City admins: St. Pete’s evacuation window has closed

The City of St. Petersburg has closed Shore Acres and Snell Isle, two flood-prone coastal neighborhoods, due to flooding issues well ahead of Hurricane Helene’s peak storm surge.

Mayor Ken Welch told residents to shelter in place as weather conditions will further deteriorate. Several neighborhoods began flooding over three hours before his 11:30 a.m. emergency briefing.

Hurricane Helene now has 110 mph sustained winds and remains over 200 miles southwest of Tampa Bay. The 11 a.m. forecasted track shifted the massive storm slightly east towards the Pinellas County coast. Officials still expect a potentially life-threatening five-to-eight-foot storm surge.

“For our residents in low-lying areas – the window for safe evacuation is now over,” said Amber Boulding, emergency management director.

Residents have reported extensive flooding from Coquina Key north to the Gandy area. Waves are angrily crashing over the seawall at Vinoy Park.

Waves crash along the downtown waterfront. Screengrab, Reddit.

Welch said roads are already “becoming dangerous, and it’s not safe to drive.” He urged residents to protect themselves and first responders by refraining from sight-seeing.

“This is an unprecedented amount of storm surge for St. Pete,” Welch said. “I say this so residents can understand just how serious this storm is and take the necessary precautions to protect yourselves and your family.”

Duke Energy Florida president Melissa Seixas noted that she and local officials have experienced many storms. “This one is different,” she said.

“This storm surge is something we have not seen in at least my almost 40 years with this company and here in St. Petersburg,” Seixas added. “Please heed these warnings.”

Welch said low-lying areas flooding nearly 12 hours before Helene’s peak storm surge underscored the storm’s unprecedented effects. Claude Tankersley, public works administrator, blamed the early inundation on ground saturated from recent torrential downpours.

Tankersley also noted that the “partial” surge occurred with the morning’s high tide. “So, we weren’t surprised,” he said. “It met what we were anticipating.”

He expects the peak surge to wash over the area at around 11 p.m. That would coincide with a typical low tide.

The area will experience tropical storm-force winds of over 40 mph until about 8 p.m. St. Petersburg has already experienced 45 mph gusts. Welch said significantly elevated water levels would persist for 12-to-36 hours.

Amber Boulding, emergency management director, said residents sheltering in place should not wade through flood waters that can carry harmful bacteria and hide live power lines. They should also shut off their main electricity breaker and gas.

Boulding said those residents should move to a higher floor or sit atop furniture or countertops when water encroaches. While they can call 911 for a high-water rescue, she reiterated that there would come a time when “we can no longer safely get to you.”

Melissa Seixas (left), president of Duke Energy Florida; Amber Boulding (second from left), emergency management director; and Mayor Ken Welch (podium) urged residents to shelter in place. Photo by Mark Parker.

St. Pete Fire Rescue has strategically placed specialized vehicles around flood-prone locations. Those can navigate four to five feet of water before first responders must transition to small boats.

Welch said roughly 800 people have sheltered at Gibbs High and John Hopkins Middle School. He could not speculate on how many residents heeded evacuation orders.

After the briefing, Seixas told the Catalyst that she anticipates widespread power outages. She said a “catastrophic event like this” creates a “greater safety hazard.”

Customers can also expect longer restoration times. Crews must first wait until wind and water subside to reach infrastructure, and Seixas said submerged underground systems “likely have to be replaced.”

In addition, Duke cannot reenergize homes until an inspector deems it safe. Seixas said everything is connected – “that’s why they call it a grid” – and one issue can have far-reaching impacts.

“Even though we’re not going to have the same kind of wind we’ve had with other storms, there will be extended outages,” Seixas said. “There is absolutely no doubt that standing water is almost more problematic than a wind event.”