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Pinellas declares state of emergency

By WILL VAN SANT
Published June 12, 2006

With forecasters predicting Tropical Storm Alberto to strengthen into a Category 1 hurricane by early evening, the Pinellas County Commission declared a local state of emergency just after 1 p.m. today. 

The move allows county leaders to take protective action, such as ordering evacuations, without having to convene a meeting of the commission.

As of noon today, forecasts predict the storm will strike Taylor County around 7 p.m. Tuesday, Vickers said. Pinellas County could see sporadic wind gusts of between 50 and 60 mph through Tuesday afternoon, he said.

Severe storm surge may threaten low-lying areas along the coast, from Madeira Beach north and in northeast St. Petersburg. Oldsmar and Safety Harbor in Upper Tampa Bay could also see heavy storm surge.

Vickers said a surge of between 5 and 7 feet in the Tampa Bay area is possible. The worst of the surge is expected to occur between dawn and 2 p.m Tuesday, he said.Vickers advised residents who experienced flooding during Tropical Storm Josephine in 1996 and Hurricane Frances in 2004 to take precautions.

“We want people who have had storm surge in the past to be aware of that and take protective measures,” Vickers said.

Although no evacuation order has been issued, the Red Cross will open three shelters at 5 p.m. today for those who want to evacuate from flood-prone areas. They are First United Methodist Church, 545 E. Tarpon Ave., in Tarpon Springs; Trinity Presbyterian, 2001 Rainbow Dr., in Clearwater; and Northside Baptist Church, 6000 38th Ave. N, in St. Petersburg.

Sandbags are available in several county locations: in Oldsmar at 402 St. Petersburg Dr. E; in Tarpon Springs at Dorsett Park, 500 E Harrison St., the Public Works compound at 325 Pine St., and the city parking lot at the corner of Safford Avenue and Live Oak Street; in St. Petersburg at Bartlett Park, 22nd Avenue S, between 6th Street and 7th Street and the entrance to Mangrove Bay Golf Course, 875 62nd Ave., NE; and at Indian Shores Town Hall, 19305 Gulf Blvd.

Also, Largo will provide sandbags at two locations: Kmart on Missouri Avenue and Tri- City Plaza at US 19 N and East Bay Drive.

To get information throughout the storm threat, Pinellas residents can call the county’s Citizen Information Center at 727-464-4333.

[Last modified June 12, 2006, 21:02:03]