St. Pete Evacuations, School Closings, Shelters Opening: TS Idalia

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — With Tropical Storm Idalia forecast to hit Florida’s Nature Coast — which runs from Pasco County to the Panhandle — Tuesday as a Category 4 storm, the city of St. Petersburg and Pinellas County have issued local states of emergency.

The county has ordered the mandatory evacuation of Zone A, including all mobile homes, going into effect Monday at 7 p.m.

This evacuation order also covers residential health care facilities, which will begin evacuating at 1 p.m.

St. Petersburg residents can sign up to receive local emergency alerts at StPete.org/alertstpete.

• Also Read: TS Idalia: Tampa, St. Pete Under Hurricane, Storm Surge Warnings

Sandbags

Sandbag operations will run until Monday, 7 p.m.

Self-service locations are set up at:

• Lake Vista Tennis Court Parking Lot – 12th St. S. & 60th Ave. S.
• Lakewood Sports Complex Parking Lot – 2001 Country Club Way S.
• Grandview Park Parking Lot – 3734-3814 6th St. S.
• Childs Park Pool Parking Lot – 1227 43rd St. S.
• Campbell Park Shelter Area Parking Lot – 1360 5th Ave. S. (Adjacent to Interstate 175)
• Azalea Athletic Fields Parking Lot – 1600 72nd St. N.
• Walter Fuller Soccer Field Parking Lot – 2800 75th St. N.
• Garden Club of St. Petersburg – 500 Sunset Dr. So.

Full-service locations are at:

• Northeast Park – 955 62nd Ave. NE.
• Lake Maggiore Shelter Area – 3601 Dr Martin Luther King Jr. St. S.
• Northwest Swimming Pool Parking Lot – 2331 60th St. N.

Residents must show proof of residency and may pick up a maximum of 10 sandbags.

Schools

All Pinellas County public schools and officers will be closed Tuesday and Wednesday. Sports and school activities are also canceled.

Shelters

The county will open a special needs shelter Monday at 7 p.m. at John Hopkins Middle School in St. Petersburg.

Special needs transportation to shelters will begin Tuesday morning. Those who need transportation should call the County Information Center at 727-464-4333.

Ten additional shelters, some pet-friendly, will open Tuesday at 7 a.m. A list of shelters in the county and whether they’re open or closed can be found on the county website.

Transit

The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority will suspend all transit services starting Tuesday at 5 p.m.

All PSTA routes will be fare-free Tuesday.

The agency is also working with the county to provide transportation to evacuation shelters.