Some Pinellas County parks will be reopening as early as Saturday, while other will remain closed due to damage from Helene.

Opening Saturday:

• Phillippe Park (including the boat ramp)
• Weedon Island Preserve in St. Petersburg (the Weedon Island Preserve Cultural and Natural History Center will reopen Oct. 10)

Other reopenings:
Lake Seminole Park (Oct. 28, tentative)

Parks that remain closed

• Fort De Soto Park (2024 camping and shelter reservations are suspended)
• Fred Howard Park and Causeway
• Sand Key Park
• Wall Springs Park
• War Veterans Park
• All county beach access locations        

Saltwater boat ramps open

• Belleair Causeway Boat Ramp (fishing pier closed; concessions suspended)
• Sutherland Bayou Boat Ramp
• Park Boulevard

Saltwater boat ramps closed

• Fort De Soto Park
• War Veterans’ Memorial Park        

Freshwater boat ramps open

• AL. Anderson Park
• John S. Taylor Park
• John Chesnut Sr. Park

Freshwater boat ramps closed

• Lake Seminole Park
• Walsingham Park

Duke Energy says power to some areas along the Pinellas beaches are at or near 100%.

In a Friday news release, Duke said others could be at 100% by Saturday night.

“Our crews are determined to get the lights back on for our neighbors and friends here in Pinellas County as soon as possible,” Melissa Seixas, Duke Energy Florida state president, said in the release. “We are confident that all customers impacted by Hurricane Helene — except for those whose homes or businesses were so severely damaged they are now unable to receive power — will be restored by the end of Saturday at the latest."

Here are Duke's projections as of Friday around 3:45 p.m.

Duke Energy

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Courtesy

As of Friday at 4 p.m., Duke's outage map showed around 2,500 customers without power in Pinellas.

Officials are back in storm preparation mode as heavy rains are headed to the Tampa Bay region again.

The National Weather Service is forecasting 4-8 inches of rain over the next week. From Zephyrhills to Manatee County, flooding is expected.

Barba Hernandez, with Pinellas County, said Friday it's not just people seriously affected by Hurricane Helene that should get ready.

"If you are in an area that is particularly saturated, or traditionally floods, things such as moving your vehicle to a higher ground, monitoring the local weather will be activities that will help you be prepared," Hernandez said.

Workers across the region are preparing many coastal areas, cleaning storm drains and staging trucks that can pump water. Utility workers are lowering water levels of the Lake Manatee dam.

Tampa and Sarasota are opening sandbag sites with increased rain chances coming on Sunday.

Tampa (Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.):

Himes Avenue Complex (4501 S Himes Avenue)
Al Barnes Park (2902 N 32nd Street)

Sarasota (Friday until 7 p.m.):

• Ed Smith Stadium, 2700 12th St., Sarasota
• Twin Lakes Park, 6700 Clark Road, Sarasota
• South County Fleet Services, 4571 State Road 776/Englewood Road, Venice

The National Weather Service is forecasting heavy rain from Sunday through Thursday.

If you live on St. Pete Beach, Treasure Island or Tierra Verde, you are no longer under a boil water notice. The order was rescinded at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday.

That means residents can once again use water to drink, cook and clean.

Jeremy Waugh, the director of Pinellas County utilities, said that customers should expect weaker water pressure. That's because the Gulf Beach Water Booster Station sustained damage from flooding and wave action during Hurricane Helene.

During a Thursday news conference, he also said some individuals and businesses might experience breaks in water service as utility companies work to restore service to the county. There's also a large amount of sand and debris blocking water valves that could delay service, Waugh said.

Sewage inspections in Pinellas County are also ongoing. Waugh said it is up to individuals and business owners to assess the damage to their properties, and potentially, hire a licensed plumber to restore damaged water lines.

County utility crews are handing out informational flyers where electricity and cell service is spotty, Waugh said. He urges customers with questions to call the customer service line at 727-464-4000.0. (

Pinellas County launched a tool to help displaced residents find available rental housing after Hurricane Helene.

"If you've been displaced and you're staying at a friend's house, you're couch surfing right now. We've added a new portion to our website that lists available housing options [ranging] from apartments to short term rentals," emergency management director Cathie Perkins said.

During a Thursday news conference, she said many homeowners and renters are in need of a new living situation. There's around 100 people currently camping out at county shelters, Perkins said. Many others are relying on housing assistance from FEMA, sleeping at hotels or staying with nearby family and friends.

For those who can afford to take on a short- or long-term lease, the county's new webpage centralizes housing information and rental listings.

For details, click here.

The Florida Channel

Hurricane Helene victims in Florida will not face time limits when they move into temporary rentals while recovering or rehabbing their homes.

There are some state and local regulations that require rental lengths to be greater or less than 30 days, depending on the location.

Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the executive order to temporarily lift these restrictions Thursday.

"Bottom line is, you may need less than 30 days if you're rehabbing your home. Maybe you need a little bit more. If you are a victim of hurricane Helene, those regulations are lifted and you can rent what what you need to rent, regardless of any arbitrary rules."

The order covers anyone living in a county that was part of the emergency declaration, which is most of the greater Tampa Bay region.

St. Petersburg residents can visit the following mobile restroom locations:

• Shore Acres Recreation Center
  4230 Shore Acres Blvd. NE.
  
• Riveira Bay Park
  8131 Macoma Drive NE.
  
• Bartlett Park
  2000 Seventh St. S.
  
• Coquina Key Park
  3595 Locust St. SE.
  
• Sunset Park
  Park Street N. and Central Avenue

St. Petersburg residents can visit the following free laundry stations:

• Parking lot across from Allendale United Methodist Church
  3803 Haines Road N.
  7 a.m. - 7 p.m.
  
• Clothesline Laundromat
  840 49th St. N.
  12 - 8 p.m. Monday - Friday
  
• St. Pete Laundry Company
  8461 Fourth St. N
  8 a.m. - 10 p.m. (last wash at 8:30 p.m.)

St. Petersburg residents can visit the following comfort stations to cool off, charge devices, and pick up recovery kits, which include cleaning supplies, fans, and tarps:

• Azalea Recreation Center
  1600 72nd St. N.
  9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
  
• Enoch D. Davis Center
  1111 18th Ave. S.
  9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
  
• Robert Recreation Center
  1246 50th Ave. N.
  9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
  
• USF St. Petersburg - University Student Center
  200 Sixth Ave. S.
  9 a.m. - 8 p.m.

You can also visit a St. Petersburg library branch to cool off, charge devices or use the internet:

• Childs Park Community Library
  691 43rd St. S.
  
• James Weldon Johnson Community Library
  1059 18th Ave. S.
  
• Mirror Lake Community Library
  280 Fifth St. N.
  
• North Community Library
  861 70th Ave. N.
  
• South Community Library
  2300 Roy Hanna Drive S.
  
• West Community Library
  6700 Eighth Ave. N.

The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority is offering fare-free bus service within St. Petersburg.

Free service started on Sept. 30 and runs through Oct. 13, according to a media release. It applies to regular bus trips that begin and end within St. Petersburg city limits. It excludes Access, MOD and other mobility services.

The SunRunner is also turning around at Pasadena because of limitations to westbound access.

Regular fares resume on Oct. 14.

For more information, visit psta.net.

St. Petersburg has set up sites for homeowners who need to file permits to repair their homes due to Helene.

The sites are open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m to 2 p.m., according to a media release:

• Azalea Recreation Center
  1600 72nd St. N.
• Enoch D. Davis Center
  1111 18th Ave. S.
• Roberts Recreation Center
• 1246 50th Ave. N.

For emergency permits, streamlined applications are available for urgent repairs, according to the release. If you have any questions, contact permits@stpete.org or 727-893-7231.

For more information on construction in a flood zone, click here.

The city may also waive certain fees for hurricane-related repairs. There will be more information to come, according to the release.

St. Petersburg is partnering with the Pinellas Community Foundation to launch the We Are St. Pete Fund, which will help fundraise disaster relief for residents, small businesses and employees following Hurricane Helene.

All the donations received will directly support people impacted by Helene, according to a media release. Those who donate can designate gifts.

"Many of our St. Pete residents and small businesses are facing devastation after Hurricane Helene — now is the time to come together as a community," Mayor Ken Welch said in the release. "The We Are St. Pete Fund will have a direct impact on our community by addressing immediate recovery needs and laying the groundwork for longer-term efforts that will prepare us for future disasters. I encourage those who can to give; every contribution will help us rebuild."

St. Petersburg gave $200,000 to the fund, according to the release. Half will pay for administrative costs, and the other half will go to disaster relief recipients. The Foundation for a Healthy St. Pete, the Tampa Bay Rays, and residents Trevor Burgess and Gary Hess have also pledged $100,000 each.

To give or for more information, visit WeAreStPete.org.

For more on Hurricane Helene recovery assistance in St. Petersburg, visit StPete.org/Helene.

St. Petersburg residents can also volunteer to help people affected by Hurricane Helene. To sign up, click here.

THe Southwest Florida Water Management District has completed evaluations of all District-managed campgrounds and properties after Hurricane Helene.

The majority of campgrounds throughout its 16-county region are now open to the public.

These will remain closed until further notice:

• Hampton Tract in Polk County
• McNeil primitive campground in Pasco County
• Hooty Point campground in Potts Preserve, near Inverness

Pasco County has five comfort stations available for residents impacted by Helene. They will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. until further notice.

• Hudson Library, 8012 Library Rd., Hudson
• Ben Harrill Recreation Complex, 2830 Gulf Trace Blvd., Holiday
• Aripeka Baptist Church, 18731 Aripeka Rd.
• Green Key, 6435 U.S. 19, New Port Richey 

The City of New Port Richey's comfort station is now open from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. until further notice:

• New Port Richey Recreation & Aquatic Center, 6630 Van Buren St.

The following amenities will be available at all locations:

• Air Conditioning
• Restrooms
• Showers (bring your own toiletries)
• Laundry (bring your own supplies)
• Charging stations

To get a ride to a comfort station, call Pasco Customer Service at 727-847-2411. Call at least three hours ahead for a round-trip reservation.

President Biden will be in Florida on Thursday to tour areas impacted by Helene.

He announced on his public calendar that he will be visiting Perry on Thursday.

He will arrive in Tallahassee late Thursday morning, then take an aerial tour of the Big Bend region, near where Helene made landfall.

He is expected to arrive in Perry around noon. He will tour that area before heading off to Valdosta, Georgia.

Beginning Thursday, Oct. 3, the City of Tampa will open a third comfort station to provide essential services for residents affected by Hurricane Helene.

The new comfort station will be located at the Gandy Civic Association, 4207 W Oklahoma Ave, and will operate from 7
a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, until Oct. 17, 2024.

At the Gandy Civic Association site, residents can access pop-up permitting services and receive free food, water, tarps, hygiene kits, and other critical supplies. Showers and on-site laundry services will not be available at this location.

Additionally, the City of Tampa will offer free laundry assistance to residents in northern Tampa on Thursday, Oct. 3, 11a.m. to 3 p.m.

Residents can access laundry services at Laundromart of Tampa, 8215 N Florida Ave. While the machines will be available at no charge, residents are asked to bring their own detergent and bleach.

The city continues to operate two additional comfort stations at Desoto Park (2617 Corrine St) and Marjorie Park (97Columbia Dr), open daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. These stations offer food, water, ice, showers, restrooms, charging stations for electronic devices, laundry assistance, and a pop-up permitting center.

Permitting services at these locations, aimed at expediting the permitting process for those needing storm-related repairs, will operate from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. over the weekend, Oct. 5-6.

For more information on storm-related resources, visit tampa.gov/hurricane or sign up for text alerts through AlertTampa. To receive English updates, text ALERTTAMPA to 888-777, or for Spanish updates, text TAMPALISTA to888-777.

Stephanie Colombini

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WUSF

If you're throwing out a lot of stuff after Hurricane Helene, make sure you sort it properly. Otherwise debris collectors may leave it on the curb when they come by.

"If you have taken all the debris and dumped it into one big pile, unfortunately, we're not going to be able to take it," said Kelly Hammer Levy, director of Pinellas County Public Works.

That's because the federal government has strict rules about what they will reimburse counties for when it comes to "storm-related" debris collection, she explained.

"We have FEMA monitors that are required to follow these debris contractors and make sure every pile is truly storm-related debris before we can take it. So please help us by sorting that material, it'll help us get that debris out of your yard as quickly as possible."

Here's what you need to know:

Furniture, mattresses and construction materials like drywall go in one pile.

Tree branches and plants go in another.

Household appliances like refrigerators, dishwashers and laundry machines go in a third pile.

Electronics like televisions or computer monitors don't count. Neither does regular household trash or hazardous materials, like gasoline or chemicals.

You need to dispose these things like you normally would — in your trash receptacle or by dropping them off at county collection sites. If your community picks up items like electronics you can make a separate for them too.

It's also important to keep storm debris items loose — not in bags — and place them curbside, as opposed to on your lawn or in the street.

Read more here.

Residential curbside storm debris collection will begin within the Sarasota city limits Monday, Oct. 7.

The schedule will allow residents time to remove and place damaged materials curbside and also provide for seasonal residents to return to Sarasota and begin the process.

To ensure pickup, the following storm debris collection rules must be adhered to:

• Do not use plastic bags
• Separate materials into 4 distinct piles:

1. Construction debris – carpeting, dry wall and other flood-impacted construction materials
2. White goods - appliances including refrigerators, ranges, washing machines, dryers, air conditioning units and water heaters
3. Bulk items – furniture and accessories, mattresses and other items affected by flood water within a home or structure
4. Vegetative debris – downed tree branches, limbs and vegetative material resulting from Hurricane Helene

Properly separating storm debris into the four distinct piles will help the City of Sarasota meet federal requirements for financial reimbursement. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will not credit the City of Sarasota for reimbursement of items contained in plastic bags.

The piles should be placed curbside at the right of way, not in the street.

Large mechanical equipment will be used for the collection. Anything blocking access to the debris piles, including parked cars, will prevent and delay pickup. Debris piles should be at least 6-feet away from mailboxes, utility poles, fire hydrants, backflow preventers, water meter boxes etc.

Regular weekly solid waste/recycling/yard waste must be separated from Hurricane Helene storm debris piles.

Questions about storm debris pickup should be directed to the Solid Waste Division at 941-263-6170.

From the Hillsborough County Arts Council:

Here are available resources and reporting to help assess damage and recover:

• Public Assistance Grants - Categories A and B are available to Hillsborough County
• Hillsborough County Residents Can Now Apply for FEMA Assistance - residents who need long-term housing are encouraged to apply as soon as possible
• Music venues in Florida and across the southeast can apply for emergency relief funds after Hurricane Helene
• Craft Artists Emergency Relief Grant - CERF+ offers $3,000 Emergency Relief Grants to craft artists who experienced a recent and substantially disruptive emergency or disaster
• Cultural institutions, arts organizations, and artists and performing groups can call the National Heritage Responders hotline: 202.661.8068. A team of trained conservators and collections care professionals administered by the Foundation for Advancement in Conservation, are available 24/7 to provide advice and guidance.
• Members of the public and individual artists who have questions about saving family heirlooms and personal collections can email the National Heritage Responders at NHRpublichelpline@culturalheritage.org.
• HENTF’s Save Your Family Treasures - Here you can find the downloadable FEMA fact sheets “After the Flood: Advice for Salvaging Damaged Family Treasures” and “Salvaging Water-Damaged Family Valuables and Heirlooms,” available in multiple languages

Please also share your status by filling out one of the following Rapid Damage Assessment Forms: 1) Cultural Institutions, 2) Arts Organizations, or 3) Individual Artists and Performing Groups.

St. Pete Pride, in collaboration with Project No Labels and other LGBTQ+ organizations, is organizing boots-on-the-ground relief efforts in St. Pete and Gulfport.

How you can help: Our teams will go door-to-door delivering disaster relief supplies, offering hot meals, and scheduling cleanups for those without access to help. They will share meet-up locations and times as they go, so you’ll know exactly where to be and when. This will be an ongoing effort with future dates/times to be announced.

FIRST MEETUP - Tuesday, Oct. 2

3:30 p.m: Meet at Universalist Unitarian Church, 100 Mirror Lake Dr. N., St. Pete, FL 33701
4 p.m.: Load vehicles with supplies and prepare for distribution (exact location will be shared on-site)
4:30 p.m.: Convoy to a severely impacted area in St. Pete or Gulfport
5 p.m. - 7 p.m.: Unload supplies, assist residents directly, and go door-to-door as needed

Parking: Please park in the side lot across from the church for the briefing

What to bring: Heavy-duty gloves, rain boots, respiratory or N95 masks if you’re able to assist with cleanups or debris removal. Extra cleaning supplies, collapsible wagons, or any helpful items are also welcome!

Age requirement: Volunteers must be 18+, or 16+ if accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Donation Drop-Off Information: St. Pete Pride offices are now a designated donation drop-off location. You can drop off items between 10 a.m and 2 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday at 3251 3rd Ave N, St. Petersburg, FL 33713 (on the far left side of the CAN Community Health building). Look for the donation drop-off signs on the door to ensure you're in the right spot. Donations should be placed in the conference room.

How to stay updated:
Follow St. Pete Pride and Project No Labels on Facebook.

If you're having trouble filing an insurance claim after Helene, the state is providing a workshop this weekend.

Friday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., on-site help is available at the Clearwater Parks and Recreation Center.

Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis says the workshop is designed for anybody who has questions about their home, auto, wind or flood insurance after Helene.

"We'll have about 42 different insurance carriers there, and I have told the insurance carriers, if you are going to participate in our insurance village, you must write checks on site," Patronis said. "The insurance carrier will literally write you a check to get you stabilized."

He urges Floridians filing claims to be aware of insurance scams, and reminds residents that you do not have to sign any documents to receive a check from your insurance carrier.

FloridaCommerce, in partnership with CareerSource Florida and the Florida Small Business Development Center Network, is hosting several one-stop business resource sites across the state.

They're for business owners and employees to get can get in-person assistance with recovery resources.

Wed., Oct. 2 through Fri., Oct. 4, from 10 a.m.–3 p.m.

• Charlotte County - CareerSource SWFL, 3745 Tamiami Trail, Port Charlotte
• Lee County - CareerSource SWFL, 6800 Shoppes at Plantation Drive, Suite 170, Ft. Myers
• Sarasota County - CareerSource Suncoast, 3660 N. Washington Blvd., Sarasota

Fri., Oct. 4 through Sun., Oct. 6, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

• Lafayette County – CareerSource North Florida, 114 NW Community Circle, Mayo
• Madison County – CareerSource North Florida, 705 E. Base Street, Madison
• Taylor County – CareerSource North Florida + BBTC, 3233 S Byron Butler Pkwy, Perry

Sat., Oct. 5 through Sun., Oct. 6, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

• Hillsborough County, USF Connect, 3802 Spectrum Blvd, Tampa
• Hernando County, Weeki Wachee Area Club, 7442 Shoal Line Blvd, Spring Hill
• Pinellas County, CareerSource Hillsborough Pinellas, 2312 Gulf to Bay Blvd, Clearwater

Mon., Oct. 7 through Wed., Oct. 9, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

• Citrus County – Citrus County Chamber of Commerce, 915 N Suncoast Blvd, Crystal River
• Dixie County – CareerSource North Central Florida, 25811 SE Hwy 19, Old Town
• Levy County – CareerSource Citrus Levy Marion, 109 NW 3rd Ave, Chiefland

Mon., Oct. 7 through Tues., Oct. 8, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

• Manatee County – CareerSource Suncoast, 3660 N Washington Blvd, Sarasota
• Pasco County – CareerSource Pasco Hernando, 4440 Grand Blvd, New Port Richey

Sarasota County is hosting a community cleanup this weekend, Saturday, Oct. 5, from 8 a.m. until noon.

Community members can gather discarded household items, tree trimmings, and other garbage/debris as Sarasota County hosts a free community cleanup in Osprey and Gulf Gate. Dumpsters for residential customers will be available at no cost at 7112 Curtiss Ave., Sarasota.

Hazardous waste, such as oil, aerosol cans, and paint, will not be accepted. Appliances and car tires will be accepted, with a limit of four 25 inches X 16 inches or smaller tires per household.

Hazardous materials may be taken to the Citizens’ Convenience Center, 4000 Knights Trail Road, Nokomis, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, or 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Saturdays, or the Sarasota County Chemical Collection Center, 8750 Bee Ridge Road, Sarasota, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Saturday.

For more information, call 311 or visit scgov.net.

The City of Gulfport's contracted debris haulers and city crews will start collecting storm debris on Thursday, Oct. 3.

Collection runs will be made on multiple days throughout the affected areas. There is no need to call or submit a cleanup request, as the city will cover the entire city. Storm debris will be collected separately from your regular household trash and recycling, so please keep them in the following separated piles: garbage, yard waste, building debris, appliances, and other waste. The clean-up is expected to take several weeks to months.

To ensure a smooth removal process, please follow these guidelines:

• Place debris in the front of your property in the right of way
• Do not place debris near trees, poles, utility boxes, fire hydrants, or other structures that could make debris removal difficult or dangerous
• Do not place debris in alleyways
• Do not place debris on streets or block roadways

For more information on debris collection guidelines, please visit www.mygulfport.us/hurricane-center or call the Public Works Department at 727-893-1089.

Daylina Miller

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WUSF

Pinellas County and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission are monitoring low to medium concentrations of Red Tide detected in water samples taken from Pinellas waters. Low concentrations were found off Pass-a-Grille, the Clearwater Intracoastal Waterway and Honeymoon Island.

Medium concentrations were found off St. Pete Beach, Madeira Beach and Dunedin Causeway.

Residents along the beach communities, especially those cleaning out their homes and businesses from Hurricane Helene, may experience respiratory irritation when concentrations are higher, especially when the wind is blowing onshore

County officials say it is not known if Hurricane Helene is linked to this occurrence of Red Tide, nor when conditions will improve.

According to Sarasota-based Climate Adaptation Center, hurricanes, when they create massive runoff events, are key to setting off Red Tides.

Read more here.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, the Tampa Police Department implemented increased patrol assigned to the hardest hit areas to provide support to residents and deter criminals.

During a state of emergency in the City of Tampa, there are enhanced penalties for burglary and theft when the crime is related to the storm.

For any theft or burglary to be considered looting the property must be taken from inside of a structure or the enclosed area surrounding it with the intent to steal the property. This does not apply to someone taking items placed at the curb for disposal.

Any burglary or theft that is facilitated by conditions arising from Hurricane Helene (power outages etc.) is eligible for enhancement and will be treated as such by the Tampa Police Department.

“We are committed to keeping our community safe in the post-storm recovery,” said Chief Lee Bercaw in a news release. “The last thing people need to worry about is protecting their property. We’ve assigned officers to increase patrols in these areas and are here to support our community with our goal of being safer, together."

If you see suspicious activity, please report it to the non-emergency line at (813) 231-6130, or if it’s an emergency, call 911.

Pinellas County will begin collecting residential storm debris from Hurricane Helene on Wednesday in these unincorporated areas.  

• Crystal Beach
• Ozona
• West Palm Harbor
• Unincorporated Seminole
• West Lealman

 A second pickup date will be announced in the future.

Some guidelines:

Storm debris in bags and/or not separated will not be picked up
Storm debris must be loose and separated by type: vegetative material, construction and demolition debris (doors, drywall, mattresses and furniture) and household appliances
Refrigerators must be empty.

Details can be found here.

Dunedin suffered significant damage during Helene. Here are some updates:

• Starting Wednesday, residents can wash their closes for free at the Dunedin Community Center. You must provide your own laundry detergent
• Highlander Pool is closed, and shower facilities are available. Bring your own towel and toiletries
• Dunedin City Hall will open as a comfort station from 7 a.m.-6 p.m.
• Honeymoon Island, Dunedin Marina and Weaver Park Pier remains closed until further notice

Various sites in Pinellas are accepting donations. Here are the drop-off locations:

• All Saints Episcopal Church, 1700 Keystone Rd, Tarpon Springs (Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.)
• First United Methodist Dunedin, 411 Wood St., Dunedin (Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.)
• Habitat for Humanity Admin, 14010 Roosevelt Blvd, Suite 704, Clearwater (Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. -5 p.m.)
• Greenwood Recreation Center, 900 N Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., Clearwater (Monday-Friday, Sunday, 8 a.m. – 9 p.m. and Saturday, 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.
• Clearview United Methodist Church, 4515 38th Ave N, St. Petersburg (Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.)
• Maritime and Defense Tech Hub, 450 8th Ave SE, St. Petersburg (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.)
• Gulfport United Methodist Church, 2728 53^rd St. S, Gulfport (Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.)

From the City of Gulfport:

If residents are displaced from their homes and unable to stay with friends, family, or at a hotel, they can contact the Pinellas County Information Center at 727-464-4333 between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. for assistance in finding temporary shelter.

Tampa is opening two "pop-up permit centers" to help answer questions on how to obtain permits to repair or rebuild your home.

Members of the city's Construction Services team will assist homeowners on next steps in the process.

The centers will be open from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. for the next two weeks.

• Marjorie Park Marina, 97 Columbia Dr.
• DeSoto Park, 2617 Corrine St.
  

The Federal Emergency Management Agency will open a Disaster Recovery Center Wednesday at 1 p.m. at Largo Public Library, 120 Central Park Dr., to assist residents affected by Hurricane Helene.

Hours will be Monday-Wednesday from 9 a.m.-7 p.m., Thursday-Friday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Officials will be on hand to provide help on applying for federal disaster assistance programs and small-business grants.

Duke Energy

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As of 3 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 1, Duke Energy reported about 9,600 homes and businesses still didn’t have their lights back on in Pinellas County.

That number does not include "the estimated 15,000 customers who appear – based on available information – unable to receive power because of the extensive damage to their homes and businesses."

County Administrator Barry Burton said it’s going to take a while to bring the power back. Most of those outages are on the barrier islands.

“We have to rebuild the grid. And Duke Energy is working on that. I mean, the boxes were fried, and so it has to be rebuilt, not restored. And so that's going to take time, a couple of weeks, but it's going to occur in phases,” he said.

Burton said the power will be restored by grid.

> Full story

Tampa International Airport

Storm surge from Helene last Thursday flooded the Tampa airport’s entire airfield, according to a news release. It damaged runway lighting systems, flooded aircraft hangers and tossed around cars.

“It's heartbreaking to see the impact this had on our tenants and the residents of Davis Islands,” Brett Fay, vice president of general aviation for the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority, said in the release. “The damage to homes and property was extensive, and for many people a total loss.”

It’s unclear when the airport will reopen for operations after dark, as its lighting systems need extensive repairs. Fay says the HCAA’s immediate goal is to open the airport for daytime operations.

Tampa Executive Airport and Plant City Airport weren’t damaged by Helene, according to the release. Tampa International Airport was closed last Thursday but reopened Friday with minimal damage.

Gulf Boulevard in Bradenton Beach is passable again, Governor Ron DeSantis said late Tuesday, as the city announced the area is had been 90-95% destroyed and is considered a "catastrophic area."

A quick fix to the main roadway in Bradenton Beach was underway and was expected to be done in five days, DeSantis said during a press conference in the area Sunday.

"As of 8PM tonight—just 2 days later—the roadway is cleared and temporarily repaired. Great job, everyone involved!" DeSantis wrote on X Tuesday.

Bradenton Beach has been open to foot traffic only since Helene struck last week.

The city wrote on its webpage that a city wide assessment by the Florida CERT team determined that Bradenton Beach was "90-95% destroyed by Hurricane Helene."

A curfew from 7 am to 7 pm remains in effect.

When full access to the Pinellas County barrier islands resumes Tuesday at 4 p.m., you can expect a significant ongoing law enforcement presence.

While the islands will reopen to the public, Pinellas Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said people who are not residents or business owners should stay away -- particularly if you have bad intentions, like looting.

"There is no reason for anybody to be out here unless you live here, you have a business that you're trying to get up and running, and there's no place for people that are coming out here that want to do bad things," Gualtieri said.

He said extra deputies will be on patrol there during the day for the next week or so, and an even greater presence between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m.

Pasco County has lifted the mandatory evacuation order for Evacuation Zone A, and residents can now return to their homes.

Officials urge caution heading back into storm-damaged areas, as recovery efforts are ongoing.

Residents can report structural damage to homes and businesses here.

Carl Lisciandrello

/

WUSF

Cities and counties across the Tampa Bay region are collecting debris from Hurricane Helene.

Hillsborough County

Hillsborough County started collecting debris from neighborhoods Monday, according to a press release. Residents should put debris on the curb without blocking the road or storm drains. Separate debris into three categories: yard waste, damaged appliances, and construction and demolition debris, which includes furniture, mattresses, drywall, building materials, carpet, and wood fencing. The county will not pick up bagged waste and hazardous waste like paint or car batteries.

Waste haulers and county crews will collect debris throughout affected areas on multiple days, starting Monday. You must place debris curbside by Oct. 7.

To see a map of special debris pickups in areas affected by flooding, click here.

If you're not on the map, you can leave larger amounts of storm debris at the county's five Community Collection Centers. They are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. from Sept. 30 through Oct. 6.

• Alderman's Ford Solid Waste Facility
  9402 County Road 39, Plant City, FL 33567
• Hillsborough Heights Solid Waste Facility
  6209 County Road 579, Seffner, FL 33584
• Northwest County Solid Waste Facility
  8001 W. Linebaugh Ave., Tampa, FL 33625
• South County Solid Waste Facility
  13000 U.S. 41, Gibsonton, FL 33534
• Wimauma Solid Waste Facility
  16180 W. Lake Drive, Wimauma, FL 33598

All the above locations accept household items like furniture, couches, chairs, tables, mattresses, washer, dryers, tires and microwaves. They also accept batteries, electronics and paint.

The Northwest County and South County facilities are the only sites accepting residential yard waste and wood disposal.

If you’re a residential property owner affected by flooding and aren’t on the map, and need help with large amounts of debris, contact the Solid Waste Management Department at 813-272-5680. The Public Works Department will follow up within 72 hours, and all requests for help will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Tampa

The Tampa Solid Waste Department started collecting debris on Monday. Collection includes vegetative debris, damaged household items and construction debris.

Residents can request service by calling the Solid Waste Call Center at 813-274-8811. If you need extra time to assess and remove debris, the city will start officially collection on Oct. 7. Call-in requests won’t be required after that date as crews will canvass neighborhoods to collect debris from the curb.

The city asks residents to follow these guidelines:

• Separate household and construction debris from vegetative debris. Make sure items are 3 feet away from obstructions, including vehicles.
• Place vegetative debris, such as shrubs, palm fronds, tree limbs, grass and branches, in a pile, container or yard waste paper bags.

The McKay Bay Transfer Station is also extending its hours to accommodate debris, starting Monday:

• Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.
• Saturday and Sunday, 7 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Residents can throw away accepted items at no extra charge. For a list of accepted items and disposal requirements, visit tampa.gov/solidwaste.

For real-time updates, you can also download the Tampa Trash and Recycling app. For more information, contact the Tampa Utilities Call Center at 813-274-8811.

The city encourages New Tampa residents to contact Hillsborough County Solid Waste Management at 813-272-5680 for a debris collection schedule.

Yard Waste and SWEEP collection services are suspended. They will resume once debris collection efforts are finished.

Pinellas County

The county is implementing a zoned collection plan for debris in unincorporated areas that received critical storm damage, according to a news release.

Pinellas will share a map showing the collection schedule in the coming days. The county encourages residents to work with insurance adjusters and record damages for reimbursement, the release said.

If you live in a municipality, you can contact your city or town about debris collection here. To check if your property is within unincorporated Pinellas or a city or municipality, you can use the My Neighborhood Services tool. To qualify for FEMA reimbursement, the county can’t accept debris from within cities.

Pinellas County Solid Waste also can’t accept storm-related debris from residents or private haulers, according to the release.

The county advises people to:

• Put debris adjacent to the road, gutters or near storm drains. Separate debris by type: white goods such as appliances, demolition debris, large tree limbs or fence pieces cut to 4-foot lengths. Debris that is bagged or not separated won’t be collected. The type of debris collected depends on location and impacts from the storm, and will be specified once the plan is announced.
• Place vegetative debris like branches, twigs, and leaves can in a receptacle or bags. Put out debris for pickup. Small piles won’t be collected.
• If you live in unincorporated Pinellas County and don’t want to wait for debris collection, take it to one of the following locations. You must show ID proof that you live in an unincorporated area.
  
  • East-central location: 13600 Icot Blvd., Clearwater
    Starting Sept. 30, noon to 7 p.m.
  • North location: southeast corner of East Lake Road and Keystone Road. Enter off Keystone Road
    Starting Oct. 1, 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.
  • West-central location: 14800 118th Ave. N., Largo
    Starting Oct. 1, 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.

The curbside collection plan will only be for residents, according to the release. Businesses are responsible for removing debris. If your business is in a municipality, you may want to check with your city.

Pinellas also advises people to:

• Remove wet contents immediately to prevent mold, including carpet, furniture, bedding and items holding moisture. They can develop mold within 24 to 48 hours.
• Clean and disinfect everything that got wet.
• Mud may contain sewage and chemicals.
• Don’t leave debris on any right-of-way or vacant lot. Doing so is a third-degree felony.

If you need help cleaning up damage from the storm, volunteers may be available, according to the release. You can contact Crisis Cleanup’s Hurricane Helene Cleanup Hotline at 844-965-1386. Services are free but not guaranteed. The hotline also can’t help with social services or questions about FEMA registration. It will stay open through Oct. 11.

St. Petersburg

The city asks people not to bag debris placed on the curb, according to a media release. You can bag debris that’s in your trash container.

Crews will do multiple sweeps to pick up debris. You can expect it to be collected no sooner than Oct. 7.

If you want to drop off vegetative debris, city brush sites are open from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., seven days a week. The locations are at:

• 1000 62nd Ave. NE.
• 7750 26th Ave. N.
• 2500 26th Ave. S.
• 4015 Dr. Martin Luther King St. S.
• 2453 20th Ave. N.

For full debris instructions, click here.

Trash and recycling services will continue as usual.

Several roads are still closed in Manatee County after Hurricane Helene. That includes the narrow oceanside road of Gulf Boulevard, with Bradenton Beach on one side and restaurants and shops on the other. The roadway suffered major damage in last week's storm.

Governor Ron DeSantis says a quick fix is in the works, and the Florida Dept of Transportation is overseeing the project.

"So they're going to do temporary repairs, and those repairs will be effective. It will let people be able to use the road. It's not going to be a permanent solution, but I'd rather get this back open where people can use it," DeSantis said in Bradenton on Sunday.

DeSantis said the repairs should be done in five days. Until then, Gulf Boulevard remains closed. Other road closures to the barrier islands include Manatee Road West and Cortez Road West.

A county spokesman said extra sand from the cleanup is being piled in parking lots near Coquina Beach.

Manatee County does not have an estimate yet for all the damage done to the coastal communities of Anna Maria, Holmes Beach, and Bradenton Beach.

But elsewhere in Manatee county, officials say more than 540 homes were destroyed and thousands were damaged. The cost is estimated at about $353 million dollars -- and is expected to rise.

Comfort stations are opening at locations to help residents during the Hurricane Helene recovery.

They'll provide free food, water, ice, showers, restrooms, charging stations for electronic devices, laundry assistance, and a permit center for review of storm-related damage permits.

Hillsborough County (open 7 a.m.-7 p.m.):

• DeSoto Park, 2617 Corrine St., Tampa
• Marjorie Park Marina, 97 Columbia Dr., Tampa
• Apollo Beach Park & Recreation Center, 664 Golf and Sea Blvd., Apollo Beach
• Ruskin Park & Recreation Center, 901 6th St. SE, Ruskin
• Sandy Perrone Park, 5120 Kelly Rd., Tampa
• Skyway Sports Complex & Park, 3901 George Rd., Tampa

Pasco County (open 8 a.m.-6 p.m.)

• Hudson Library, 8012 Library Rd.
• J. Ben Harrill Recreation Complex, 2830 Gulf Trace Blvd., Holiday
• New Port Richey Recreation & Aquatic Center, 6630 Van Buren St., New Port Richey

Other stations may be announced soon.

If you'd like to donate goods to help those affected by Hurricane Helene, collection sites are open across Pinellas County.

• All Saints Episcopal Church, 1700 Keystone Rd, Tarpon Springs (Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.)
• First United Methodist Dunedin, 421 Main St., Dunedin (Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
• Habitat for Humanity Admin, 14010 Roosevelt Blvd, Suite 704, Clearwater (Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.)
• Greenwood Recreation Center, 900 N Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., Clearwater (
• Monday-Friday, Sunday, 8 a.m. -9 p.m. and Saturday, 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.)
• Clearview United Methodist Church, 4515 38th Ave N, St. Petersburg (Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.)
• Maritime and Defense Tech Hub, 450 8th Ave SE, St. Petersburg (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.)
• Gulfport United Methodist Church, 2728 53rd St. S, Gulfport (Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.)

Items that will be accepted include canned or non-perishable food. sports drinks, personal care items, disposable baby and adult diapers, baby food and formula, small kitchen utensils, paper products, cleaning supplies, flashlights and fresh batteries, and hand tools.

The sites will not accept used clothing, bottled water, furniture, appliances and other large items

Carl Lisciandrello

/

WUSF

As recovery continues across the Tampa Bay area, power outages are still an issues — especially in Pinellas County.

According to the PowerOutage.us website, here are the number of customers still without power as of Monday at noon:

Pinellas: 37,176
Hillsborough: 946
Pasco: 4,898
Hernando: 51
Polk: 29
Manatee: 1,271
Sarasota: 345

That's the most of any county in the state. By comparison, 12 counties in the Big Bend region, where Helene made landfall, have a combined total of more than 67,500 outages.

The following parks will be open, though certain areas may be closed to the public due to lack of power or damage:

• Walsingham
• Boca Ciega
• Sawgrass Lake
• Brooker Creek Preserve and Ed Center
• John Chesnut
• A.L. Anderson
• Eagle Lake (dog park closed)
• John Taylor
• Ridgecrest
• Fred Marquis Pinellas Trail

The following parks will remain closed due to significant damage and/or unsafe conditions:

• Fort De Soto
• War Veterans
• Lake Seminole
• Sand Key
• Fred Howard
• Wall Springs
• Weedon Island Preserve and Ed Center
• Pinewood Cultural Park (Florida Botanical Garden, Heritage Village)
• Philippe Park

Feeding Tampa Bay is offering food pantries and food distribution events for victims of Hurricane Helene in a number of locations throughout the Tampa Bay area.

They include sites in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Manatee, and Hernando counties.

You can find more information here.

Businesses impacted by Hurricane Helene are eligible to apply for a portion of $15 million via FloridaCommerce's Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program.

The program provides short-term, zero-interest loans to small businesses that experienced economic injury or physical damage due to Hurricane Helene.

Eligible small businesses may apply for loans of up to $50,000 through the program. Loans of up to $100,000 are available for agriculture and aquaculture small businesses.

Interested applicants can apply here now through Nov. 24, or until all available funds are expended.

Those in need of assistance are encouraged to visit FloridaJobs.org/EBL to apply.

FEMA has opened disaster recovery centers in Pinellas, Manatee and Sarasota counties.

They will provide water, shelf-stable meals, and tarps (while supplies last), along with answering residents' questions.

In Pinellas, FEMA opened three points of distribution (PODs). They'll be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

• St. Pete Beach: 4700 Gulf Bvd., St. Pete Beach. Food, water and tarps
• Treasure Island: 10451 Gulf Blvd., Treasure Island. Food, water and tarps
• Tierra Verde Fire Station: 540 Sands Point Drive, Tierra Verde. Water only

Additional sites in Pinellas are planned.

In Manatee, one recovery center opens Monday at 1 p.m., and will be open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Lakewood Ranch Library, 16410 Rangeland Parkway.

Other locations will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.:

• GT Bray Park – 5502 33rd Ave. Dr. W., Bradenton
• Kingfish Boat Ramp – 752 Manatee Ave. Holmes Beach
• Blackstone Park – 2112 14th Ave. W., Palmetto
• Wakeland Support Center – E 1812 27th St. E., Bradenton
• City of Bradenton Parking Garage – 3rd Ave W & 10th St W

And in Sarasota County, locations will be open Monday through Wednesday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. or while supplies last:

• 1000 Glebe Lane, Siesta Key
• 100 S Casey Key Road, Nokomis
• 326 Nokomis Ave S., Venice
• 8570 Manasota Key Road, Englewood

Free hurricane kits are being distributed Wednesday in Lealman.

They include relief kits, ready-to-eat meals, and water.

They'll be available starting at noon at the Lealman Exchange Community Center, 5175 45th St. N. in St. Petersburg.

It'll be on a first-come, first-served basis until supplies run out.

Some Floridians dealing with Hurricane Helene are complaining about price gouging related to fuel, water and hotel rooms, according to the attorney general’s office.

Florida’s Price Gouging Hotline is currently active.

Under Florida law, businesses may not drastically increase prices on essential items during a declared state of emergency.

Attorney General Ashley Moody says businesses caught overcharging consumers face fines.

“If those prices are jacked up, we need you to let us know," Moody said. "We have already stopped some of these price increases in real time. That lets everybody get the supplies they need and be able to afford them.”

Consumers who feel prices on essential items have been drastically increased in the past few days can contact the price gouging hotline at 1-866-9-NO-SCAM.

If you're wondering what will happen to all that beach sand that ended up on roads and in other areas after Hurricane Helene moved through, there is a plan.

Pinellas County officials say uncontaminated sand is being moved to holding areas where it will go through a filtering process to remove any debris before it's returned to the beaches.

In addition, if sand ended up on your property, there are other tips on what to do with it, starting with not putting it in the trash, any right-of-way, or pushing it into the road.

• Clean sand can be returned to the beach above the high tide line (mean high water line). The sand must not have stains, odors or include debris, and you must not place it over dune plants, turtle nests, storm debris or construction debris.
• If the sand does not meet the criteria above, you must request permission from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (840-245-2094 or email CCCL@FloridaDEP.gov). Once you have permission, the same placement restrictions apply. Failure to follow these rules may result in civil penalties.
• If you are using heavy equipment, be cautious of buried water lines and other infrastructure.

Officials also say if the seaward side of a property’s seawall is exposed, residents should consult a structural engineer or licensed marine contractor before covering the wall with sand. Placing sand on a damaged seawall could cause further and costly damage.

> Full story

The city of St. Petersburg has coordinated with PSTA to offer two weeks of free fares within the city limits beginning Monday.

It's to assist the thousands of residents who have suffered a complete loss of their vehicles due to water inundation, in addition to the impacts on their homes and other aspects of their lives.

It will run through Oct. 13 and will apply to regular bus trips that begin and end in St. Petersburg.

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor is warning of scams as homeowners begin assessing damage.

Early estimates show dozens of properties have been destroyed, and nearly 2,000 private properties sustained major damage.

Within city limits, the assessments have estimated private property damages of just over a half a billion dollars.

As residents look for contractors to assist with damages, Castor wants to remind the public that fraud and scams are common after a disaster.

"Following a momentous storm like Hurricane Helene, qualified contractors are in high demand, so I want residents to be on the lookout for scammers who prey on Floridians in need of expert service," Castor said.

It's recommended that anyone who has been approached by a contractor should check to see if that individual is licensed through the Department of Business and Professional Regulation.

You can also go online here.

President Biden made federal disaster relief available to residents across the greater Tampa Bay region who were impacted by Hurricane Helene.

It covers Hillsborough, as well as counties along the Gulf of Mexico.

These funds can be used for temporary housing and home repairs, along with low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses.

You can apply here.

Tampa will begin collecting storm debris on Monday, including yard waste, damaged household items, and construction debris. Residents ready for immediate collection may request service by calling the Solid Waste Call Center at 813-274-8811. For those requiring additional time to assess and remove debris, the official collection will begin citywide on Oct. 7. From that date forward, call-in requests will not be required as crews will canvass neighborhoods within the city to collect debris from the curb.

Hillsborough County and Tampa will close all of the comfort stations opened after Hurricane Helene until further notice.

The stations are being closed ahead of inclement weather from Tropical Storm Milton, which is expected to grow to hurricane strength by early next week.

The comfort stations will return to neighborhoods in need once the storm has passed.

Pinellas County Schools will reopen on Monday, September 30 for all but three schools seriously damaged by Hurricane Helene.

Gulf Beaches Elementary, Madeira Beach Fundamental K-8 and Disston Academy in Gulfport will remain closed for students until Wednesday, October 2.

In a statement, the district recognized that many residents continue to deal with the aftermath and families should do “what is in the best interest in your family’s needs.”

Pinellas School employees unable to work are asked to contact their supervisor.

Access to all Pinellas beaches and barrier islands is now open to residents, business owners, or employees with a Barrier Island Re-Entry Permit.

Road access however remains limited and there is no power.

The announcement is effective at 4 p.m. Saturday.

To gain access to the barrier islands, citizens must provide their Re-Entry Permit or photo ID and reasonable proof that they reside or have legitimate business on the barrier islands. Examples include: vehicle registration; property tax or utility bill; proof of employment (pay stub, work ID, uniform); or work orders.

Two segments of road remain inaccessible due to the severe impacts caused by the storm.

The county says north and southbound lanes of Gulf Boulevard remain closed from Tom Stuart Causeway south to 140th Avenue in Madeira Beach.

Additionally, Gulf Boulevard, both north and southbound from the Park Boulevard Bridge to 196th Avenue (Tiki Gardens County Park) in Indian Shores will also remain closed.

Additional law enforcement resources will be patrolling all of the mandatory evacuation areas. Deputies will reevaluate any further openings tomorrow morning.

The city of St. Petersburg announced more than 407,000 gallons of wastewater discharged at several locations after Hurricane Helene.

An unknown amount of wastewater also was released into Placido Bayou, the result of the city’s Northwest Water Reclamation facility being taken offline Thursday night. The city resumed operations at the facility Friday night.

The city expects reports of additional discharges during storm recovery.

Other releases include:

900 Block 38th Ave. NE: Approximately 43,155 gallons of wastewater was discharged from four manholes. The discharge entered nearby storm drains that lead to Smacks Bayou.

700 Block 61st Ave. NE: Approximately 107,250 gallons of wastewater was discharged from one manhole. The discharge entered a nearby storm drain that leads to Canal No. 17/Edgemore Creek.

200 Block 55th Ave. NE: Approximately 22,500 gallons of wastewater was discharged from one manhole. The discharge entered a nearby storm drain that leads to Canal No. 17/Edgemore Creek.

2600 Block of East Bay Isle Ave. SE: Approximately 14,040 gallons of wastewater was discharged from 14 manholes. The discharge entered nearby storm drains that lead to Tampa Bay.

600 Block Foch St. NE: Approximately 220,550 gallons of wastewater was discharged from six manholes. The discharge entered nearby storm drains that lead to Foch Lake.

The U.S. Postal Service announced Saturday it is moving operations for multiple communities to temporary locations. Check ahead for location hours. 

Anna Maria Island: Bay Boulevard operations now at:

• Bradenton Palm Sola, 115 75th ST W, Bradenton, FL 34209

Bradenton Beach: Bridge Street operations now at:

• Bradenton Fifty Seventh Avenue, 2005 57th Ave W, Bradenton, FL 34207

Long Boat Key: Bay Isles Road operations now at:

• Bradenton Fifty Seventh Avenue, 2005 57th Ave W, Bradenton, FL 34207

Indian Rocks Beach: 4^th Avenue operations now at:

• Largo Post Office, 50 8th Ave SW, Largo, FL 33770

Aripeaka: Aripeaka Road operations now at:

• Hudson Post Office, 13610 Big Bend Dr., Hudson, FL 34667

St. Pete Beach: Corey Avenue operations now at:

• Gulfwinds, 4222 22nd Ave S, Saint Petersburg, FL 33711

Madiera Beach: Madiera Way operations now at:

• Crossroads, 1275 66th St N, Saint Petersburg, FL 33710

Boca Grande: 4^th Street operations now at:

• Placida, 8601 Placida Rd. Placida, FL 33946

Terra Ceia: Center Road operations now at:

• Palmetto Post Office, 520 7TH ST W., PALMETTO, FL 34221

Hillsborough County residents can report storm damage on their property with an online form.

The Hurricane Helene Damage Reporting Form will allow officials to learn the property loss or damage, according to a statement from the county's Emergency Operations Center.

The site is:  HCFL.gov/DamageAssessment. Property owners who need assistance completing the form should call (833) HC Storm or (833) 427-8676.

The information will be routed to the appropriate County department, which will respond within 72 hours.

This form IS NOT a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) application or for an insurance claim.

Hillsborough residents can visit HCFL.gov/StaySafe for more. Just click on the Storm Recovery Resources tab.

Feeding Tampa Bay has set up locations for food distribution on Saturday.

A check-in point has been created for property owners and business owners in Holmes Beach and the City of Anna Maria.

Only people with a re-entry tag will be allowed onto the island to assess damages. Holmes Beach Police said people should be prepared for standing water.

There is still no power or water.

Two days after Hurricane Helene passed, coastal residents and business owners in Sarasota can now check out the damage.

The Ringling Bridge access will require people to have photo identification and proof of ownership. Sarasota Police said St. Armands Circle is accessible but barricades have been set up in some areas.

Police advise drivers to go slow. Water is still creating wakes and high speeds will add to the damage.

Hillsborough County schools will reopen on Monday. The district announced Saturday that every campus has been checked and clean up is complete. Some minor damage did take place, but no details were provided.

The district said it will advise families next week if any days missed will need to be made up at a later date. Schools were closed for three days.

Pinellas County announced Saturday morning it opened cooling stations in neighborhoods still without power following Hurricane Helene. Residents in St. Petersburg, Largo, Madeira Beach Seminole and Clearwater can cool off and charge their phones.

Clearwater:

• Morningside Recreation Center, 2400 Harn Blvd, Clearwater – 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Long Center, 1501 N Belcher Road, Clearwater – 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Countryside Rec Center, 2640 Sabal Springs Drive, Clearwater – 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• McMullen Tennis Complex, 1000 Edenville Ave., Clearwater – 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Moccasin Lake Nature Park, 2750 Park Trail Lane, Clearwater – 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• North Greenwood Recreation and Aquatic Center, 900 N Martin Luther King Jr Ave., Clearwater – 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
• A Mother’s Arms, 714 N Fort Harrison Ave., Clearwater – 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (limited capacity)

All Clearwater libraries will be open Saturday, Sept. 28, except for the Beach Library.

St. Petersburg:

City locations will be open Saturday, Sept. 28, and Sunday, Sept. 29, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

• Azalea Recreation Center (1600 72nd St. N)
• Enoch D. Davis Center (1111 18th Ave. S)
• Robert Recreation Center (1246 50th Ave. N)

Community locations will be open on Saturday, Sept. 28:

• City On a Hill Church (4265 13th Ave, N): Saturday, Sept. 28, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
• Mount Zion AME Church (1045 16th St. S): Saturday, Sept. 28, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
• Mount Zion Progressive Missionary Baptist Church (955 20th St, S): Saturday, Sept. 28, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Madeira Beach:

• Madeira Beach City Hall, 14225 Gulf Blvd, Madeira Beach, Saturday, Sept. 28, – 8 a.m. to sunset, until further notice.

Seminole:

• Seminole Recreation Center, 9100 113th St, Seminole, Saturday, Sept. 28, – 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Closed Sunday, reopening Monday, Sept. 30).

Largo:

• Largo Public Library, 120 Central Park Dr, Largo – 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Closed Sunday, reopening Monday, Sept. 30).

Check with your local municipality for additional cooling station options.

Gerald Herbert/AP

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AP

Hurricane Helene caused widespread damage across the greater Tampa Bay region, especially for residents who live along coastal communities.

Agencies are making assistance available for anyone who has been impacted by Helene.

And if you feel led to offer your help to those in need, there are several ways to do so.

> Full story

Pinellas County issued a boil water notice Friday for all southern barrier island residents due to impacts from Helene.

The notice applies to customers from John’s Pass to Fort De Soto Park, according to a press release, and specifically affects residents in St. Pete Beach, Treasure Island, and Tierra Verde.

The county’s evacuation order is still in effect for the above communities. It’s been rescinded for all mobile homes and other Zone A residents. All barrier islands are still under the evacuation order.

The county advises residents to drink bottled water or boil tap water before using it for cooking, drinking or personal hygiene.

To disinfect tap water:

• Bring a pot of water to a rolling boil for at least one minute.
• If the water is cloudy, you can filter it through a clean cloth, paper towel or coffee filter before boiling.
• Let the water cool before using it for washing or brushing teeth. Store the boiled water in clean, covered containers.

If you can’t boil water, you can add 1/8 teaspoon – eight drops or about 0.5 milliliters – of unscented bleach per gallon of water. Stir well and let it stand for at least 30 minutes before using.

Pinellas County Utilities will keep testing water quality until it returns to safe drinking water standards, according to the release. The county will let impacted residents know when it’s safe to use water regularly again.

If you have any questions, call the Utilities Customer Service at 727-464-4000.

Pasco County Government Human Services is offering an online tool to help anyone who needs food, water, clothing or shelter following Hurricane Helene.

The quickest way to report human services needs and schedule an appointment with the county is to fill out this Hurricane Helene Human Needs survey.

You can access the Human Services Needs tool in a few convenient ways:

• Click on this direct link: mypas.co/HurricaneHumanNeeds
• Call Customer Service: 727.847.2411
• Visit our website: MyPasco.net

This tool allows Pasco County to gather accurate information to help you with your immediate needs.

For more information, call Pasco County Customer Service at 727-847-2411.

There is now a curfew for all three cities on Anna Maria Island from dusk to dawn.

No one can walk or drive around the island between these hours. There will be no power or water for several days.

Marine Rescue is actively searching neighborhoods for people who stayed on the island and need help evacuating.

Manatee County Transportation is providing busses to transport anyone from the island to a Red Cross shelter.

"We are hoping that we will be able to let residents and business owners back to the island on Monday."

The Pinellas County barrier islands will remain closed and be re-evaluated Saturday.

Crews are working to clear roadways and address other problems -- like drinking water, which is being shut off from John's Pass to Fort DeSoto at 8 tonight.

That area includes St. Pete Beach, Treasure Island, and Tierra Verde.

"The system has many breaks, and therefore, the water does not meet safe drinking standards.," Communications Director Barbara Hernandez said at a Friday evening briefing.

Water will be off until repairs can be done to the Gulf Beach Water Booster station, which was damaged by flooding.

Water stoppage affects at least 7,487 customers - not including master meters, which are high rise or apartment buildings.

In addition, beginning at 6 p.m., buses will be available to take anyone who has not evacuated the barrier islands yet and drop them off on the mainland where they can either get transportation to a shelter or get a ride somewhere else.

Animals are allowed on board, but people are asked to only bring the essentials.

Anyone with questions can contact the County Information Center at 727-464-4333.

Nancy Guan

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WUSF

Hurricane Helene brought higher levels of flooding than usual to Hernando County.

Some saw about 8 to 12 feet of water in their homes, when the storm surge peaked late Thursday night.

Kim DeVary’s 80 year old mother lives in Weeki Wachee Gardens, a community on Florida’s west coast. DeVary had helped her mother evacuate before the surge came in and the pair were anxiously waiting for roads to open so that they could assess the damage.

Courtesy

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Kim DeVary

A neighbor had shown them pictures of flooding on the street last night. The water came up to the windows.

“It seems to be getting worse, you know what I mean? Like the storms are more ferocious and tough,” said DeVary.

Before leaving, they took pictures and memorabilia of DeVary’s father who had passed away just before Hurricane Idalia hit last year. That was a hard time for the family, she said.

Her parents had built their home in Weeki Wachee and made renovations by hand. They lived in that home for 54 years. And it’s full of memories from when her dad was still alive.

“It’s their blood sweat and tears that are in there, you know? And it’s gone,” said DeVary.

With worsening storms, she’s afraid they’ll have to move from that home entirely. But it’s not all bad, she said.

“The property might go away or the house might go away, but you never forget the memories, you don't lose them,” said DeVary, “That's the best I can tell everybody.”

Sarasota will restore water service to Bird Key and city residents on Siesta Key by the end of Friday.

The city will issue a precautionary boil water advisory once service returns.

Once flood conditions improve, crews will determine when water service can be restored in St. Armands and Lido Key.

Visit Sarasotafl.gov/Alerts for more information.

Jared Morgenstein

The USF Tampa and Sarasota-Manatee campuses will open on Saturday. Residence halls and dining services are open on both campuses.

The USF St. Petersburg campus is closed through at least Saturday. There will be an update Saturday evening on whether the campus can open on Sunday.

Residence halls at USF St. Petersburg are closed. Residents who relocated to USF Tampa prior to Helene should plan to stay at the Tampa campus until at least Sunday afternoon. USF will communicate updates directly with residential students in St. Petersburg.

Classes on all campuses are set to resume on Monday.

Mote Marine Labs will stay closed.

Most USF Health clinical facilities are open as of noon on Friday. All clinical operations at the USF Health South Tampa Center for Advanced Healthcare and 17 Davis Medical Building are canceled Friday, with plans to open on Monday. To reschedule appointments, call 813-821-8038.

Employees should return to work at regular business hours or when their shift normally starts once a campus reopens. Faculty members and graduate students can also return to their labs at that time.

If you’re a student or employee who left the region or has trouble getting to campus due to Helene and won’t be able to return in time, USF recommended notifying instructors or supervisors as soon as possible. The university also urged students, faculty and staff to be cautious when traveling back to campus.

Stephanie Colombini

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WUSF

Pinellas County received over 5,000 hurricane-related 911 calls last night and early today.

Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said -- in the height of the storm -- they weren't able to answer them all. But door-to-door searches today led to the discovery of a number of deaths.

“So we do have five fatalities from the storm. The work is ongoing, unfortunately, and I have no idea whether that death toll will increase, but it's possible.”

Kathy Perkins, the county’s emergency management director, said storm surge was over an unprecedented eight feet in some areas.

“It’s going to take a while for Pinellas County to look like it did three days ago, and we’re doing to do everything we can to help with that.”

As of this morning, drinking water systems are working. But residents are strongly urged to conserve water as drainage systems are being restored.

The sheriff stressed the importance of staying off the roads so that the authorities can clear the blockages as soon as possible.

In some areas, Gualtieri said the sand buildup looks like snow banks and needs to be plowed away.

Carl Lisciandrello

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WUSF

The Safety Harbor Pier is no more.

The pier had been closed off due to damage from Hurricane Debby, but now it was destroyed following Helene.

> Check out more photos here

While many Pasco County residents were battling storm surge throughout Helene, others saw their neighbor's houses burst into flames.

A house on Leeward Lane in the Gulf Harbors neighborhood in Pasco County caught fire during Hurricane Helene. On Friday afternoon, neighbors who saw the flames and heard distant explosions gathered near the driveway to survey the damage.

Bruce Archambault said he saw the nearby house catch fire around midnight Thursday while three feet of water was rising in his own home.

“I saw this late last night, and I knew it was big. I could see the light…the whole area was glowing,” he said.

Looking at it now, there’s not much left.“

Gabriella Paul

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WUSF

This is the smoldering ruins of what was a pretty nice house…there’s nothing left.”

Pasco County Fire Rescue investigator Michael Twardosz said it’s not clear what caused this structural fire. He said typically during hurricanes the use of candles for light and lithium batteries of house electricity reacting with high volume of water are the culprits for major fires.

“They’ve all happened in the area of the storm surge,” Twardosz said.

There were as many as 35 calls from residents reporting fires during Hurricane Helen. On Friday, emergency fire responders confirmed six house fires and one vehicle fire.

The near-leveled home in Gulf Harbor was one of two homes that were completely burned.

Neighbor Benjamin Pitta, who also lives on Leeward Lane, was walking his dog Luna to survey the damage. He has lived in the neighborhood with his wife for 21 years.

Gabriella Paul

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WUSF

He knows the couple who lived in the home that suffered the major fire. He said they were in the process of moving and were not in the building at the time of the catastrophe.

Like many homes in the Gulf Harbors neighborhood, Pitta said he experienced over two feet of storm surge inundation in his house. His home was built in 1969.

Clothes, furniture and miscellaneous items lay strewn across his front yard and on every open countertop in his home.

“Twenty-six inches. It came up to here, so that’s 26 inches,” Pitta said. He pointed to various marks with sharpie that he made along his doorframes.

Their escape plan was a small jon boat parked on the side of their house. He said it was accessible through a small bathroom window if the water would have risen another foot.He had a get-a-way boat prepared for him and his wife that was accessible through a three-foot vertical bathroom window that deposited to the side of their house.

Along with most of his neighbors, along the man-made canals of Gulf Harbors, were in Evacuation Zone A in Pasco County but chose to shelter in place.

“If you’ve lived here 21 years like us, you know, you’re used to it,” he said. “But you never would think that you could walk out of your house and be above your knees in waters on the streets and in your backyard.”

As of 2:29 p.m. on Friday, 841,670 Floridians are without power.

Greater Tampa Bay region county-by-county outages

Hillsborough - 38,162

Pinellas - 190,044

Pasco - 37,157

Sarasota - 62,052

Polk - 1,912

Hernando - 3,597

Manatee - 28,679

See more about tracking and reporting power outages here.

Hillsborough County rescinded the evacuation order for Zone A at 1 p.m. Friday. It comes after initial safety assessments following Hurricane Helene, according to a press release.

Residents can go to their homes. The county asks people to not drive through obstructions or standing water and stay away from downed power lines. Some traffic signals might not be working.

Shell Point and Dana Shores neighborhoods are still inaccessible. The county advises residents not to return home because of impassable roads as of early Friday afternoon.

The county is also preparing to finish sheltering operations or transitioning shelter availability for people who still need help. It sheltered 1,574 evacuees in six shelters, according to the release.

Hillsborough is launching a form for residents and nonprofits to self-report damage on Saturday. It will be available at HCFL.gov/DamageAssessment.

All county offices and facilities, including parks, are closed Friday. For more storm information and updates, visit HCFL.gov/StaySafe, or call 833-HC-STORM or 833-427-8676.

Jessica Meszaros

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WUSF

The Town N' Country area was one of the hardest hit by storm surge in Hillsborough County, along with Ruskin.

Seven feet of storm surge forced many to flee their homes in the middle of the night Thursday.

Danny Alvarez, with Hillsborough Fire Rescue, said two families there even had to seek refuge on their roofs.

"It wouldn't surprise me, once it's all said and done, that we are facing a scenario where we have had some fatalities," Alvarez said.

The water has since receded significantly, so water rescue has been canceled.

In all, Hillsborough County received around 300 911 calls and reported 47 structure fires, six of which were active fires.

Around 500 victims were also rescued.

Alvarez says officials are now going door-to-door to every home in affected areas.

One of the areas hit was a primarily Hispanic neighborhood, which was flooded following the storm surge.

Yuliet Quintana had evacuated before the storm.

She came home Friday morning to discover about foot of water and sand in her home.

Quintana said all her furniture is wet and she doesn't know yet if any of it is salvageable or needs to be thrown away.

She's lived there 10 years but never experienced this before.

Law enforcement had blocked entry onto Town N' Country Boulevard off of Hillsborough Avenue due to lingering high waters.

Here's an update on bridges and airports across Tampa Bay:

The Howard Frankland Bridge is open in both directions, with lane restrictions in place.

The eastbound and westbound lanes of the Gandy Bridge are open. Eastbound traffic is currently restricted to one lane.

The Sunshine Skyway Bridge is open in both directions as of 1 p.m. Friday.

Tampa International Airport is open. Staff assessed damage early Friday morning and found the airport wasn’t significantly impacted by Helene, according to a news release. TPA urges passengers to get to the airport at least two hours before their departure. TPA is also experiencing many delays and cancellations Friday.

Access to Peter O. Knight Airport in the Davis Islands is restricted due to flooding, according to the release. There isn’t a reopening time yet. Tampa Executive and Plant City airports are restarting operations Friday.

Sarasota Bradenton International Airport is open.

St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport is open.

More than a quarter of St. Petersburg's residents are impacted by a sewage treatment plant closure late Thursday night.

The Northeast Sewer Treatment Facility was taken offline to protect it from storm surge damage from Hurricane Helene. City officials estimate it’ll be at least 48 hours before the plant is back online as they inspect damage and make repairs.

Residents and businesses located north of 30th Ave. N. and east of I-275/Haines Road are affected. If you're in that area, do not drain water. That includes taking showers, doing laundry and flushing toilets. Draining water will cause sewage to back up into homes and businesses.

Drinking water is not affected - just don't let it drain down a sink.

More information, and some highlights from a St. Pete press conference Friday morning, here.

Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office

Hillsborough County officials report rescuing more than 500 people because of the flooding and wind related to Hurricane Helene.

Fire Rescue Chief Bill Dougherty said first responder teams have been working overnight and into today to ensure the safety of residents.

“We had 500-plus victim rescues. I'm going to repeat that again, over 500-plus victim rescues in an eight-hour time frame. I want to tell you, most importantly, all these rescues were performed without any loss of life,” he said.

County officials are advising people to stay off the roads and out of the way of emergency personnel while avoiding standing water and power lines.

“There's still too many people out there driving in deep water,” said Sheriff Chad Chronister, adding that Helene is the worst storm he’s seen affecting the county in 33 years of service.

“We were out driving throughout the county this morning, still rescuing people. … Because you don't have to be somewhere, but you're curious. Don't let that curiosity put you and your family in danger.”

Steve Newborn

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WUSF

Hurricane Helene made landfall as a Category 4 storm Thursday night in Florida's Big Bend region.

And although the storm did not take a direct hit on the Tampa Bay area, it produced a storm surge that closed bridges, flooded roads, and surge that inundated coastal areas — especially in Pinellas County.

> Check out the photos here

Stephanie Colombini

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WUSF

Andrew Swan, 31, rode out the storm on Madeira Beach, where he was watching a friend’s house.

Last night, the water from Helene's storm surge rushed in the house up to his chest and he spent the night sleeping on a kitchen counter, his legs over the stove. He worked to get important items like documents up high in cabinets and said that fortunately all of that was preserved.

"I was surprisingly calm. It was, it was just interesting. Definitely never had an experience like this before, and probably won't ever have an experience like that again," he said.

"I wasn't really afraid

for my life or anything, but it definitely makes you think when you look outside and you can see the water is a foot higher than it is in the house, and it still has to come in a little bit more. So just definitely a very interesting experience; makes you think about life and choices and priorities and everything like that."

From Hillsborough County:

Flooding in Apollo Beach and Ruskin has damaged wastewater pumping systems in southern Hillsborough County.

Residents west of I-75 and south of the Alafia River are asked to minimize bathing, washing clothes and dishes, and flushing.

Repairs will begiin when floodwaters recede, most likely this afternoon into the evening.

Steve Newborn

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WUSF

This photo, taken by WUSF reporter Steve Newborn, shows the flooding along the Sponge Docks in Tarpon Springs.

Manatee County responded to more than 400 calls for emergency assistance following Helene.

That includes more than 300 rescues of residents and visitors in Anna Maria Island and other areas.

County officials say they're seeing devastating damage along the beaches, along with significant flooding.

Water supply to the beaches along the county will remain suspended until emergency crews can assess the damage.

Meanwhile, good news for Lake Manatee. Officials say the lack of rainfall during Helene kept the lake level at one foot lower than normal.

In all, the county received more than 42 hundred calls to its 311 information line.

Town and County and Ruskin are under water due to last night's storm surge.

Hillsborough County emergency officials received about 300 911 calls from residents.

Almost all of those calls were from residents asking to be rescued in evacuation zone A. But the county was not equipped with the boats needed for that high rate.

There were also 12 structure fires, an unusually high amount for one night in the county.

Hillsborough officials ask that anyone calling 911 now only do so if it is a medical emergency.

Emergency responders in Pasco County are expecting fatalities to come into focus today.

Emergency operations director Andrew Fossa addressed his team Friday morning.

“We had areas we could not get to last night,” Fossa said when he addressed the emergency operations team during a 7 a.m. briefing.

Fossa directed emergency operations responders to begin door-to-door knocking and to “prepare for body recovery” today.

County administrator Mike Carballa also addressed the EOC team ahead of what’s expected to be a long first day of recovery.

“I hope and pray that there’s not lives lost, but I don’t see how there can’t be,” Carballa said.

Fossa said surge levels peaked overnight between 11 p.m. to 2 a.m. and responders received 500 emergency calls.

Fossa said the forecasted 8 to 12 feet of storm surge reached 16 feet in some areas.

He said there were many homes that high water rescue teams were unable to reach Thursday night due to extreme conditions.

Storm surge levels are between 4 and 7 feet as of this morning.

As of 8 a.m., there are no official fatalities in Pasco County.

One New Port Richey resident, Lacie Snyder, said she witnessed a restaurant on fire in her neighborhood, a truck that drove off the seawall on Grand Boulevard and many horses in flooded fields. Snyder lives on the east side of U.S. 19 off of the Pithlachascotee River.

Stephanie Colombini

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WUSF

WUSF reporter Stephanie Colombini took this photo of a boat lying on the edge of the Belleair Causeway.

First responders in Tampa are helping residents impacted by flooding.

According to a news release, as of Friday at 4 a.m., preliminary reports show the following number of responses:

• 78 evacuation/water rescues
• 46 downed lines
• 56 road obstructions
• 19 traffic signal malfunctions
• 12 downed trees
• 3 requests for fire/medical assistance

The primary issue is flooded homes that "required a coordinated response from Tampa Police and Tampa Fire Rescue," according to the release.

Pinellas County is reporting an estimated 37,000 structures flooded from models that use storm surge measurements over residential maps.

It received around 4,000 storm-related 911 calls, and 500 calls for water rescue.

This social post from Friday around 2:30 a.m. shows what some residents are dealing with this morning.

Gulfport Mayor Samuel Henderson released this statement early Friday morning:

Downtown Gulfport has sustained considerable storm surge damage. As a result, we advise all citizens to avoid the area until a thorough damage assessment can be completed. We understand the concern and curiosity many of you may feel, but it has been a challenging night for our city. Only essential personnel and emergency responders should be present downtown at this time.

The damage is significant, and it is imperative that we prioritize safety and the swift restoration of services.

Please know that our teams are working hard to manage the situation, and we will keep the community informed as updates become available. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we navigate this difficult time together.

All Pinellas County barrier islands from the Dunedin Causeway through Tierra Verde continue to be closed to all citizens, including residents, until further notice, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office.

NOAA

After making landfall as a Category 4 storm near Perry on Thursday around 11:10 p.m., Helene is now a tropical storm in Georgia.

Location: 40 miles east of Macon, Ga.

Maximum sustained winds: 70 mph

Direction: North at 30 mph

Just a reminder: As of 6 a.m., the Howard Frankland, Courtney Campbell, Gandy and Skyway bridges remain closed.

City of Clearwater

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Courtesy

From the City of Clearwater:

Access to Clearwater Beach will remain suspended until further notice. The barrier island roads, business and homes were inundated with several feet of water. Even after the water levels recede, much debris remains on the roads and it is unsafe to travel to the area. The debris must be removed before the beach can be reopened safely. While the bridges to the barrier islands are still closed, media and residents will not be allowed access to the beach.

Multiple high-water rescues from homes on the beach and mainland were conducted late Thursday and early today by the police and fire department. We plan to provide visuals later today of the affected area, along with sound from city officials.

Pinellas County Government

The most common way to measure a hurricane's strength is the Saffir-Simpson Scale that assigns a category from 1 to 5 based on a storm's sustained wind speed at its center, with 5 being the strongest. But that only tells part of the story.

While wind can tear off roofs, knock down trees and snap power lines, storm surge can push buildings completely off their foundations, can trap and even drown people in their homes, wash out roads and bridges, toss boats inland and hammer anything in its path.

Storm surge is the level at which sea water rises above its normal level.

Read more about it here.

Based on National Weather Service Doppler radar data, the eye of Helene made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane in the Florida Big Bend region at about 11:10 p.m. just east of the mouth of the Aucilla River.

This is about 10 miles west-southwest of Perry, Florida.

Location: 70 miles north-northwest of Cedar Key and 45 miles east-southeast of Tallahassee.

Maximum sustained winds: 140 mph

Direction: North-northeast at 24 mph

The City of St. Petersburg turned off power at the Northeast Sewer Treatment Plant (1160 62nd Avenue NE), to protect the plant from unprecedented storm surge.

 Residents/businesses located north of 30th Avenue N and east of I-275/Haines Road are impacted by this situation.

This is the only facility the city anticipates being affected by storm surge. Impacted residents/businesses should not drain water, take showers, do laundry, or flush toilets. Draining water will cause sewage to back up into homes/businesses.

It will take at least 48 hours to resume plant operations after it's turned off. City staff will need to carefully inspect the plant to be sure it can be safely restarted and make any repairs if necessary before resuming operations.

 Sewer Service: Drinking water has NOT been shut off. Running water is still accessible. However, it is critical to not drain water out of sinks, tubs, or toilets. Draining water may cause sewage to back up into homes.

• Sign up for Alert St. Pete at pinellas.gov/alert. View the latest storm information from the National Hurricane Center at nhc.noaa.gov.
• Follow @StPeteFL on social media channels for storm updates specific to St. Pete.

The center of Hurricane Helene should make landfall very soon in the Big Bend region of Florida.

After landfall, Helene is expected to turn northwestward and slow down over the Tennessee Valley on Friday and Saturday.

Location: 75 miles northwest of Cedar Key and 40 miles southeast of Tallahassee.

Maximum sustained winds: 140 mph

Direction: North-northeast at 24 mph

Hurricane Helene is producing catastrophic winds that will be spreading onshore in the Florida Big Bend region during the next few hours.

This is an extremely dangerous and life-threatening situation.

You should not leave your shelters and you should remain in place through the passage of these life-threatening conditions. When the eye comes ashore, people are reminded to not venture out in the relative calm, as hazardous winds will increase very quickly when the eye passes.

Location: 65 miles west-northwest of Cedar Key

Maximum sustained winds: 130 mph

Direction: North-northeast at 24 mph

City of Tampa

Bob Weisberg's colleagues have developed models that look at storm surge. And fortunately, he said, the storm is expected to come closest to the Tampa Bay area at low tide.

“So the good news is that given the projected speed at which the storm is moving and when surge will peak here, it, it's going to coincide, more or less, with low tide,” he said. “So we luck out in that regard.

But, he noted, Helene is a very wide storm, with tropical storm winds more than 120 miles from the eye.

“The aircraft reconnaissance flights (Thursday) morning basically showed hurricane winds extending about 2 degrees of longitude to the east of the storm,” Weisberg said. “So we're going to have stronger winds here than what had been projected. And they may even reach hurricane-force winds here.”

Read and listen to the full story here.

Manatee County is seeing storm surge of nearly 5 feet.

That was at Coquina Beach at 6:45 p.m., according to a county spokesman.

Officials are urging people to stay put and not go out for the rest of the evening.

Jodie Fiske is director of public safety for Manatee County.

"We are seeing standing water on roads that storm surge is coming in and winds have picked up. Now is the time to shelter in place."

Fiske also said earlier in the day the effects of the storm surge will linger through tomorrow.

If anyone needs help, they should call 911.

Forecasters say up to 8 feet of storm surge is possible in coastal areas.

Utilities companies have cut off water service to the island cities of Anna Maria Island, Holmes Beach, Bradenton Beach and the town of Longboat Key.

Water is also cut off to Siesta and Casey Key in Sarasota County.

That's being done as a precaution to protect water pipes in the coastal zone, which also supply inland areas.

A temporary boil-water notice will be in effect when water is restored.

As of 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, 527,862 Floridians are without power.

Greater Tampa Bay region county-by-county outages

Hillsborough - 58,971

Pinellas - 155,431

Pasco - 52,086

Sarasota - 58,009

Polk - 9,893

Hernando - 9,947

Manatee - 36,293

See more about tracking and reporting power outages here.

This impacts residents that live north of 30th Avenue N and east of Haines Road.

Courtesy

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City of St. Petersburg

• There is a possibility the Northeast Water Reclamation Facility may have to go offline.
• If this occurs, some residents will not be able to take showers, do laundry, or flush toilets, etc.
• If it looks certain that the storm surge will reach 7' feet at the plant, which is an unprecedented amount of storm surge, they'll have to make a decision to turn the plant off to ensure they can resume water service after the storm.
• It could take a minimum of 48 hours to resume plant operations after it's turned off due to the need to carefully inspect the plant and make any repairs before restarting.
• This is the only facility St. Pete officials anticipate being impacted by storm surge.

Stay off the roads.

That's the message from Sarasota County leaders this evening.

Emergency management chief Sandra Tapfumaneyi said streets are flooding.

"Especially in areas on Lido Beach, Venice, Longboat Key, also, we've seen some flooding around Tarpon Point along the Myakka River. So we just ask people to be very cautious. Please don't be driving on roads that are anywhere near the flooding. You should be inside. At this point, the winds are going to start picking up, so it is safest for you to remain indoors."

Sarasota County commissioner Mike Moran urged people not to drive through water.

"With this storm we are anticipating a tremendous amount of rainfall. As always with any storm please be cautious. Turn around and don't drown."

Sarasota police have closed several roads as high winds and storm surge from Hurricane Helene kick up.

The John Ringling Causeway was closed west of Bird Key but reopened at 1 p.m.

Also, the north entrance to Siesta Key — at Siesta Drive — is closed due to unsafe conditions.

Other roads closed are near Harts Landing, Boulevard of the Presidents near Lido Key, Indian Beach Sapphire Shores, and the intersection of Palm Avenue and Banana Court.

Sarasota police are asking people to stay away from the barrier islands, which are high-risk flood zones. They are putting up barricades near unsafe areas and asking people not to move them or drive around them.

With conditions deteriorating across Pinellas County, residents are being urged to shelter in place and not the leave their homes.

Officials say the worst of Hurricane Helene will take place Thursday night into early Friday morning.

It could include up to 5 to 8 feet of storm surge, along with fallen trees, tropical storm-force winds and downed power lines.

Some roads are expected to remain flooded into Friday, and crews will work to clear the roads as conditions become safe.

Hurricane Helene continues to gain strength as it nears the Big Bend region. Maximum sustained winds for the Category 4 storm are up to 130 mph.

Location: 80 miles west-southwest Cedar Key and 115 miles south of Tallahassee

Maximum sustained winds: 130 mph

Direction: North-northeast at 23 mph

WUSF, file photo

Hernando County says debris removal for areas affected by Hurricane Helene will begin Saturday and continue until completed.

Pickup areas included are between County Road 550 (Cortez Boulevard) and Osowaw Boulevard, west of U.S. 19 (including private roads).

Only storm generated debris will be collected.

Appliances should be emptied before being placed at the curb. Food waste can be disposed of with regular household garbage.

The Northwest Solid Waste Facility mail landfill, 14450 Landfill Road, will access storm debris starting Friday through Sunday. Click here to review the fee schedule.

The West Hernando Convenience Center, 2525 Osowaw Blvd.,will open Saturday through Monday if it has not received storm damage. It will accept storm debris from residents (no contractors).

The East Hernando Convenience Center does not accept storm debris.

A debris hotline will be available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. beginning Saturday at 352-737-0701.

Gabriella Paul

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WUSF

WUSF's Gabriella Paul spoke with Pasco County Emergency Operations Center Director Andrew Fossa.

The highlights:

• Reports of damage are already coming in, and at least one water rescue was performed
• Crews are staged and will do rescues as long as it's safe to do so
• Residents who did not evacuate are urged to write their name and social security number on a limb in permanent marker in case, worst case scenario, they need to be identified later
• Damages are mostly downed power lines and trees, including a tree that fell on an elderly lady. She was transported to the hospital.
• Tornados are still a concern, but storm surge is the biggest worry right now
  

The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office has closed access to the following barrier islands, including to residents, until further notice. Residents can still evacuate.

• Belleair Beach
• Belleair Shore
• Clearwater Beach
• Dunedin Causeway/ Honeymoon Island
• Indian Rocks Beach
• Indian Shores
• Madeira Beach
• North Redington Beach
• Redington Beach
• Redington Shores
• St. Pete Beach
• Tierra Verde
• Treasure Island
  

The National Hurricane Center has upgraded Helene to a devastating Category 4 storm with maximum sustained winds at 130 mph.

As if 6:20 p.m., it was located 120 miles west of Tampa and moving to the north-northeast at 23 mph. It's projected to make landfall in the Big Bend region tonight.

Officials in mostly rural Taylor County, along Florida’s Big Bend region where Hurricane Helene is expected to make landfall, offered a very dire warning on Facebook for anyone who didn’t evacuate:

“Please write your name, birthday, and important information on your arm or leg in a PERMANENT MARKER so that you can be identified and family notified.”

The sheriff’s office further asked residents to email them vital information including the location of their home, and the number of people and animals who live there.

They also asked residents who followed evacuation orders to have patience when it’s time to return home. They noted that there will likely be many impassable roads, downed trees and power lines.

Taylor County has a population of about 22,000.

NOAA

Hurricane continues to gain strength as nears the Big Bend region. Maximum sustained winds for the Category 3 storm are up to 125 mph.

Location: About 130 miles west of Tampa

Maximum sustained winds: 125 mph

Direction: North-northeast at 23 mph

The biggest concern in the greater Tampa Bay area with Helene remains storm surge.

St. Petersburg has closed the neighborhoods of Shore Acres and Snell Isle to nonresidents.

Those areas are already seeing flood waters, and storm surge of 5 to 8 feet could lead to major flooding over the next few days.

As a result, St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch is asking residents to stay put.

“We ask that all residents, regardless if you're in an evacuation zone or not, please stay off the roads until the storm passes,” Welch said. “Please don't drive around to look for damage or to site see or to see the flooding. This is for your safety and the safety of our first responders.”

Welch called the storm surge unprecedented for St. Petersburg.

“I say this so residents can understand just how serious this storm is and can take the necessary precautions to protect yourselves and your families,” he said.

Speaking in St. Petersburg this morning, Duke Energy's state president Melissa Seixas said that is what is going to make Helene different from many previous hurricanes in Florida.

“This storm surge is something we have not seen in at least my almost 40 years that I've been with this company and here in St. Petersburg,” Seixas said. “So, please stay safe and again, I reassure you that Duke Energy Florida is prepared to restore your service once we are able to get out in the field and start that work.”

If you're thinking of leaving your home, it's too late.

“The window for safe evacuation is over. It's time to start talking about sheltering in place, and I want to take a second to talk about what that looks like and how to stay safe in your home first,” St. Petersburg Emergency Manager Amber Boulding said Thursday.

“Do not go outside and wade through the water. The flood water and storm surge can move very quickly, and live power lines could be hidden under the water as well as other hazards. So stay inside. Stay safe.

“If flood water begins to enter your home, make sure your power is secured by flipping the main breaker and also turn off the gas if you can.”

The Courtney Campbell Causeway is closed due to high winds.

Hurricane Helene is forecast to slam the Big Bend region as a major hurricane tonight, but it doesn't end there.

The storm is expected to speed into the Southeast and bring heavy rains and potentially damaging winds.

NPR put together this nifty map that not only shows the storm's path, but provides links to NPR member stations' websites. So you can keep track of Helene's progress along the way.

The Howard Frankland Bridge has been shut down.

NOAA

As of 2:25 p.m., Helene reached Category 3 strength as it continues to race toward the Big Bend region. Storm surge continues to be the primary concern for the Tampa Bay area.

Location: About 195 miles southwest of Tampa

Maximum sustained winds: 120 mph

Direction: North-northeast at 16 mph

Flooding on St. Pete Beach

WUSF reporter Stephanie Colombini went on a ride-along with the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office. She discusses what she saw.

Listen • 4:21

Storm surge is expected to be the main concern as Hurricane Helene makes its way north into the Gulf of Mexico.

The National Hurricane Center estimates 5 to 8 feet of storm surge for the Tampa Bay region, and already, streets along the coast are experiencing flooding.

WUSF reporter Stephanie Colombini took a tour of St. Pete Beach with Pinellas County deputies. Here's what she was.

Blind Pass Road and 75th Street:

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Flooding at Blind Pass Road and 75th Avenue on St. Pete Beach during Hurricane Helene on Sept. 26, 2024.

Stephanie Colombini / WUSF

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Flooding at Blind Pass Road and 75th Avenue on St. Pete Beach during Hurricane Helene on Sept. 26, 2024.

Stephanie Colombini / WUSF

Madeira Beach and Johns Pass:

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Flooding in Madeira Beach and Johns Pass during Hurricane Helene on Sept. 26, 2024.

Stephanie Colombini / WUSF

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Flooding in Madeira Beach and Johns Pass during Hurricane Helene on Sept. 26, 2024.

Stephanie Colombini / WUSF

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Flooding in Madeira Beach and Johns Pass during Hurricane Helene on Sept. 26, 2024.

Stephanie Colombini / WUSF

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Flooding in Madeira Beach and Johns Pass during Hurricane Helene on Sept. 26, 2024.

Stephanie Colombini / WUSF

Other areas along St. Pete Beach:

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Streets along St. Pete Beach were flooded during Hurricane Helene on Sept. 26, 2024.

Stephanie Colombini / WUSF

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Streets along St. Pete Beach were flooded during Hurricane Helene on Sept. 26, 2024.

Stephanie Colombini / WUSF

Nancy Guan

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WUSF

Hernando County is expecting significant storm surge from the effects of Hurricane Helene.

The county's emergency management director, David DeCarlo, says that's partly due to the size of the system.

"It's very large. It's very elongated. It's about the same length of the state of Florida. So the hurricane bans, even though the center of the storm is still south of us, we are already experiencing the outer bands of Hurricane Helene."

WUSF's Sky Lebron spoke with reporter Nancy Guan about what she's seeing and hearing at the Hernando County Emergency Operations Center.

The highlights:

• Hernando County is expecting about 8-12 feet of storm surge. Communities on the coast, or west of U.S. 19, have been told to evacuate already and there's not much more time left to do so safely
• Don't drive on flooded roads. Just six inches of moving water can move your vehicle off the road. Flash floods are possible, along with storm surge.
• A family who didn't evacuate last year during Hurricane Idalia had to be rescued on top of an overpass, because that was the highest point.
• Once winds hit really high levels, about 40 miles per hour, that's when rescue teams won't be able to reach you, and you'll likely have to wait overnight if you're stuck in a flooded area.

Citizen’s Information Line: if residents need transportation to a shelter or have hurricane questions, they can call 352-754-4083.

As weather conditions continue to deteriorate and wind gusts have reached 60 mph, the Florida Highway Patrol has closed the Skyway Bridge.

Motorists are requested to seek alternate routes, do not drive through flooded roadways, and unless absolutely necessary, stay off Bay Area roadways. 

NOAA

Hurricane Helene is heading for Florida's northwest coast as it rapidly intensifies.

"Rapid intensification" is a technical term meaning a tropical cyclone is strengthening dramatically in a short period of time.

WUSF's Jessica Meszaros spoke to Brian McNoldy, a hurricane researcher at the University of Miami, about that phenomenon and other storm impacts from a warming climate.

Read the full story here.

Hillsborough County has a handful of its brush trucks ready to deploy after Helene passes the Tampa Bay region.

The Ford F-550 trucks are primarily used to fight brush fires.

But they are elevated and able to get through flooded areas.

"It'll give us access to certain areas where other vehicles can't go to," Danny Alvarez, the public information officer chief for Hillsborough County Fire Rescue, said.

He said the county's task force units will also be available. They're manned by 80 people.

"Unfortunately, if the winds are greater than 40 miles an hour, we're unable to respond."

The biggest concern for the fire rescue team is saving its residents from Hurricane Helene's storm surge.

A wall of 5 to 9 feet of water could potentially push ashore.

Alvarez remembers just last month on Aug. 5 when Hurricane Debby flooded the region.

''We had to rescue about close to 11 families from their homes, from whether it was Ruskin, Wimauma over into Plant City, and that was just a small storm. So we are preparing for significant flooding, and we are getting ready to potentially have to go and help families evacuate their homes."

Alvarez said those in Evacuation Zone A who chose to stay will have to wait for conditions to be safe for help to arrive.

The county's emergency response team is also preparing for delayed storm surge after Helene passes.

Timothy Dudley is the director of Hillsborough's emergency operations.

"This is a large storm and the wind field is hundreds of miles from the center, and what we're expecting is a delayed surge."

He said after the storm passes, it is still not safe for people to go outside.

"Even if it looks calm, like the center of a hurricane, we have to be prepared well into Friday for impacts of surge."

Dudley is also expecting record cresting of the Alafia River near U.S. 301 Thursday into Friday.

If you have questions, you can call Hillsborough's information line: 833-427-8676, or send an email here.

Pinellas County website

St. Petersburg

Shore Acres and Snell Isle are now closed to non-residents

Clearwater

• Avoid Bayshore between Drew Street and the Courtney Campbell Causeway. There is high water in the area from surge.

Sarasota

• 700 block of S Blvd. of the Presidents to Taft Dr.
• Intersection of Norsota Way and Siesta Dr.
• Harts Landing
• Indian Beach-Sapphire Shores neighborhood

• Intersection of Palm Ave. and Banana Court

  Sarasota police are asking people to stay away from the barrier islands, which are high-risk flood zones. They are putting up barricades near unsafe areas and ask people not to move them or drive around them.

The Florida 511 mobile app provides real-time traffic conditions locally and statewide. You can download it from the Apple App Store or Google Play.

The Florida 511 service also offers text message alerts and continued updates on X, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

The U.S. Postal Service is suspending mail service across a wide swath of the west coast of Florida until further notice due to the approach of Hurricane Helene.

Those suspended areas include most communities, homes and businesses, and other mail delivery sites from St. Petersburg down the coast to Marco Island and inland including Sarasota, Bradenton, Venice, North Port, and Punta Gorda.

No alternate sites are available at this time.

The Postal Service cites the safety and well-being of customers and employees for the suspension and said updates will be provided as soon as additional information becomes available.

To help residents and emergency personnel stay connected ahead of Helene, Comcast has opened 52,296 public Xfinity WiFi hotspots in areas it serves across Florida in Hurricane Helene’s potential path. The free and public hotspots are open for anyone to use, including non-Xfinity customers.

For a map of public Xfinity WiFi hotspots, which are located both indoors and outdoors in places such as shopping districts, parks, and businesses, visit Finder.wifi.xfinity.com.

To find the nearest hotspot location in your city, search the WiFi Hotspot Map.

Pinellas County is already experiencing some flooding well before Hurricane Helene wreaks the most havoc on the region. Roads in the Shore Acres community and parts of Gulf Boulevard were already flooding as of 8 a.m. County officials warn things will only get much worse and urge anyone living in Zone A to evacuate immediately.

NOAA

As of 11 a.m., a hurricane warning is now in effect from the Anclote River to Mexico Beach, and areas from the Anclote River to the south are under a hurricane watch.

The Tampa Bay area is also under a storm surge warning.

Helene is gaining speed and continues to intensify.

Location: About 255 miles southwest of Tampa

Maximum sustained winds: 105 mph

Direction: North-northeast at 14 mph