Update #4: County closures announced for Tropical Storm Helene

Update #4: County closures announced for Tropical Storm Helene

Latest storm/incident developments

• Potential Tropical Cyclone 9 has formed as Tropical Storm Helene. It is expected to strengthen to a major hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico over the next two days. Even if it passes to the west of Pinellas County, it could bring life-threatening hurricane, storm surge flooding and flash flooding conditions to Pinellas County.
• Pinellas County is under a Storm Surge Warning, Tropical Storm Warning, Hurricane Watch and Flood Watch. The forecast calls for higher storm surge than the Tampa Bay area has experienced in recent history due to the storm's wide wind field. The biggest impacts are expected throughout Thursday.  

Pinellas County response/action

• During the storm, many county staff will be handling storm-related activities. Call ahead before visiting a county office to check schedule.
• Pinellas County has announced the following closures:
• All Pinellas County government departments will close effective 5 p.m. on Wednesday, with some having partial closures throughout the day due to storm-related response. Please call their offices in advance of visiting to verify schedules. All departments will remain closed Thursday while staff works in various storm support capacities. A decision about Friday closures will be made at a later time.
• All county parks will be closed Wednesday and Thursday. John Chestnut Sr. Park will be open only for sandbag distribution from 7 a.m. to noon.
• The Animal Shelter will be closed Wednesday and Thursday.
• The Utilities department's walk-in payment center will be closed Wednesday through Friday, and all late payment fees will be paused through the weekend.
• The Property Appraiser's Office will close at noon on Wednesday and remain closed on Thursday. The Tax Collector's Office will be closed Wednesday and Thursday.
• The Clerk's Office, Courts, State Attorney and Public Defender's Office will be open Wednesday. All will be closed Thursday.
• Pinellas County Schools are closed Wednesday and Thursday.

• The County Information Center (CIC) is open 24 hours for preparedness questions. Call (727) 464-4333. Residents who are deaf or hard of hearing can contact the CIC via online chat at www.bit.ly/PinellasChat. 
• The County has ordered mandatory evacuations of all residential healthcare facilities in Zone A, starting immediately. This includes two hospitals, 14 nursing homes and 10 assisted living facilities.
• A decision about general evacuations and shelters opening will be made after the next few advisories from the National Weather Service.
• Check your evacuation zone one of these ways: 
• Visit disaster.pinellas.gov
• Download the Ready Pinellas app.  
• Call the County Information Center (727) 463-4333 
• Residents who are deaf or hard of hearing can contact the County Information Center via online chat at www.bit.ly/PinellasChat.