Hurricane Preparedness Tool Kit

Please use the resources below to assist your business in creating its own Emergency Action Plan should a weather event or other emergency threaten our area. 

In the event a named storm threatens our area, we will update this page frequently. These updates will include information on accommodation availability, attraction closings, and other industry-related news, as well as any evacuation orders and other directives from Pinellas County Emergency Management.

Read VSPC's Crisis Communications Plan

Hurricane Preparedness Workshop Videos

Find disaster preparedness videos from Pinellas County Emergency Management, the National Weather service and more on best practices for preparing for a weather event. Videos are available in both English and Spanish and cover topics such as:

• Local hurricane shelters
• Special needs shelters
• Preparing for your pet
• How to create a hurricane kit
• Preparing your boat for a storm
• Disaster preparedness for seniors
• Becoming "storm smart" for kids
• Installing shutters or other window coverings

Pinellas County Emergency Management Department

Find valuable information and resources for all things storm and crisis-related on the county's Emergency Management page. Find additional information and resources on the county's Emergency Information page. 

Consider downloading the "Ready Pinellas" app from the Apple App store or Google Play. The app is available in English and Spanish.

National Hurricane Center

The National Hurricane Center is a valuable information source as storms develop and threaten Florida during hurricane season. As instituted in 2010, tropical storm and hurricane watches and warnings for threatened coastal areas will be issued by the National Hurricane Center 12 hours earlier than in the past.

It's important to note that the path of any storm may change quickly and without warning, and visitors and local residents are encouraged to pay attention to the "cone of possibility," rather than solely watching the predicted path or spaghetti models. 

Know Your Zone

Please remember that Pinellas County's evacuation maps changed recently. In order to comply with Emergency Management directives, it is imperative that you know your evacuation zone so that you can comply with all government orders and follow expert recommendations. Whether you are a business owner, a local resident, or a traveler in Pinellas County, you can enter your address to find out what evacuation zone you are in.

Special Information for Our Hotel & Lodging Partners

Because a storm anywhere in Florida may affect our local accommodations partners, as residents and visitors seek shelter in hotels that are in non-evacuation zones, Visit St. Pete-Clearwater will provide links and other important information on this page to allow hoteliers to update the status of their properties and to provide room inventory information. 

The VSPC team will reach out for additional details throughout a named storm. After the storm, the VSPC team will ask that you log in to the partner portal to complete the Post Storm survey, which indicates availability, reports of any damage, and other vital details. If you have not yet received or requested your unique login information to the partner portal, please contact us.

Other Useful Links

• Pinellas County Emergency Management
• Florida Department of Transportation
• State of Florida Emergency Management
• State of Florida - Government
• Intellicast Weather Website
• Boat U.S. Hurricane Resource Center