Pinellas declares state of emergency, urges preparedness ahead of Idalia
Pinellas County officials declared a local state of emergency Monday morning as Tropical Storm Idalia continued to move toward Florida’s Gulf Coast.
The declaration declaration was followed a short time later, just after 1 p.m., by evacuation orders for residents who live in flood prone areas designated as Zone A, or in mobile homes. The evacuation order was effective at 7 p.m. Monday. Residents were encouraged to evacuate to an area higher than Zone B. Coastal areas could experience several feet of storm surge.
The county was planning to open John Hopkins Middle School 7 p.m. for residents with special needs. The school is located at 701 16th St. S. An additional 10 shelters will open at 7 a.m. Tuesday. For a list, go to disaster.pinellas.gov.
Tropical storm-force winds are expected to arrive in Pinellas around 7 p.m. Tuesday and last until about 9 a.m. Wednesday morning, Cathie Perkins, the county’s emergency management director, said at an emergency Pinellas County Commission meeting. Much of the county’s coastal area, including its barrier islands, could face storm surge of up to 6 feet, with greater surges possible in some pockets, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Perkins said the projected effects based on current forecasts could be similar to or greater than those of Tropical Storm Eta, which caused widespread flooding in the Tampa Bay area in 2020. She also said officials and residents need to keep in mind how fast a storm’s path can shift, especially after last year, when Hurricane Ian took a sudden turn that caught southwest Florida by surprise.
“We’re telling people, now is the time to get set,” County Administrator Barry Burton said. “They need to be making sure they’re finalizing everything in their kit. We need to make sure people know what (evacuation) zone they’re in.”
Residents can find information about their evacuation zones at kyz.pinellas.gov. See the Tampa Bay Times hurricane guide for suggestions on what makes a good hurricane kit.
There are a couple of factors that could somewhat soften a blow from Idalia, Perkins said. Forecasts show 6 to 10 inches of rain in Pinellas County, but the fact that it’s been a dry year so far means that water could drain fairly quickly. And the storm is on pace to arrive before the peak of a super-high tide Wednesday night.
But the storm could still slow down, intensify or change course, all of which could make things worse for Tampa Bay. The plan as of 10 a.m. Monday was to prepare two shelters at Pinellas County schools after school later in the day, Burton said. But should evacuation orders be issued, more schools will close and more shelters will open. It takes the county an estimated 17 hours to clear its first evacuation zone, he said, so residents need to be on their toes.
“When we make that call, we need people to heed that warning,” he said.
According to the county’s website, mandatory evacuations are issued when the probability of storm surge is high and loss of life could occur if residents don’t leave. It is illegal to stay in a home under a mandatory evacuation order. Refusal to follow an evacuation order is a second-degree misdemeanor under state law.
