CLEARWATER, Florida — The City of Clearwater is taking action to preserve resources and prepare for a fast recovery from Hurricane Milton.
On Tuesday, the City announced it would be restricting potable water services, removing traffic signal boxes and taking lift stations offline for Island Estates, Clearwater Beach and Sand Key.
Potable water will be restricted on the barrier island beginning Wednesday at 7 a.m., which may cause customers to experience very low water pressure.
These restrictions will go into place following the closure of the barrier islands at 7 p.m. Tuesday.
According to the City, potable water is being limited to protect critical infrastructure and reduce strain on water and wastewater systems.
The City will also shut down barrier island lift stations beginning at 6:30 a.m. Wednesday. Lift stations, which are a vital part of the wastewater system, will be taken offline to be preserved for post-storm use.
The potable water restriction will affect water service to fire lines, which means fire rescue crews won't have quick access to water from fire hydrants in the event of a fire.
The City advises evacuees to turn off power to their homes before leaving to reduce the risk of an electrical fire due to flood inundation.
Traffic signal boxes are also being removed from barrier islands. The power will be disconnected from the traffic boxes and the entire unit will be removed to prevent storm damage.
Drivers need to treat intersections without a working traffic signal as a four-way stop.
Pinellas County and City of Clearwater officials are asking anyone who has not yet evacuated to do so as soon as possible.
Update to the potable water service and sewer service before, during and after the storm will be provided via email or here.
