***UPDATE as of 9/11/2017*** 

Pinellas County Sheriff Announces Entry allowed into Pinellas County at 9:30 am

Deputies will be allowing access back into Pinellas County at 9:30 am. The barrier islands will remain closed until storm damage and safety is assessed.

When it is safe to re-enter the barrier islands, we will announce it immediately.

***End of Update***

***Original news release***

Who:
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
Patrol Operations Bureau
- Special Operations Division

What:
Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri is restricting access into Pinellas County after the storm.

When:
The restriction will begin after the completion of the storm and last until further notice.

Where:
All entry points into Pinellas County.

Why/How:
Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri is restricting all access into Pinellas County starting immediately after the storm. This will be enforced until further notice and will remain in effect until we have conducted a damage and safety assessment. We will begin assessing the damage throughout the county, once it is safe to do so.

All residents should be taking shelter and should be off of the roadways. Deputies will be taking shelter for their safety once sustained winds reach 50mph. Deputies will resume responding to calls once the conditions are safe.

We will advise when it is safe for reentry into Pinellas County.