Pinellas County Emergency Management announced on June 1 the start of the 2026 hurricane season and encouraged residents to take three key actions: know your risk, make a plan, and stay informed.
To understand personal risk, officials advised residents to check their evacuation zone by visiting disaster.pinellas.gov, downloading the Ready Pinellas app, or calling (727) 464-3800. The county highlighted that evacuations are ordered primarily to protect people from storm surge, which is considered the most life-threatening aspect of hurricanes. Residents outside evacuation zones may still face risks from rain and winds. Those living in mobile or manufactured homes are required to evacuate when orders are issued. Individuals dependent on electricity for medical equipment should also plan accordingly.
Residents were urged to create or update hurricane kits with essential items such as batteries, tarps, gas containers, and portable generators—many of which are exempt from sales tax in Florida. A full list of recommended supplies can be found at disaster.pinellas.gov. The Pinellas County 2026 Hurricane Guide is available online and at several locations including Lealman Exchange in St. Petersburg, The Centre in Palm Harbor, county libraries, municipal buildings, and government offices.
The Special Needs Evacuation Program offers assistance for those with medical needs or requiring transportation help; registration details are available at disaster.pinellas.gov or by phone. Boat owners can find preparation guidance at Pinellas.gov/BoatPrep. Businesses and organizations interested in promoting preparedness can join the Partners in Preparedness program via Pinellas.gov/EMpartners.
To stay informed during emergencies, officials recommended using trusted sources such as official county social media accounts (@PinellasGov), local news stations, and the National Weather Service Tampa Bay forecast office. Alert Pinellas provides timely notifications for residents who sign up online; additional resources include NOAA weather radios and accessibility options like online chat for those who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Pinellas County serves more than 1 million residents while managing over 20,000 acres of parks and preserves; it functions as an independent political subdivision within Florida’s state structure, according to the official website.
