St. Pete Standard

The City of St. Petersburg has started evaluating the damage caused by Hurricane Helene. Mayor Kenneth T. Welch will hold a press conference at 11 a.m. on Friday, September 27, at the St. Pete Emergency Operations Center, located within the St. Pete Police Department. The event will be broadcast live on the City's Facebook page.

According to a report from city officials, the hurricane resulted in over six feet of storm surge and affected 100.6 miles of roads due to flooding. All boat ramps and access to barrier islands are currently closed as a precautionary measure.

The city is experiencing disruptions in traffic with approximately 24 traffic lights out of service, requiring officers to direct traffic manually. Last night, St. Pete Fire Rescue responded to three structure fires and first responders have rescued 70 individuals so far.

Shelters at Gibbs High School and John Hopkins Middle School are housing a total of 750 people displaced by the storm. Six Fire Rescue boats have been dispatched for search and rescue operations in Shore Acres, Snell Isle, and Venetian Isles.

As of this morning, emergency lines have received more than 300 calls from residents needing assistance. City crews are actively working to clear roadways obstructed by approximately 85 fallen trees.

In response to sewer disruptions, power was turned off at the Northeast Sewer Treatment Plant affecting areas north of 30th Avenue N and east of I-275/Haines Road. Residents in these areas are advised not to drain water or use plumbing fixtures until further notice to prevent sewage backup.

An emergency contractor is assisting city teams in restoring operations at the treatment plant. Residents uncertain about their impact status can contact water dispatch or consult an available map for guidance.

For any storm-related inquiries or assistance, residents can reach out to the Citizen Information Center or report power outages directly to Duke Energy's website.