Tropical Update, Hurricane Irma – Friday, Sept. 8, 2017, 9:30 a.m.
Pinellas County Businesses in Evacuation Zone A
UPDATE: Need to Evacuate by DUSK ON SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 9

Pinellas County has declared a state of local emergency. Level A includes coastal residents and those in low-lying areas, as well as all mobile homes in every part of the county.

• Local businesses located in Zone A need to evacuate by Sunday, Sept. 10, at 8:00 a.m.  Zone A businesses are encouraged to evacuate as soon as possible.
• Starting at 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 8 and continuing through the evacuation window, access to the barrier islands will be restricted to the following:
  • Business owners and employees
  • Property owners
  • Residents
  • Individuals with legitimate business needs
• From Visit St. Petersburg/Clearwater:  Availability in Pinellas County hotels in non-evacuation zones: VSPC.info.  This list is dynamic and will be updated as availability and conditions change.
• Evacuation notifications will be announced via Alert Pinellas, Ready Pinellas, the county website (www.pinellascounty.org), social media and through local media. Emergency shelter openings will also be announced through these channels.
•  Find your evacuation zone:

• Visit www.pinellascounty.org/knowyourzone
• Download the Ready Pinellas app, or the Pinellas County Doing Things mobile app.
• Call (727) 453-3150 and enter your 10-digit home phone number (must be from a landline)

Residents and businesses can also call the Citizen Information Center (CIC) at (727) 464-4333 to get preparedness information including how to look up their evacuation zone. The CIC is now open 24 hours.

• All Pinellas County Schools and school district offices will be CLOSED on Friday, Sept. 8 and Monday, Sept. 11 2017.
  All school-related activities are cancelled. For more information, please visit www.pcsb.org/weather

• Florida SERT Update 09/08/2017 AM:
  https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/FLDEM/2017/09/08/file_attachments/876294/TROPICAL%2BUPDATE%2B9-8-17%2BAM.pdf
  
• Pinellas evacuations are underway and the EOC is activated:
  http://go.activecalendar.com/pinellascounty/site/pressrelease/event/evacuations-underway-eoc-activated/

• Pinellas County Bulletins Emergency Operations Center: http://www.pinellascounty.org/emergency/bulletin.htm
  
• Duke Energy Power Outages Map: https://www.duke-energy.com/outages/current-outages
• Prepare: http://www.pinellascounty.org/emergency/prepareahead.htm
  
• Stay Connected: http://www.pinellascounty.org/emergency/stayconnected.htm
  
• Florida’s Virtual Business Emergency Operations Center: http://flvbeoc.org is activated and will serve as the primary portal for private sector preparation, damage assessments and recovery.  All Florida businesses are encouraged to register.
• The portal allows businesses to post:
  • Needs for materials or services that others may be able to meet,
  • Services and products available for others,
  • Business closures, and
  • Damage estimates after the storm.
• The state has activated the Private Sector Hotline at 850-815-4925. The hotline is available for business inquiries about the storm, preparedness information and post-impact information.
• Hurricane Irma is expected to impact Florida by this weekend. As mandatory and voluntary evacuation notices are issued in the coming days, visitors and residents can use this information to make lodging relocation plans. First responders traveling to the impacted areas can also use this information to find available lodging. To book a hotel in Florida click visit: http://www.expedia.com/florida and for updates see: http://www.visitflorida.com/en-us/florida-now.html

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About Pinellas County Economic Development
Pinellas County Economic Development (PCED) works with existing businesses to encourage expansion and seeks to attract new companies with high-wage careers to our community. Through investment tools, business classes, professional consulting services, trade missions to open new markets, and strategic partnerships, PCED fosters a pro-business environment and promotes the ideal business climate of Pinellas County, Florida. Learn more at www.PCED.org.