For resources and emergency information in Pinellas County, visit Disaster.Pinellas.gov.
PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — Pinellas County officials discussed recovery updates on Helene, regarding emergency management, search and rescue, Duke Energy and FEMA.
In Treasure Island, every single structure sustained 2 to 6 feet of water, officials said. Both lanes of Gulf Boulevard remain restricted and closed in some areas.
Access to the barrier islands remains restricted to residents and business owners only. Not all buildings have been inspected as of Sunday morning, so residents are urged to be careful.
The power is still out and drivers are asked to travel with caution. Search and rescue missions, as well as more than 100 crew members, were deployed to remove sand and work on the islands.
Shelters are open and available for those who need it.
“It won’t be home, but it will be safe,” Pinellas County Communications Director Barbara Hernandez said.
To report damage to FEMA, residents can call 1-800-621-3362 or online at DisasterAssistance.gov.
Superintendent Kevin Hendrick and school leaders of Pinellas County discussed school operations ahead of this week following Hurricane Helene’s devastating impact on the area.
After an assessment on Sunday, only eight schools remain without power out of the 40 schools without power on Friday. As of Sunday morning, 80,000 Pinellas residents remain without power, mainly those on the beaches.
According to the county, the storm surge caused major damage to two Pinellas County Schools— Gulf Beaches Elementary and Madeira Beach Fundamental K-8.
The closures will impact the Lealman Innovation, Osceola Fundamental, and Walsingham Elementary school communities. The district does not anticipate teacher shortages.
- Madeira Beach Elementary students will attend Walsingham Elementary (11:40 a.m. to 4:40 p.m.)
- Madeira Beach Middle students will attend Osceola Fundamental High (12:10 p.m. to 5:10 p.m.)
- Osceola Fundamental High students will attend school from 6:25 a.m. to 12:05 p.m.
Before school care for Madeira Beach Elementary students will be available by Wednesday for parents to drop off their children at the normal 8 a.m. start time if needed. Transportation will be provided to the new sites.
All schools within Pinellas County will resume normal operations on Monday, except the two schools that suffered the major damage, along with Disston Academy. The roughly 70-person student body of Disston Academy will join Lealman Innovation.
Those three schools will reopen on Wednesday, Oct. 2, as part of the district’s post-storm recovery plan.
The district will have childcare on Monday, Sept. 30 and Tuesday, Oct. 1 for students who attend Gulf Beaches and Madeira Beach Fundamental from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Tyrone Middle School. Families do not have to register in advance, but must check in during drop-off.
Superintendent Hendrick said hundreds of school employees either lost their homes or had their homes suffer severe damage from Hurricane Helene. One employee lost their life during the storm.
Hendrick offered support on behalf of the school district, “for days, weeks, and months” for the mental health of students and staff.
“We as a community come together to support one another,” Hendrick said.
“Pinellas County Schools is committed to providing continued, high-quality instruction for all students,” the district said.
WFLA live streamed the press conferences Sunday morning, which can be viewed in the video players above.
For additional information on Pinellas County Schools, click here.
For resources on FEMA, debris pickup, and Pinellas County updates, click here.