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St. Pete to lose drinking water

St. Petersburg officials will shut down potable water service at midnight due to a “major” water main break. Residents and businesses citywide must boil water for drinking, cooking, and teeth brushing until further notice. City crews will begin repairs once extreme weather conditions subside. Hurricane Milton's impacts forced officials to shutter two water reclamation facilities Wednesday evening.

Pinellas County Officials urge residents to shelter in place

Pinellas County officials have announced that all residents should shelter in place. Residents are urged to stay off the roads to allow emergency responders and recovery crews to begin their work. This directive aims to ensure the safety and efficiency of recovery efforts following Hurricane Milton.

Northeast and southwest sewer treatment plants now offline

The City of St. Petersburg has shut down power at the Northeast Sewer Treatment Plant (1160 62nd Ave. NE) and the Southwest Sewer Treatment Plant (3800 54th Ave. S) to protect employees and facilities from potential storm surge caused by Hurricane Milton. Residents and businesses in the affected areas, as indicated on the city's map, are advised to limit water usage starting at 7 p.m. This includes minimizing showers, laundry, and dishwashing, and flushing toilets only when necessary. The city's drinking water treatment plant in Odessa will not be preemptively shut down. Check which sewer treatment plant serves your home or business here.

Sewer facilities may shut down due to storm surge

Anticipated storm surge could force the shutdown of the Northeast and Southwest Sewer Treatment Facilities, impacting residents' ability to use plumbing, such as toilets and showers. Restoration may take more than 24 hours after the storm, depending on damage. City teams are closely monitoring storm conditions and will decide on shutdowns as the storm approaches.

Burglaries begin in evacuated areas

The St. Petersburg Police Department has already arrested at least one person for attempting to burglarize homes in evacuated areas. The announced arrest occurred in the Ponderosa at Shore Acres community in evacuation Zone A. The agency will continue conducting high-visibility patrols in affected neighborhoods and has a “zero-tolerance policy for this behavior.”

Three Pinellas shelters reach capacity

Three emergency shelters in Pinellas County have reached capacity: Largo High School, Lealman Innovation Academy, and Palm Harbor University Building 19 (special needs). However, 11 shelters are still accepting residents. A complete list of available shelters can be found at Pinellas.gov/shelters, and additional storm information is available at disaster.pinellas.gov.

County opens additional shelters

Oct. 9, 2024 — Pinellas County has opened three additional emergency shelters this morning at 9:30 a.m. for residents seeking safety from Hurricane Milton. The new shelter locations are Palm Harbor Middle School, 1800 Tampa Road, Palm Harbor; New Heights Elementary School, 3901 37th St. N., St. Petersburg; and Fairmount Park Elementary School, 575 41st St. S., St. Petersburg. A complete list with current capacity can be found here.

Area bridges to close Wednesday afternoon

Oct. 9, 2024 — Area bridges, including the Howard Frankland, Gandy, Courtney Campbell, and Sunshine Skyway, will close this afternoon as Hurricane Milton approaches. Area Officials announced the closures due to expected high winds and dangerous storm surges. Residents are urged to complete any necessary travel immediately.

Pinellas County offices, parks to remain closed

October 8, 2024 - Pinellas County Government offices, parks, and preserves will remain closed for the rest of the week due to Hurricane Milton. The closures affect all departments, including the Clerk’s Office, Property Appraiser, Tax Collector, and Supervisor of Elections. Many county employees work in storm-related roles, and details of the reopening will be provided after the storm's impact is assessed.

Pinellas opens additional shelters

October 8, 2024 - Pinellas County officials urged residents in Evacuation Zones A, B, C, mobile homes, and those with special medical needs to evacuate immediately if they have not already. Two additional shelters have opened at Melrose Elementary and Belleair Elementary, bringing the total to 10 shelters in the county, with special needs and pet-friendly options available. The complete shelter list can be found at disaster.pinellas.gov.

Pinellas County schools now closed through Friday

All Pinellas County schools and offices will now be closed from Monday, Oct. 7, through Friday, Oct. 11. All sports and school activities scheduled for those dates are canceled. 

Plane crashes near St. Pete Pier, four rescued

A six-passenger Cherokee airplane evacuating ahead of the storm crashed into the water 300 yards east of the St. Pete Pier shortly after taking off from Albert Whitted Airport due to engine failure around 10:50 a.m. Tuesday. Four men, aged 25-40, and a small dog were rescued by a private vessel and St. Pete police. Three passengers were transported to Bayfront Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, while one declined treatment.

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