2 Shelters To Open Tuesday In Pinellas County Ahead Of TS Elsa

PINELLAS COUNTY, FL — Pinellas County will open two shelters at 9 a.m. Tuesday for residents seeking emergency shelter from Tropical Storm Elsa.

The Lealman Exchange shelter, 5175 45th St. N. in St. Petersburg, will open for the general population, those with special needs and people with pets.

Ross Norton Recreation Center shelter, 1426 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. in Clearwater, will open to the general population.

Residents who need to evacuate to a shelter are encouraged to pack an essential "Go Bag, but pack lightly. Space is very limited.

Social distancing space (6 feet by 6 feet) will be provided to the extent possible.Residents are encouraged to follow CDC guidelines regarding face coverings.

Suggested "Go Bag" items:

• Cloth masks, hand sanitizers, disinfectant
• Medications and copies of prescriptions
• Nonperishable food
• Special dietary food that is nonperishable
• Drinking water; minimum one gallon per person per day.
• Bedding for a small space
• Infant or child necessities (wipes, diapers, bottles)
• Personal hygiene items
• Change of clothes
• Eyeglasses
• Quiet games, toys or reading materials
• Important papers and valid ID
• Cash and phone contact list

Before leaving home:

• Gather valuables and important papers
• Turn off all utilities (water, electricity, gas) at main switches
• Lock windows and doors
• Fill gas tanks
• Advise friends or relatives of where you are going
• Monitor local news media and the National Weather Service
• Register for emergency alerts here
• Preregister for special needs shelters by calling the County Information Center at 727-464-4333. Pre-registration is recommended for those transporting themselves. For those needing transportation assistance, registration is required. (Residents only need to register for special needs shelters once per season)

As of 5 p.m. Monday, Pinellas County is under a tropical storm warning, storm surge warning and flood watch. Residents may experience flooding in coastal and low-lying areas and a loss of power due to downed trees and tree limbs Tuesday and Wednesday. Tornadoes and waterspouts also are possible.

Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority will offer free rides to the two shelters starting at 9 a.m. Tuesday. Pets will be permitted on evacuation buses as long as they are in a pet carrier. The latest information on PSTA bus service can be obtained by calling the InfoLine at 727-540-1900 or by visiting its website.

The County Information Center is open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Call 727-464-4333.

Residents who are deaf or hard of hearing can contact the CIC via online chat at www.bit.ly/PinellasChat.

No evacuations have been ordered at this time. Monitor the Pinellas County website for updates.
www.pinellascounty.org for updates.

Pinellas County crews completed inspections of drainages and roadways in areas known to flood.