“This could be the storm we hoped would never reach our shores,” says St. Petersburg mayor
St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch speaks during a news conference Monday. (Photo: Pinellas County)
Officials in Pinellas County, Florida are warning residents about the impact of storm surge and winds from Hurricane Ian.
“This could be the storm we hoped would never make it to our shores,” St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch said during a Monday news conference.
During a press conference Monday, Pinellas County Manager Barry Burton said most tracks have Hurricane Ian hitting Pinellas County within the next 48 hours. He said storm surge will be significant and wind impacts will be felt before the eye.
Storm surge will be strong enough to flip a house, rip off a roof and bring down power lines and trees, Burton said.
Hurricane Ian has a tendency to slow down and could remain in Pinellas County for 47 hours, said Cathie Perkins, Pinellas County’s director of emergency management.
Officials have been preparing for a Category 3 hurricane and expect 8 to 15 inches of rain, Perkins added.
The county is planning evacuations due to concern about storm surge, Perkins said.
Perkins warned people to check their evacuation zone as evacuation zones changed in 2022 and “changed for a significant number of people in the county,” he added.
Officials will open emergency shelters today at 6 pm and others will open tomorrow, Perkins said.
Authorities are asking long-term care facilities to evacuate today and some hospitals have already begun evacuating, Perkins added.
Pinellas County, which is part of the Tampa Bay area, includes Clearwater and St. Petersburg, Florida.