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Important Post-Hurricane Updates
The city of Clearwater opened access at 4 p.m. for residents and business owners for all of Clearwater Beach, Island Estates and Sand Key. Beach business owners and residents were allowed to return to their homes and businesses at that time.
The beach communities are not open to visitors. If you don't live or work on the beach, you won't be permitted access. Pier 60 is closed due to the damage it sustained during the storm. Public parking lots are closed as they are being used for equipment storage, contaminated sand storage and clean-up operations. And public safety crews continue to work around the clock to make conditions safe enough for our beach residents and to prepare for opening to the general public.
Residents and business owners must prove their residency or property interest to get through the police checkpoint. To keep the re-entry process moving as smoothly and quickly as possible, it is preferred that residents or business owners show their barrier island re-entry passes to expedite the process. If residents or business owners don't have a re-entry pass, re-entry may be delayed. Employees of Clearwater Beach, Island Estates and Sand Key businesses will also be given access with proper identification.
Areas of Clearwater Beach, Island Estates and Sand Key may still be without power or have intermittent power. Water is operational and drinkable, but there may be very low water pressure.
Residents are asked to reduce their use of water to ease stress on the wastewater system.
Residents and business owners should proceed with caution. There are a large amount of clean-up and response vehicles on the beach roadways, and vehicles should proceed with caution. Additionally, a portion of the traffic signals are not operating, and drivers should treat intersections without power as a four-way stop. Some roads are still impassable, and South Gulfview Boulevard is closed from Coronado to Hamden drives.
Residents can contact the city information center at 727-562-4682 with general questions from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 29. Storm response and damage-related questions can be directed to the Pinellas County Citizen Information Center 24 hours a day by calling 727-464-4333.
City crews are working around the clock to make conditions safe enough for our community. We appreciate your patience.
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- Floodwaters are a favorite breeding ground for mosquitoes, which often can go from egg to full-grown biting adult in as few as four days.
- Eliminate all standing or still water on your property that could be breeding ground for mosquitoes.
- Be on the lookout for puddles in garages, covered pool decks and porches that may have taken on surging stormwater. This water can be removed with a push broom, floor squeegee or a shop vac.
- Any items filled with floodwater should be drained, turned over, and emptied or dried out.
- Clean out rain gutters and downspouts. Clogged gutters are one of the most overlooked breeding sites for mosquitoes around homes.
- Empty and turn over containers holding water, such as cans, jars, drums, bottles, flower pots, buckets, children's toys, wheelbarrows, garbage can lids, small boats or canoes, and old appliances.
- Tires can breed thousands of mosquitoes. Drain or get rid of old tires by recycling them.
- Change the water and clean out pet dishes and bird baths. Flush out bromeliad plants.
Report Storm Damage
- Clearwater residents can report storm damage via Clearwater Connect at myclearwater.info/reporthelenedamage. For general Clearwater-specific questions, you can call our call center at (727) 562-4682 on Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Questions about the countywide response or ways to help can be made to the County Information Center at (727) 464-4333.
- For immediate emergencies, always call 911.
 Residents are invited to cool down, use our air conditioning, and charge your devices if possible, in the days ahead.
Clearwater Libraries
- Clearwater Countryside Library, 2642 Sabal Springs Drive: Monday-Thursday 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Friday-Sunday noon-5 p.m.
- Clearwater East Community Library at St Petersburg College, 2465 Drew St.: Monday-Thursday 9 a.m.-8 p.m.; Friday-Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m., closed Sunday
- Clearwater Main Library, 100 N. Osceola Ave.: Monday-Wednesday 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Thursday 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Friday-Saturday noon-5 p.m., closed Sunday
- Clearwater North Greenwood Library, 905 N. Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave.: Monday-Thursday 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Friday noon-5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m., closed Sunday
Clearwater Recreation Centers
Monday to Saturday Schedule
- Morningside Recreation Center,2400 Harn Blvd.: 6 a.m.-8 p.m.
- Long Center, 1501 N. Belcher Rd.: 6 a.m.-9 p.m.
- Countryside Rec Center, 2640 Sabal Springs Dr.: 5 a.m.-8:30 p.m.
- McMullen Tennis Complex, 1000 Edenville Ave.: 8 a.m.-1 p.m. and 4-8:30p.m.
- Moccasin Lake Nature Park, 2750 Park Trail Lane: Closed Monday, Open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. other days
- North Greenwood Recreation and Aquatic Center, 900 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave.: 8 a.m.-9 p.m.
Sunday Schedule
- Morningside Recreation Center, 2400 Harn Blvd.: 1-5 p.m.
- Long Center, 1501 N. Belcher Rd.: CLOSED
- Countryside Rec Center, 2640 Sabal Springs Dr.:- CLOSED
- McMullen Tennis Complex, 1000 Edenville Ave.: 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
- Moccasin Lake Nature Park, 2750 Park Trail Lane: 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
- North Greenwood Recreation and Aquatic Center, 900 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave.: CLOSED
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Residents should put yard waste and other demolition debris at the curb and keep it separate from your regular black barrel collection. Due to the overwhelming amounts of debris that resulted from Helene, it could take several days for crews to clear your yard debris. Please be patient with our crews.
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To make it easier for solid waste and recycling crews to collect fallen tree limbs and branches placed at your curb, crews would appreciate if you could cut them into four-feet lengths, if possible, and then stack, bundle, or place them in a non-city-issued trash can.
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Don't rake things to the curb. Loose debris and leaves must be in a bag, box or non-city-issued garbage can. Put limbs in neat piles that will be easy for our crews to pick up.
 Clearwater's National Night Out event scheduled for Oct. 1 is canceled. Our public safety team is busy with recovery efforts at Clearwater Beach due to Helene.
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 Continue to conserve water post-storm as best you can at this time. Even now that Helene has passed, continue conserving water to help alleviate stress on the city's wastewater system. Infrastructure repairs and recovery efforts are taking some time.
Save water with these tips, especially now:
- If it is yellow let it mellow, if it is brown flush it down. Reduce toilet flushing during tropical events by limiting flushes to fecal matter.
- Do not let the faucet flow while brushing your teeth or shaving. Use a glass of water for rinsing your teeth.
- Take showers instead of tub baths. Consider bathing small children together.
- Avoid doing laundry during the storm event if possible.
- Do not flush wipes or grease down the drain or use garbage grinders (insinkerators). Throw it in the trash instead.
 Florida Commerce and the State Emergency Response Team activated the Business Damage Assessment Survey in response to Hurricane Helene. Business owners can self-report physical and economic damage caused by Hurricane Helene. Survey responses will allow the state to expedite Hurricane Helene recovery efforts by gathering data and assessing the needs of impacted businesses.
Businesses can complete the survey online by visiting https://floridajobs.org/floridadisaster.biz and selecting “Hurricane Helene” from the dropdown menu.
If you need additional assistance with your business, please call the private sector hotline at 850-815-4925, open daily, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., or email ESF18@em.myflorida.com. Contact Clearwater Economic Development starting Monday, Sept. 30, with questions or for assistance filling out the business assessment survey at (727) 562-4030.
Have a question or concern? Reach out and let us know.
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