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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
AdventHealth Centra Care is offering free virtual urgent care across Florida from 8 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 9, through 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 10, in response to Hurricane Milton. The 24/7 service is accessible via the AdventHealth app using code MILTON to bypass payment. Medical professionals will provide consultations and treatment for non-life-threatening urgent needs. For more information, visit: AdventHealthVideoVisits
Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital ranked as the top children’s hospital in the state by U.S. News & World Report. The hospital was also ranked No. 1 in Florida for neonatology, and is the only Florida children’s hospital that nationally ranked in urology.
St. Petersburg’s debris management site at 1953 72nd St. N. will remain open to those with proof of residency until 7 p.m. City brush sites and the Pinellas County Solid Waste Facility will remain open as weather permits. St. Petersburg is also conducting typical trash and recycling pickups Tuesday.
Two additional general population shelters have opened at Lealman Innovation Academy and Clearwater Fundamental Middle School, bringing the total to eight shelters available in Pinellas County. Mandatory evacuations are in effect for Zones A, B, and C, including mobile homes and high-rise buildings. Regular PSTA service ends at 2 p.m. today, with buses continuing to offer free rides to mainland shelters until 7 p.m. A complete list of open shelters can be found at disaster.pinellas.gov
The Florida Division of Emergency Management will offer free evacuation shuttles to Pinellas County shelters until 7 p.m. Tuesday. The agency does not require reservations. For more information, call 800-729-3413 or visit FloridaDisaster.org/Updates.
