill the Residences at 400 Central twice. Quoting Rocky Balboa, he added, “It’s not about how hard you hit—it’s how hard you can get hit.”

Emergency Management Director Amber Boulding said experience has become the city’s greatest asset. She encouraged residents to learn from recent storms and plan ahead, particularly looking out for elderly neighbors and those with mobility issues.

“Small acts of kindness can make a big difference,” she said.

Hurricane Preparedness Day will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 31, at the Willis S. Johns Recreation Center. The expanded event will offer expert presentations, sandbag demos, and pet-focused resources.

For more information, visit St. Pete’s Hurricane Center.

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(Image credit: WTVT)

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