ST. PETE BEACH, Fla. — Pinellas County is opening its beaches and barrier islands after access was shut down Thursday evening in preparation for Hurricane Helene.
Residents, business owners and employees of the barrier islands can now enter with a "Barrier Island Re-Entry Permit."
"To gain access to the barrier islands, citizens must provide their Barrier Island Re-Entry Permit or photo ID and reasonable proof that they reside or have legitimate business on the barrier islands," the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office wrote in a press release.
Examples of reasonable proof include:
- Vehicle registration
- Property tax or utility bill
- Proof of employment (pay stub, work ID, uniform)
- Work orders
To apply for a Barrier Island Re-Entry Permit, tap here for more information. The county says only two permits will be permitted per residential property address.
Keep in mind that power is out and traffic signals are not functioning.
"Drive with caution and treat each intersection as a four-way stop," the sheriff's office advised.
Drivers should note that as of Saturday evening, the north and southbound lanes of Gulf Boulevard remain closed from 150th Avenue (Tom Stuart Causeway) southward to 140th Avenue in Maderia Beach. Both north and southbound lanes are are also closed from Park Boulevard Bridge to 196th Avenue (Tiki Gardens County Park) in Indian Shores.
The county will have additional law enforcement patrolling the barrier islands and all other mandatory evacuation orders to "ensure public safety and protect property."
The plan is for deputies to reevaluate conditions on Sunday morning and will provide updates as necessary.
The county defines its barrier islands communities as Belleair Beach, Belleair Shore, Clearwater Beach, Indian Rocks Beach, Indian Shores, Madeira Beach, North Redington Beach, Redington Beach, Redington Shores, St. Pete Beach, Tierra Verde and Treasure Island.