Pinellas Expands Mandatory Evacuations Ahead Of Irma

LARGO, FL — As Hurricane Irma barrels on a collision course with Florida, the threat to Pinellas County has climbed. With that in mind, the county expanded its mandatory evacuation order Saturday morning.

“In light of Hurricane Irma's heightened threat to lives and property of Pinellas County residents, the mandatory evacuation order is now extended to all residents and businesses in evacuation Level B, effective immediately,” the county wrote in a Saturday morning email. “The order continues for residents of mobile homes countywide, regardless of evacuation zone, and includes residents previously ordered to evacuate from Level A.” (For more hurricane news or local news from Florida, click here to sign up for real-time news alerts and newsletters from Largo Patch, and click here to find your local Florida Patch. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

Residents who live in Level B must begin evacuating immediately, the county said. The expansion decision was made based on the latest National Weather Service forecast for Hurricane Irma, “and the threat of more widespread storm surge, a dome of water rapidly pushed ashore by strong winds.”

Analysis: There's No Way Around Irma's Wrath For Florida

• See also: Hurricane Irma Weakens, But Still 'Extreme' Threat To Tampa Bay Area

By 8 a.m. Saturday, Irma had downgraded to a Category 4 storm after making landfall in Cuba. Still packing maximum sustained winds of 130 mph, the storm had forced hurricane warnings to go up along much of Florida’s west coast, from the tip to Chassahowitzka in Citrus County. Storm surge warnings were also in place from Volusia and Brevard counties on the east side of the state around the peninsula to Chassahowitzka. Warnings mean that hurricane and storm surge conditions are expected within the warning area within 36 hours.

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The county opened additional shelters to serve evacuees as of 9 a.m. Saturday. The newly opened shelters are located at:

• Carwise Middle School (3301 Bentley Drive, Palm Harbor)
• Dunedin Elementary School (900 Union St., Dunedin)
• Clearwater Fundamental Middle School (1660 Palmetto St., Clearwater)
• Ross Norton Recreation Center (1426 S. Martin Luther King Jr., Ave., Clearwater)
• Sexton Elementary School (1997 54th Ave. N., St. Petersburg)
• Lealman Innovation Academy (4900 28th St. N., St. Petersburg)
• New Heights Elementary School (3901 37th St. N., St. Petersburg)
• St. Petersburg High School (2501 5th Ave. N., St. Petersburg)
• Campbell Park Elementary School (1051 7th Ave. S., St. Petersburg)
• Boca Ciega High School (924 58th St. S., Gulfport)

The following shelters also remain open:

• Palm Harbor University High School (1900 Omaha St., Palm Harbor)
• Largo High School (410 Missouri Ave., Largo)
• Gibbs High School (850 34th St. South, St. Petersburg)
• Oak Grove Middle School (1370 S. Belcher Road, Clearwater) *No longer accepting pets
• Dunedin Highland Middle School (70 Patricia Ave, Dunedin) - pet-friendly shelter
• John Hopkins Middle School, (701 16th St. S., St. Petersburg) - pet-friendly shelter

Dunedin Highland, John Hopkins and Oak Grove middle schools are also equipped to help residents with special needs. Residents who plan to go to shelters are asked to bring clothing, bedding, toiletries, important papers and medications with them. Items needed for children or infants should also be brought along.

Residents who are not sure if they live in an evacuation zone can check on the county’s website.

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