CLEARWATER - County commissioners unanimously approved transferring authority to an
emergency policy board but held off ordering any mandatory evacuations or even calling for
voluntary evacuations. Instead, they are advising people in mobile home parks and low-lying
areas to consider relocating for the weekend, and will open shelters if the need arises.
An emergency policy group would order further
evacuations "as appropriate,'' county administrator
Steve Spratt said.
County commissioners on Friday decided against ordering mandatory evacuations as Hurricane
Frances' projected path shifted slightly to the north. An emergency policy group would order
further evacuations in Pinellas if necessary.
Emergency officials, who approved a local state of emergency for the weekend, say Pinellas
can expect tropical storm force winds of up to 50 mph and heavy rains Sunday. Officials do not
anticipate a storm surge.
"We are looking at a very rapid transition from
being a risk county to being a host county,'' said Gary
Vickers, the county's emergency management director. ""We are riding the edge right now and we are
ready to go either way.''
By declaring a state of local emergency, the board
transferred its authority order an evacuation to an
emergency policy group. That group is made up of
the county commission chair, the county administrator, the emergency manager, the county attorney, the
sheriff, and a school district or city representative.
St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport
expects to be open Saturday with a normal flight
schedule. Airport Director Noah Lagos said a decision for Sunday will be made on Saturday.
For more information, call the county's emergency management office at 464-3800, or the citizen
information center hotline at 464-4333.
