Hurricane Ian: State Of Emergency Declared In Dunedin, Closings Listed

DUNEDIN, FL — In preparation for Hurricane Ian, Dunedin City Manager Jennifer K.Bramley has declared a local state of emergency for the city and said city officials are tracking the hurricane.

A storm surge and a hurricane warning have been issued for all of Pinellas County and are expected to be upgraded to storm surge and hurricane watches some time Monday night.

The National Weather Service is predicting a rapid intensification of Hurricane Ian to a Category 4 hurricane by the time it reaches the Gulf of Mexico Tuesday with sustained winds of 140 mph.

Pinellas County can expect storm surges of 8 to 15 feet, depending on the location and tides.

Mandatory evacuation orders for all residents living in Zone A and in mobile homes went into effect at 6 p.m. Monday. Mandatory evacuations for residents living in Zones B and C will be in effect starting at 7 a.m. Tuesday.

Hospitals are now being evacuated, and long-term health care facilities are under mandatory evacuation orders.

Thousands of Pinellas County properties were added to the county's evacuation zone map this year, so residents who were previously not in an evacuation zone are urged to check to see if they now fall within an evacuation zone by clicking here.

Dunedin City Hall and all Dunedin city facilities, including the library, will be closed to the public Tuesday through Friday. The City Marina will remain open. Boaters are urged to secure their boats.

See related stories:

• Hurricane Ian: 5-10 Foot Storm Surge, FL Will Feel Effect Tuesday
• Hurricane Ian: Hillsborough Residents In Zone A Must Evacuate Now
• Hurricane Ian: If You Don't Evacuate, You're On Your Own: Sheriff
• Hurricane Ian Forecast To Hit Pasco County As Major Hurricane
• Tampa Bay In Direct Path Of Hurricane Ian: Forecasters

City committee meetings are canceled for this week and the special Dunedin City Commission meeting scheduled for Thursday has been rescheduled for Thursday, Oct. 6 at 6 p.m.

The Dunedin Solid Waste Division is suspending all collection programs starting Tuesday until further notice. The solid waste division has already removed all the recycling containers at both city of Dunedin recycling drop off-sites

The Dunedin sandbag station is now closed.

The county has opened four hurricane shelters:

• Ross Norton Recreation Center, 1426 S. MLK Jr. Ave., Clearwater.
• Lealman Exchange, 5175 45th St. N, St. Petersburg.
• The pet-friendly at Pinellas County Animal Services, 12450 Ulmerton Road, Largo.
• Gibbs High School, also a pet-friendly shelter, at 850 34th St. S., St. Petersburg.

Additional shelters will open in Pinellas County at 7 a.m. Tuesday. To find a shelter, click here.

People with special needs can call the Pinellas Citizens Information Center at 727-464-4333.

For people with pets, download, print and fill out the "Pet Friendly Shelter Enrollment Form."

The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority will offer free bus rides to the shelters on Tuesday but the bus lines will not run once the hurricane hits.

Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri emphasized that, once a mandatory evacuation order is issued, "You must evacuate."

"All information tells us this is very serious," he said. "A mandatory evacuation will come and, when it does, our first responders will be taken off the streets. This is the real deal. If you don't evacuate, you're on your own. No one's going to come to rescue you."

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