Local hurricane flooding begins, will increase exponentially

Low-lying areas around Pinellas County – including St. Petersburg’s Shore Acres neighborhood, the City of Gulfport and beach communities – are already experiencing flooding Thursday morning from Hurricane Helene.

At 8 a.m., Helene remained roughly 320 miles southwest of Tampa Bay, traveling north-northeast at 12 mph. The storm is now a Category 2 hurricane with 100 mph sustained winds and will continue strengthening as it barrels towards the Panhandle.

Pinellas officials struck a somber tone when discussing Helene’s local effects at an 8 a.m. emergency briefing. Sheriff Bob Gualtieri noted low-lying areas are flooding, and the expected five-to-eight-foot storm surge hasn’t “even started yet.”

He and others implored residents in evacuation Zone A and flood-prone areas to seek higher ground while there is still time. Gualtieri called relying on rescue personnel “silly.”

“We’ve all heard the adage – ‘play stupid games, win stupid prizes,’” Gualtieri added. “Somebody’s going to win a stupid prize because they’re not going to get out, and we’re not coming.”

Cathie Perkins, emergency management director, said the area is already experiencing tropical storm-force winds of over 40 mph. She said those would continue until about 8 p.m.

Perkins also noted that over 1,500 homes flooded during Hurricane Idalia in August 2023. She said Helene’s peak storm surge of up to 10 feet would more than double what residents experienced from that storm.

Perkins said residents in Zone A must evacuate by noon, “at the latest.” She instructed those remaining in place to “climb up on top of your furniture or counters and keep yourself up there.”

Officials expect the local storm surge to peak around 9 p.m. and slowly recede. “This is a long-lasting deep-water event,” Perkins said.

Radar shows an intensifying hurricane making its way through the Gulf of Mexico at 8 a.m. Thursday. Screengrab: Spectrum News 9.

Pinellas County Sheriff’s deputies combed Zone A neighborhoods this morning. “We have a problem,” Gualtieri said.

He said “way too many people” who live along Tampa Bay and Gulf Boulevard have yet to evacuate. Officials stressed that those residents could shelter within the county.

Roads and bridges to barrier islands remain open. However, Gualtieri said he would eliminate access if residents riding out the storm at home exacerbate or impede rescue efforts.

He asked residents already experiencing flooding to imagine “what it’s going to be” by 6 p.m. In August, a fire rescue truck became stuck in deep water during Hurricane Debby.

“And that wasn’t bad – that was like a nothing-burger,” Gualtieri added. “We’re asking you to help us make this as safe as possible for everybody.”

Perkins said some residents who live above the ground floor of a condominium building have a false sense of security. She explained that a lack of water pressure would eliminate fire suppression systems.

In addition, building electrical systems are typically on the ground floor and susceptible to flooding. Perkins said parked electric vehicles could also spark fires, and “nobody’s going to be able to get out to you.”

“At this point, every single person out there is an emergency manager,” Perkins explained. “The choices you make today are going to impact your life.”