20-161 Sheriff’s Office Response To Tropical Storm Eta; Deputies Assess Damage

Overnight, Tropical Storm Eta brought high sustained winds, high tides and flooding throughout Pinellas County, especially in Pinellas County’s Gulf beach communities.

The Sheriff’s Office deployed High Water Rescue Teams throughout the county and the teams used boats and high water vehicles to rescue 33 people from homes and roadways. The Sheriff’s Office Dive Team assisted in several recues from vehicle inaccessible areas. The high water vehicles deputies used to effect the rescues included Humvees, flat bottom boats, and inflatable boats.

Most of the rescues occurred in the area from Pass-a-Grille in south St. Pete Beach north to Madeira Beach. Rescued people were taken to area hotels or other shelters.

No injuries are reported to any citizens or deputies as a result of the rescues.

Deputies have been working overnight to assure the roadways are safe and used chainsaws and other hurricane response equipment to remove fallen trees and branches from the roads. We are working with County Highway crews to further clear the roads.

At this time there are no road closures but teams of deputies are currently doing assessments throughout the county and we will provide updates as they are available.