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Pinellas County Emergency Management shares three key steps for a safer hurricane season

The 2024 hurricane season starts June 1, and Pinellas County Emergency Management asks residents to remember three things to survive a disaster. Residents should know their risk, make a plan and stay informed.

Know your risk

  • Pinellas County orders evacuations to protect residents who are at risk from storm surge, who live in a mobile home or who are dependent on electricity for medical needs. To learn more about evacuations and to look up your evacuation zone:
    • Call (727) 464-3800

Make a plan

  • Keep your family safe and save money by creating or updating your hurricane kit now. The 2024 Florida Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday runs from June 1-14. Qualifying items related to disaster preparedness are exempt from sales tax. Items include batteries, flashlights, tarps, bungee cords, gas containers and more. Find a list of qualifying items at floridarevenue.com/DisasterPrep 
  • To help you plan, the 2024 Pinellas County Hurricane Guide is available online and at the following locations:
    • Lealman Exchange, 5175 45th St. N., St. Petersburg. Open Monday – Friday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
    • The Centre, 1500 16th St. Palm Harbor. Open Monday-Thursday 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. Friday 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
    • Pinellas County libraries
    • Municipal buildings
    • Pinellas County offices
  • Residents of all ages who have medical needs or require transportation assistance may be eligible for the Special Needs Evacuation Program. Learn more and register at pinellas.gov/SpecialNeeds or call (727) 464-3800.
  • Sandbags may help against flooding of up to 15 inches from rain or tides but will not protect your home from high water or storm surge. Residents of unincorporated Pinellas County can pick up sandbags at 2855 109th Ave N., St. Petersburg, Tuesday through Friday and every first and third Saturday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. (limit 10 sandbags per household). Municipal residents should check with their city government for availability. Learn more at: pinellas.gov/sandbags
  • Pinellas County is the second-largest boating community in Florida with nearly 54,000 registered boats. This presents a great risk during storms and hurricanes. Learn how to secure your boat at: pinellas.gov/BoatPrep

Stay informed

  • Use  trusted sources of local news for timely, consistent and reliable information. Listen to, follow and like Pinellas County Government (Facebook @PinellasGov and X @PinellasGov and @PinellasEM; your favorite local news station; and the Tampa Bay National Weather Service forecast office on social media.
  • Sign up for Alert Pinellas to receive timely notifications.
  • Download the new Ready Pinellas app in the App Store or Google Play.
  • Own and maintain a NOAA weather radio – battery operated or hand crank.

Hurricane Preparedness Expo – Saturday, June 1

Pinellas County and Tarpon Springs Fire Rescue will host a free Pinellas County Hurricane Preparedness Day expo on Saturday, June 1, to provide residents with hurricane season information and resources. The family-friendly event will run from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Tarpon Springs Public Safety Facility, 444 S. Huey Ave., Tarpon Springs.

For more information on emergency planning as well as real-time updates during emergencies, visit disaster.pinellas.gov.