The City of St. Petersburg has begun installing flood panels at its Northeast Water Reclamation Facility to prevent shutdowns during future hurricanes, city officials announced Monday.

The facility was forced offline for the first time during Hurricane Helene in 2024, then again during Hurricane Milton. The shutdowns prompted the city to implement flood protection measures at the critical infrastructure site.

Public Works Administrator Claude Tankersley said the flood panels will allow the plant to continue operating even during storms similar to Hurricane Helene. The panels function like permanent flood barriers attached directly to buildings, protecting critical equipment from storm surge.

“After Helene, this entire bay was filled with water, standing water,” Tankersley said, referring to an underground area housing final-stage wastewater treatment equipment. “Electrical equipment over there was exposed to that saltwater and was damaged.”

The city purchased 100 flood panels for approximately $1 million, enough to protect 11 buildings at the Northeast facility. Installation began last week with the filter station, which requires three panels per opening. The city also bought an equal number of panels for its Southwest Water Reclamation Facility.

Tankersley said the panels are more cost-effective than elevating buildings, which would cost tens of millions of dollars per structure. The flood protection is part of the city’s broader effort to harden the facility, which also includes elevating some equipment above potential flood levels.

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