Tag: Pinellas County
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Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton caused widespread damage across Florida, with the former heavily impacting Georgia and North Carolina. The death toll has surpassed 300 lives lost, and there’s nearly a month and a half before the official end of the 2024 hurricane season. At last count, 92 people remain unaccounted for in North Carolina,…
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Halloween on Central, will proceed as planned, transforming nearly two miles of Central Avenue into a vibrant open-air event…
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This coordinated effort aims to efficiently restore Treasure Island’s beloved beaches to their former beauty…
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Hurricane Milton evacuees who left days before the storm hit are discovering when walking into retail and grocery stores partially or entirely empty shelves… #PIESun
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The grocery chain will host a distribution event in St. Petersburg, providing essential supplies to those affected by the storm… #PIESun
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This three-day event offers an opportunity for local residents, particularly those facing challenging circumstances, to receive a warm meal at no cost… #PIESun
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Unincorporated areas alone contain approximately 1 million cubic yards of residential debris… #PIESun
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While some customers will have their power restored earlier, the majority who can receive power are expected to be restored by the following days and times… #PIESun
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Local city officials are cautioning residents to stay in their homes and not to venture out due to hazardous conditions. Here is a message from the City of Clearwater: “Please stay in place and avoid venturing out right now, as many areas are without power and significant dangers remain, including downed power lines and fallen…
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With Hurricane Milton bearing down on Florida’s Gulf Coast, authorities have taken proactive measures to ensure public safety. The Florida Highway Patrol has announced the closure of several critical bridges in the Tampa Bay region. (photo credit FHP) The iconic Sunshine Skyway Bridge, a vital link between Pinellas and Manatee counties, was shut down early…
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Hurricane Milton remains a Category 5 storm and is expected to make landfall as either a Category 4 or strong Category 3 this evening. Forecast models suggest that increasing vertical wind shear will weaken Milton later today, but it will still hit the coast as a very dangerous hurricane. Expect major wind damage where the…
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As Hurricane Milton menacingly churns across the Gulf of Mexico, meteorologists are sounding the alarm about its potentially catastrophic impact on Florida’s west-central coast. The storm, which briefly weakened overnight, has regained strength and now boasts maximum sustained winds of nearly 155 mph. (image credit NPR) As of Tuesday afternoon, Milton was located approximately 520…
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The regional air hub serving St. Petersburg and Clearwater has announced a temporary suspension of operations beginning Tuesday afternoon. The terminal will cease activities following the departure of its final scheduled flight. Key points for travelers: Travelers are strongly advised to contact their respective airlines directly for the most up-to-date information regarding flight cancellations and…
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Red tide, initially found in low concentrations around Pinellas County before Hurricane Helene, has surged following the storm’s aftermath. (image credit FWC) Chris Robbins, the associate director of science for the Ocean Conservancy, confirmed a strong link between storms and red tide. Meteorologists predict Hurricane Milton, now a Category 5, will hit the area by…
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Pinellas County officials have issued mandatory evacuation orders for special needs residents in Zones A, B, and C, effective at noon today. Evacuations for long-term care facilities are also underway. To find your evacuation zone, click here. Voluntary evacuations are encouraged for residents in Zones A, B, and C, and for those in mobile homes,…
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With Tropical Storm Milton spinning and soon forming into Hurricane Milton in the Gulf of Mexico and on a path to the west coast of Florida, residents of the Sunshine State, still reeling from Hurricane Helene, must prepare for another powerful tropical weather event and many projected to be potential victims will board up windows,…
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Pinellas County Mosquito Control has observed a rise in mosquito-borne West Nile Virus cases through its sentinel chicken illness detection program. They are urging residents to take measures to protect themselves and prevent mosquito breeding. (photo credit Live Science) Due to the surge in West Nile Virus cases, the Florida Department of Health in Pinellas…
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The City of Gulfport will be closing the Hurricane Helene Donation Center at the Gulfport Senior Center, located at 5501 27th Ave S. This essential resource for collecting supplies to support those impacted by Hurricane Helene will shut down on Monday, October 7, 2024. The City expresses its deep gratitude to the community for their…
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The recent tropical system that battered St. Petersburg has left in its wake an environmental crisis, as nearly 1.5 million gallons of untreated wastewater surged through city neighborhoods. The storm’s powerful surge overwhelmed the city’s infrastructure, leading to widespread sewage discharges. At the heart of this environmental emergency was the Northeast Water Reclamation Facility (NWRF),…
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Beginning today, residents affected by recent storms can access a centralized “insurance village” to streamline their insurance claim processes, hosted by the Florida Department of Financial Services’ Division of Consumer Services. The Florida Division of Consumer Services has coordinated with over 40 insurance providers to offer on-site support at this temporary facility. Its primary goal…
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Lithium-ion batteries can catch fire and erupt immediately after water exposure, but fires may break out hours, days, or even weeks. Any size battery poses a potential danger, regardless if it’s powering something as small as a handheld tool or as large as an electric vehicle. (image credit Palm Harbor Fire Dept / Pinellas County…
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Hurricane Helene’s extensive devastation along the Gulf Coast has led researchers at the University of South Florida (USF) St. Petersburg campus to unveil a groundbreaking web application that harnesses the power of crowd-sourced data to forecast future flood risks. (photo credit http://www.flood-report.cris-hazard.org) CRIS-HAZARD: A Collaborative Approach to Flood Mapping The CRIS-HAZARD app, launched in 2023…
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A low-pressure system lurking in the Gulf of Mexico is poised to drench parts of Florida, including the Tampa Bay region, as early as next week. This comes despite the National Hurricane Center’s downgraded forecast, now giving the system only a 30% chance of developing into a named storm over the coming week. (photo credit…
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St. Petersburg’s vibrant coffee scene is about to welcome a unique addition with the imminent opening of Daycation, a specialty coffee and tea shop infused with Asian influences. Situated at 189 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street North, just north of Central Avenue, this cozy establishment is poised to offer a fresh take on the…
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Eight days after Hurricane Helene’s devastating six-foot storm surge swept through downtown St. Petersburg, approximately 200 residents of the Municipal Marina find themselves in a precarious situation. With no electricity and an uncertain future, many feel overlooked by city officials. (photo credit St. Pete Catalyst) A Marina in Distress The once-bustling 640-slip facility, often touted…
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Residents of Pinellas County’s barrier islands are grappling with a new reality In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene: life without running water. For approximately 7,500 households and businesses south of John’s Pass, the simple luxury of turning on a tap has become a distant memory. (photo credit ABC Action News Tampa) Treasure Island: A Microcosm…
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Pinellas County, along with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), is actively monitoring red tide levels across various areas in the county. (photo credit WUSF) According to officials, moderate concentrations of red tide have been observed near St. Pete Beach, Madeira Beach, and the Dunedin Causeway, while lower levels were detected off Pass-a-Grille,…
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Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri announced that Hurricane Helene has claimed eleven lives in the county, with the majority of fatalities occurring in mandatory evacuation Zone A. The victims, identified as residents from various coastal areas like Indian Rocks Beach, St. Pete Beach, and Madeira Beach, mostly perished from drowning due to storm surges and…
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