Pinellas County Prepares for 2018 Hurricane Season

Pinellas County is kicking off the 2018 Atlantic Hurricane Season with a new voice and new resources to help residents prepare:

Interim Department Director
Veteran public safety professional David Halstead has been named interim Emergency Management director, effective today. He will serve in the role as the county continues its search for a permanent director following the departure of the previous one.

“I am honored to serve Pinellas County in this interim role and look forward to working with the rest of the county team as we help our citizens plan and prepare,” said Halstead.

Halstead brings more than 40 years of experience as an emergency responder and manager to his interim role. He has served in a wide range of leadership roles for emergency response, including: wildfire disasters, major hurricanes and other rescue operations. In 2004, he was appointed by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to serve as the state’s first Chief for the Office of Domestic Preparedness. In 2010, he was appointed by then-Governor Charlie Crist to Director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management after 10 years with the division.

He has more recently served as a Senior Homeland Security and Emergency Management consultant, and as adviser to CNN during Hurricane Irma.

2018 All Hazards Preparedness Guide
This handy resource provides detailed information about registering for pet-friendly or special needs sheltering, preparing a survival kit at home and finding out evacuation zones. The guide is available at county government facilities, public libraries, city locations and online.

Additional pet-friendly space at public shelters
Pinellas County has updated its public shelter list to include additional pet-friendly space. Residents are reminded that public shelters should be seen as a last resort when sheltering at home or with relatives is not possible. Residents who require sheltering with pets or who have special medical needs that may be dependent on electricity must register ahead of time.

2018 Hurricane Season
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts a near or above-normal season in 2018, with 10 to 16 named storms and five to nine hurricanes.

Additional preparedness
– Step-by-step help with decision-making for storm season is also available through the county’s Ready Pinellasmobile app, a free download at the Apple Store and Google Play.
– Sign up with Alert Pinellas to receive urgent emergency alerts by phone, text and email.
– Follow the #GetReadyPinellas social media campaign, a joint effort by Pinellas County and the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office to raise awareness about hurricane preparedness. Citizens can view short videos online with readiness tips, including how to Know Your Zone and what to expect at Hurricane Shelters. 
– Replenish your hurricane kit during the June 1-7 sales tax holiday.

For more information on hurricane preparedness, please visit www.pinellascounty.org/emergency or call Pinellas County Emergency Management at (727) 464-3800.

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