PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. – The Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners today declared a State of Local Emergency for Tropical Storm Idalia, which is forecast to soon become a hurricane.
Effective for seven days, the declaration gives County Administrator Barry A. Burton authority to quickly approve expenditures and issue special orders to ensure public safety if needed.
While the future intensity and exact track of the storm remain uncertain, forecasting models mostly agree that the storm will make landfall as a major hurricane between the Tampa Bay area and the Big Bend area of Florida, and that the storm could bring significant storm surge and other impacts to Pinellas County late Tuesday through Wednesday.
In the news: Tropical Storm Idalia Moves Toward Florida, Expected To Strengthen Into Major Hurricane
No evacuations have been ordered as of 10:30 a.m. today, but residents are urged to check their evacuation zone and be prepared to act quickly as additional storm information is shared throughout the day. Monitor the storm at disaster.pinellas.gov and through local news sources.
Price gouging law in effect
With the inclusion of Pinellas County in the Governor’s declaration of a State of Emergency, residents are now protected by the state’s price gouging law.
Pinellas County Consumer Protection encourages residents who suspect price gouging to report it to authorities.
Effective only during a declared State of Emergency, the price gouging law prohibits sharp increases in the price of essential commodities such as food, water, shelter, ice, gasoline, lumber and equipment that is needed as a direct result of an official declared emergency. Violators are subject to civil penalties of $1,000 per violation, up to a total of $25,000 for multiple violations committed in a single 24-hour period.
Residents who suspect local price gouging can report it to Pinellas County Consumer Protection at (727) 464-6200 or complete an online form at Pinellas.gov/consumer. They are also encouraged to report it to the Attorney General’s hotline at 1-866-9-NO-SCAM.
Preparedness advice for residents
Residents with preparedness questions can call the County Information Center at 727-464-4333 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. today. Residents who are deaf or hard of hearing can contact the CIC via online chat at bit.ly/PinellasChat.
- Stay informed:
- Sign up for Alert Pinellas at www.pinellas.gov/alertpinellas.
- Monitor Tampa Free Press, National Weather Service, and the County’s social media channels, @PinellasGov for Facebook and Twitter.
Pinellas County updated evacuation zones for the 2023 hurricane season. Check your evacuation zone one of the following ways:
- Visit disaster.pinellas.gov.
- Download the Read Pinellas app at pinellas.gov/ready-pinellas/.
- Call 727-453-3150 from a landline; enter 10-digit home phone number.
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