As Tropical Storm Elsa nears Florida’s west coast and a hurricane watch is issued for Tampa Bay, Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties have opened emergency storm shelters.
The storm’s forecast calls for heavy rainfall and the threat of flooding, with sustained winds of 58 mph and gusts of 69 mph. Some forecasters predict the storm to strengthen as it moves across the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico toward Florida.
See a short list of Tampa Bay shelsters below and look further for additional details.
Hillsborough
- Riverview High School 11311 Boyette Rd., Riverview
Pinellas
- Lealman Exchange 5175 45th St. N, St. Petersburg
- Ross Norton Recreation Center 1426 S Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., Clearwater
Tropical Storm #Elsa is moving just west of Key West this morning. The main area of rain and gusty winds will overspreading the Fort Myers area later this morning, and then expand northward over the rest of west-central Florida through this evening and overnight. #flwx pic.twitter.com/Ei3yeMVaUm
— NWS Tampa Bay (@NWSTampaBay) July 6, 2021
Hillsborough
A shelter is available at Riverview High School, 11311 Boyette Rd. in Riverview. It opened at 8 a.m. Tuesday and will stay open until further notice.
As of Tuesday morning, evacuations have not been called in Hillsborough County. The Riverview shelter is intended for residents who are concerned about staying in their homes during a tropical storm, such as those dependent on electricity for home medical needs or who live in homes and manufactured housing that are susceptible to storm damage.
Residents can find out if they live in a flood zone by visiting hillsboroughcounty.org
Pets will be accepted at the Riverview shelter. Pet owners must bring a sturdy carrier for each pet that allows room for the pet to stand up and move around. Also bring proof of current rabies vaccination and license for dogs and cats, and pet supplies including food, water, litter, treats, cleaning supplies, and medications, etc. The pet must arrive on a leash or in a carrier.
Wherever possible, residents should consider other alternatives to a public shelter, such as staying with friends, family, or in a hotel.
Residents who need transportation to the shelter and have no other options can call to request assistance. Calls can be made to (813) 272-5900 beginning at 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday.
COVID-19 coronavirus protocols will be in place. Health screenings and temperature checks will be conducted at the door. Face coverings will be required to be worn while inside.
For information on any potential emergency in the county, visit hcflgov.net/staysafe and sign up for the HCFL Alert system. Additionally, you can follow Hillsborough County on social media at Facebook, @HillsboroughFL on Twitter, and Nextdoor for updates. For general County information, call (813) 272-5900, the county’s main information line.
Pinellas
Pinellas County opened two shelters at 9 a.m. Tuesday for residents seeking emergency shelter from Tropical Storm Elsa.
The Lealman Exchange shelter, located at 5175 45th St. N in St. Petersburg, will open for the general population, those with special needs and persons with pets.
Ross Norton Recreation Center shelter, located at 1426 S. Martin Luther KingJr Ave. in Clearwater, will open to the general population.
As of 5 p.m. Monday, Pinellas County is under a Tropical Storm Warning, Storm Surge Warning and Flood Watch. Residents may experience flooding in coastal and low-lying areas and loss of power due to downed trees and tree limbs Tuesday and Wednesday. Tornadoes and waterspouts also are possible.
Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority will offer free rides to the two shelters starting at 9 a.m. Tuesday. Pets will be permitted on evacuation buses as long as they are in a pet carrier. The latest information on PSTA bus service can be obtained by calling the InfoLine at 727-540-1900 or by visiting their website at psta.net.
The County Information Center (CIC) is open from 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Call 727-464-4333. Residents who are deaf or hard of hearing can contact the CIC via online chat at bit.ly/pinellaschat.
Preregister for special needs shelters by calling the County Information Center at (727) 464-4333. Pre-registration is recommended for those transporting themselves. For those needing transportation assistance, registration is required. (Residents only need to register for special needs shelters once per season, so doing it now will help you for the rest of the year).
No evacuations have been ordered in Pinellas County at this time. Please continue to monitor pinellascounty.org for updates. Pinellas County crews completed inspections of drainages and roadways in areas known to flood.
Monitor local news media, National Weather Service, pinellascounty.org, Facebook and @PinellasCoNews on Twitter, search hashtag #PCElsa. Register for emergency alerts via pinellascounty.org.
Pinellas County has launched a new Tropical Storm Surge Flooding Risk map to show residents, especially those in low-lying and coastal areas, their risk from Tropical Storm Elsa—see it on storm.pinellascounty.org.
Finalize preparedness plans by visiting pinellascounty.org.
Advice and information for Tampa Bay Residents considering going to a shelter for Tropical Storm Elsa
In addition to face coverings and hand sanitizer, residents should bring only essential items including the following:
- Bedding
- Clothing
- Toiletries
- Medications
- Special dietary foods
- Baby supplies
- Important paperwork
- Cards, books and games can help pass the time, especially for young children
Before leaving home:
- Gather valuables and important papers
- Turn off all utilities (water, electricity, gas) at main switches
- Lock windows and doors
- Fill gas tanks
- Advise friends or relatives of where you are going
- Finish housing preps before the arrival of storm force winds. Remove dead leaves and branches in accordance with your city arborist recommendations. Bring in all large yard items, such as furniture, grills and bird baths. For more simple steps to make your home storm ready check out the 2021 Hurricane Preparedness Guide.
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