PINELLAS COUNTY — The City of St. Petersburg will reopen for normal operations on Thursday, Aug. 31. Based on a review of storm damage, the city team has determined that city facilities are ready to open and resume regular business operations.
City Hall, City offices, and facilities will be open during normal operating hours on Thursday, August 31 – this includes the St. Pete Pier and Sunken Gardens.
City Reopening Update
- Parks & Recreation facilities are open tomorrow for regularly scheduled programming, including childcare.
Trash & Recycling Update:
- Normal trash and recycling schedules will resume Thursday morning, Aug. 31.
Debris Clean Up:
- Idalia brought minimal debris impacts to St. Pete.
- Please place vegetative debris in your trash can or drop any remaining debris at one of the City Brush Sites – stpete.org/brushsites.
- The 1000 62 Ave. NE. location is closed until further notice due to flooding.
More information at: stpete.org/hurricane.
Pinellas County Schools will be OPEN for normal operations on Thursday, August 31.
All sports and school-related activities will resume as normal. This update will be shared using the following methods:
- A recorded phone message to all employees and families
- E-mail message to all employees and families
- Text message to all registered users (opt-in by texting YES to 67587)
- Information posted on the district website at pcsb.org/weather
- Information will be shared with local TV, radio, print and online news outlets
- Information posted on district’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts.
- Emergency Information Phone Line: (727) 588-6424. Call the Emergency Information Phone Line to hear a recorded update.
Pinellas County Schools realizes that portions of our county are prone to flooding. Please assess your situation and decide what is in the best interest of your family’s safety. Any student absent due to weather-related circumstances will be marked as an excused absence.
Pinellas County lifts mandatory evacuation and reopens bridges
Bridges to the barrier islands opened at 5 p.m. today, and Pinellas County has lifted its mandatory evacuation order.
Residents should exercise caution when returning home and avoid any roads that remain flooded or have other debris. Emergency crews may still be working in the area.
For the latest updates, visit: https://disaster.pinellas.gov
Pinellas County reopens many facilities Thursday
Pinellas County will reopen many offices and facilities Thursday while continuing to respond to Hurricane Idalia. If you have questions about an office or service not listed below, call to confirm before visiting.
- County parks will be closed at the start of the day but will reopen as cleanup is completed. Parks administrative offices and County Extension offices will be open.
- Pinellas County Solid Waste will resume normal operations at 6 a.m.
- Pinellas County Human Services offices will be open.
- Pinellas County Contractor Licensing Department will be open.
- Pinellas County Utilities will be open except for the walk-in payment center.
- Pinellas County Animal Services will be open from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Please check their websites for information on the Pinellas County Clerk’s Office, Tax Collector, Property Appraiser and Supervisor of Elections.
Business damage assessment survey now available
Today, FloridaCommerce and the State Emergency Response Team (SERT) activated the Business Damage Assessment Survey in response to Hurricane Idalia. Survey responses will allow the state to expedite Hurricane Idalia recovery efforts by gathering data and assessing the needs of affected businesses.
Businesses can complete the survey online by visiting www.FloridaDisaster.biz and selecting “Hurricane Idalia” from the dropdown menu.
If you need additional assistance with your business, please call the private sector hotline at 850-815-4925. The hotline was activated on Sunday, August 27, 2023, and the hotline will be operational between 8-6 p.m., or you can email ESF18@EM.MyFlorida.com.
Visit floridadisaster.biz/BusinessDamageAssessments for more help.
After the Storm
- Stay informed by visiting https://disaster.pinellas.gov
- Review business contingency plans.
- Report Damages
- Report damages to roads and public infrastructure.
- Report damages on homes.
- Report damages to businesses.
- Have questions, concerns or needs?
- FloridaCommerce has activated the private sector hotline at 850-815-4925 from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Inquiries may also be emailed to ESF18@em.myflorida.com.
- The Florida SBDC Network at Pinellas County can help your business recover from a disaster. In addition, the Florida SBDC Network and the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity partner on the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program, an interest-free, short-term loan program to help businesses recover quickly after a disaster.
- For more business resources, please see State Resources and Federal Resources.
Additional Updates
- Pete-Clearwater International Airport reopened at 3 p.m. Flights resume Thursday. Check with airlines for flight status.
- PSTA regular service will resume Thursday, Aug. 31. This includes all PSTA bus routes, Jolley Trolley and the Looper as well as paratransit services (PSTA Access). For more information, visit www.psta.net/.
Important Links
- Pinellas County Disaster Preparedness
- Florida SBDC Disaster Preparedness & Recovery
- Pinellas County Hurricane Preparedness Guide
- Alert Pinellas Emergency Notification Service
- Tampa Bay Association of Continuity Professionals
- Florida Division of Emergency Management Links for Business
- Ready Business-Tools from U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security
- Private Sector Resources Catalog from the Dept. of Homeland Security
