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Dear Neighbor,
Local emergency management officials are carefully monitoring Hurricane Ian. The Governor has issued a state of emergency for all 67 counties, and each of our local Boards of County Commission have issued a local state of emergency. While the exact path of the storm is often difficult to accurately project, being properly prepared can help save lives and minimize property damage. As of right now, Hurricane Ian is expected to intensify. The Tampa Bay area is expecting hurricane and serious storm surge conditions beginning as soon as tomorrow and possibly lasting through the week.
Now is the time to prepare ahead of the storm. Go over your plan with your household and ensure our hurricane kit is well-stocked with essential supplies. Fill prescriptions to ensure you have necessary medications before and after a potential storm. Additionally, take time to bring in any loose items such as lawn furniture and trash cans from your yard.
I have provided important information related to sandbags, school closures, evacuation orders, evacuation zones, and emergency shelter information below for Pasco and Pinellas County.
As always, my team and I are here to help you. If you have a question not addressed in this update, please feel free to contact my office at 727-232-2921.
Sand Bag Information
Pasco has opened six, self-serve sandbag locations and has limited availability to 10 bags per household due to a shortage of bags. Addresses are listed below; however, please be advised residents must bring their own shovel and fill their bags.
- W.H. Jack Mitchell, Jr., Park: 4825 Little Road, New Port Richey
- Veterans Memorial Park: 14333 Hicks Road, Hudson
- Magnolia Valley Golf Course: 7223 Massachusetts Avenue, New Port Richey
- Pasco County Public Works (C-Barn): 30908 Warder Road, San Antonio
- Land O’ Lakes Recreation Center, 3032 Collier Parkway, Land O’ Lakes
- Wesley Chapel District Park, 7727 Boyette Road, Wesley Chapel
The North Pinellas County Sandbag Location is John Chesnut Sr. Park, 2200 East Lake Road in Palm Harbor.
Residents of Clearwater can receive sandbags at 2450 Drew Street in Clearwater. Dunedin residents can obtain them at Highlander Park near Splash Park. There is a limit of 15 bags per resident and proof of residency is required. On Monday, Sept. 26, from 4 – 6 p.m. residents of the city of Safety Harbor can get sandbags from the Public Works Department located at 1200 Railroad Ave. There is a 10 bag per address limit and proof of residency is required.
School Closure Information
All Pasco County Schools and School Board Offices will be closed Tuesday, September 27th through Friday, September 30th. Status of schools are subject to change. Please click here for updated information.
All Pinellas County Schools and School Board Offices will be closed Tuesday, September 27th through Friday, September 30th. Status of school closures is subject to change. Please click here for up-to-date information.
Evacuation Information
Real-time information can make a huge difference in an emergency situation. To stay up-to-date with the latest information from Pasco County government, sign up for Alert Pasco by clicking here. Pasco County’s Customer Service Center will be open until 8 p.m. Monday and will open 24 hours per day beginning Tuesday at 7 a.m. Please call 727.847.2411 or chat with an official at MyPasco.net. Of course, call 911 if you need emergency assistance
Unless the current path of the storm changes, Pasco County is expected to issue an evacuation order first thing tomorrow morning for certain residents. Click here to check your Evacuation Zone and finalize your emergency shelter plans should your zone be ordered to evacuate.
Emergency shelter operations in Pasco are scheduled to begin at 10:00 tomorrow (9-27-22). The county has announced that Fivay High School w(12115 Chicago Ave, Hudson, FL 34669) and Centennial Middle School (38505 Centennial Rd, Dade City, FL 33525) will be opening. Pasco County will be waiving all fixed route bus fees to help transport those in need, including homeless individuals, to these shelter locations.
The Pinellas Board of County Commissioners has announced mandatory evacuations, effective at 6 p.m. today, for all residents in Evacuation Zone A (including all mobile home residents). All residential healthcare facilities are also under mandatory evacuation orders starting at 6:00 pm. The Board has also announced intended plans for evacuating zones B and C tomorrow morning at 7:00 am. Pinellas residents can click here to determine which evacuation zone they live in.
Pinellas County is set to open special needs shelters and two general population shelters on Monday, September 26th at 6:00 p.m. Residents with special needs requiring shelter transportation can still sign up. Visit this website to learn more information about sheltering in Pinellas County. For the most up-to-date information impacting Pinellas County, click here to register for Alert Pinellas. Pinellas County’s Customer Service Center can also be reached at 727-463-3000.
Also, any constituent in the state of Florida with special medical needs, can also register with Florida's Special Needs Registry.
Again, please take the necessary precautions to stay safe and do not hesitate to call my office at 727-232-2921 if my team or I can be of assistance to you! |
