Kelly Hayes
The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office announced Wednesday morning that access to Pinellas County’s barrier islands has been restored as Hurricane Ian begins to make landfall in the state.
Access is currently restricted to residents, property owners, business owners and employees and contractors of barrier islands. In order to gain access, one must prove either a barrier island reentry permit or a form of identification that shows proof of residence or work in the area.
The Sheriff’s Office will reassess access midday. An evacuation order is still in place for the islands.
The following cities and communities are included under the restricted access:
— Belleair Beach
— Belleair Shore
— Clearwater
— Dunedin Causeway/Honeymoon Island
— Indian Rocks Beach
— Indian Shores
— Madeira Beach
— North Redington Beach
— Redington Beach
— Redington Shores
— St. Pete Beach
— Tierra Verde
— Treasure Island
Pinellas County issued a mandatory evacuation order for high risk areas ahead of Hurricane Ian after officials warned residents this morning to prepare and move inland.
Hurricane Ian rapidly intensified off Florida’s Southwest coast Wednesday morning, gaining top winds of 155 mph, just shy of the most dangerous Category 5 status. Damaging winds and rain lashed the state’s heavily populated Gulf Coast, with the Naples to Sarasota region at “highest risk” of a devastating storm surge.
U.S. Air Force hurricane hunters confirmed Ian gained strength over warm Gulf of Mexico water after battering Cuba, bringing down the country’s electricity grid and leaving the entire island without power. Ian was centered about 65 miles (105 kilometers) west-southwest of Naples at 7 a.m., swirling toward the coast at 10 mph.
