On Tuesday, Pinellas County authorities issued a mandatory evacuation order for residents of long-term care facilities such as hospitals, nursing homes and assisted living facilities in Evacuation Zone A.
Emergency Management Director Cathie Perkins said during a press conference Tuesday that the order affects two hospitals, 14 nursing homes and 10 assisted living facilities.
“We are doing this because the evacuation is taking longer and we want to make sure we protect everyone,” Perkins said.
With a hurricane expected to make landfall in the Panhandle on Thursday and pass less than 100 miles off the coast of Tampa Bay, the biggest threat to Pinellas County is record-level storm surge, Perkins said.
Authorities are forecasting a storm surge of 5 to 8 feet (1.5 to 2.4 meters) and flooding that could last for 36 hours, Perkins said.
No further evacuations have been ordered as of 2 p.m. Tuesday, but Pinellas County authorities are continuing to assess the situation and additional evacuations are possible. Perkins said residents should check www.disaster.pinellas.gov to find out which zone they are in. and continue to provide updates on the evacuation.
“This is a life-threatening storm surge,” Perkins said. “We want people to evacuate when we issue these orders.”
Perkins urged people outside evacuation areas to stock up on food and water and to move any outdoor items to safety.
“We want to monitor this storm surge very closely,” Perkins said. “We want to make sure people are paying attention.”
Saint Petersburg
On Tuesday, St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch declared a state of emergency. All city facilities will be closed on Wednesday and Thursday, including the Sunken Gardens. The St. Pete Pier will be closed at 2 p.m. on Wednesday.
Household waste and recycling materials collected on Thursday will be picked up on Saturday. The city asks residents to store their bins safely during storm preparations.
The South Core parking garage at 101 1st Ave. S accommodates vehicles seeking a secure parking spot. The fee is $20 Wednesday through Saturday, space available.
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