Good Morning,
Hillsborough County Emergency Management is closely tracking the Potential Tropical Cyclone 9 (PTC #9) storm in coordination with state and federal agencies.
This afternoon the Governor issued Executive Order #24-208, declaring a state of emergency in 41 counties, including Hillsborough. Consequently, Hillsborough County executed a Local State of Emergency declaration (see attached) and has moved to a Level 2 – Partial Activation. Level 2 activation is used to initiate preparations and closely monitor a developing situation.
Also, Hillsborough County is providing sandbags to help residents prepare for potential flooding that may impact the county. Listed below is information on Hillsborough County sandbag operations.
The sandbags will be available to the public starting from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 24, at the following four locations:
- Edward Medard Conservation Park, 6140 Turkey Creek Rd., Plant City, FL 33567
- E.G. Simmons Conservation Park, 2401 19th Ave. NW, Ruskin, FL 33570
- Ed Radice Sports Complex, 14720 Ed Radice Dr., Tampa, FL 33626
- Larry Sanders Sports Complex, 5855 S. 78th St., Tampa, FL 33619
Hillsborough County residents are eligible for a maximum of 10 sandbags per family. Residents must show ID verifying they live in the county. A driver’s license will serve as proper identification.
Edward Medard Conservation Park, E.G. Simmons Conservation Park, Ed Radice Sports Complex, and Larry Sanders Sports Complex will be closed to the public during sandbag operations.
If shelter operations are called it will begin Wednesday morning. More information will be forthcoming.
As always, we will forward further information as it becomes available. In the meantime, please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or if we can be of assistance.
DECLARING A STATE OF LOCAL EMERGENCY
IN RESPONSE TO A COUNTYWIDE THREAT FROM
POTENTIAL TROPICAL CYCLONE NINE
WHEREAS, the State of Florida and Hillsborough County are experiencing an imminent
threat of personal injury and property damage due to the approach of Potential Tropical Cyclone
Nine as it moves towards the State of Florida; and
WHEREAS, Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine’s forecast is uncertain, but has a significant
probability of making landfall along the west coast of Florida as a tropical storm or hurricane,
which tract poses a potentially serious and imminent threat to the Hillsborough County area; and
WHEREAS, there is significant threat of storm surge, coastal flooding and erosion, heavy
rainfall and flash flooding, and damaging winds to Hillsborough County and the surrounding area;
and
WHEREAS, due to the impacts from Hurricane Debby, the water tables and riverine levels
across West-Central Florida remain above normal, and the additional incoming heavy rainfall will
likely cause significant riverine flooding for an extended period: and
WHEREAS, the incoming heavy rainfall, flooding, and gusty winds will cause widespread
power outages due to fallen trees and powerlines: and
WHEREAS, the threat of strong winds and flooding creates the possibility that certain
areas of Hillsborough County may require evacuation in order to protect the safety and welfare of
the citizens living in the affected areas; and
WHEREAS, the Governor of the State of Florida on September 23, 2024, issued Executive
Order (EO) 24-208, declaring that a state of emergency exists in portions of Florida’s Gulf Coast,
including Hillsborough County, as a result of the threat from Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine; and
WHEREAS, EO 24-208 authorizes local governments in the State to begin taking actions
to address or assist in the response, recovery, and mitigation needs created by the storm threat; and
WHEREAS, EO 24-208 recognizes that additional steps, actions, and cooperation
between both local governments and private entities in order to adequately make storm
preparations will be required; and
WHEREAS, the projected path of Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine remains uncertain, but
computer tracks show that the storm may take a path towards Hillsborough County; and
WHEREAS, forecast models indicate that this system will have a vast areal extent, and its
impact will likely extend well beyond its center; and
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WHEREAS, Hillsborough County must take timely emergency measures due to (1) the
heightened potential for injury or damage to life and property within the County; (2) the length of
time required to evacuate residents and visitors from the hazards of a tropical storm or hurricane;
(3) the length of time required to prepare host shelter accommodations for residents evacuating
from stricken areas; and (4) the increased efforts required to supply and staff shelters; and
WHEREAS, the margin of error of the National Hurricane Center’s meteorological
forecast does not allow for confident prediction of the location of the storm relative to the time
period required to complete preparations and evacuations; and
WHEREAS, certain additional specialized equipment and personnel may be required to
assist in evacuation and protective action with regard to life and property; and
WHEREAS, other measures may have to be taken in order to mitigate the potential for
causing further threatening conditions as well as extensive damage to public utilities, public
buildings, public communications systems, public streets and roads, public drainage systems,
commercial and residential buildings and areas; and
WHEREAS, Chapter 252, Florida Statutes, and the Hillsborough County Emergency
Management Ordinance (codified as Chapter 22, Article II, Sections 22-19 through 22-29,
Hillsborough County Code of Ordinances and Laws), as amended, authorizes Hillsborough County
to declare a state of local emergency; and
WHEREAS, Chapter 22, Article II, Section 22-21, Hillsborough County Code of
Ordinances and Laws, empowers the Board Chair, or County Administrator, as designee, to declare
that a local state of emergency exists; and
WHEREAS, a state of emergency declared under the authority of Chapter 252, Florida
Statutes, and the Hillsborough County Emergency Management Ordinance, shall have a duration
of no more than seven days, renewable for further periods of no more than seven days; and
WHEREAS, in order to properly prepare emergency response staff and equipment, it is
prudent to have a local emergency declaration in place prior to experiencing tropical storm
conditions.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
THIS 23RD DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2024, THAT:
1. The imminent approach of Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine, along with anticipated
increased rain, storm surge, flooding, and strong winds, poses a serious threat to
the health, safety, and welfare the people and property of Hillsborough County,
Florida, and that a state of local emergency is hereby declared, effective
immediately for the incorporated and unincorporated areas of Hillsborough County.
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2. The provisions of Chapter 22, Article II, Sections 22-19 through 22-29,
Hillsborough County Code of Ordinances and Laws, and the emergency provisions
of the Hillsborough County Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan shall be
implemented at the discretion of the County Administrator, as designee, in
consultation with the Director of Emergency Management and emergency response
staff.
3. The evacuation of areas or zones, so determined as an evacuation area or zone by
the County Administrator, upon the advice of the Director of Emergency
Management, and emergency response staff, may be ordered.
4. The County Administrator is hereby given the authority to:
a. Determine whether any specific areas or zones of the County are to be
evacuated;
b. Order* the evacuation of all persons from all areas of Hillsborough County
designated as evacuation zones;
c. Any evacuation order issued by the County Administrator shall be narrowly
tailored to serve a compelling public health or safety purpose and shall be
limited in its duration, applicability, and scope in order to reduce any
infringement on individual rights or liberties to the greatest extent possible.
d. Direct the sequence in which such evacuations shall be carried out, including
the time any evacuations are to begin, as well as the time such evacuations are
to be completed; and,
e. Regulate the movement of persons and traffic to, from, or within any location
in Hillsborough County to the extent needed to cope with this emergency.
*Any evacuation order issued by the County Administrator shall be in writing,
immediately disseminated by all practical means so as to inform the public in the
affected areas and filed with the Board of County Commissioner’s (BOCC) Clerk.
An Order of Evacuation shall become effective upon execution by the County
Administrator. The County Administrator shall have the authority to amend,
rescind, or terminate any evacuation order.
5. The County Administrator is hereby empowered and authorized to waive the
procedures and formalities otherwise required of the County by law or ordinance
pertaining to any action designated in Section 252.38, F.S., and/or Section 22-22(d)
of Hillsborough County Code.
6. The County Administrator is further empowered to carry out all emergency
responsibilities delegated by the Governor to the political subdivisions of the State.
7. The emergency management powers of the County, as set out in section 22-22 of
the Hillsborough County Emergency Management Ordinance, not already
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implemented by this Order, are hereby delegated to the County Administrator.
8. All State and/or local business licensees, vendors, merchants, and any other person
operating a retail business in Hillsborough County, are hereby prohibited from
charging more than the normal average retail price, as defined in Section 22-22 (c)
(7) , of Hillsborough County Code, for any goods, materials, or services sold during
the duration or any extension of this declaration of emergency.
9. Pursuant to Section 252.38(a), F.S., the County has jurisdiction over and serves the
entire county. Therefore, all municipalities within Hillsborough County shall
coordinate their storm preparation or response actions with the County
Administrator and the Office of Emergency Management.
10. Nothing in this Executive Order provides the County Administrator, Board Chair,
or the Board the authority to regulate the use or possession of firearms contrary to
the provisions of Chapter 790, Florida Statutes.
11. All ordinances and rules (including County policies and procedures) inconsistent
with sections 252.31 – 252.90, F.S., or this order, are hereby suspended during the
duration of this order and to the extent that such conflict exists.
12. The State of Florida Executive Order 24-208, as it may be amended, is hereby
adopted and incorporated into this Executive Order.
13. If any provision of this order is determined to conflict with either an executive order
of the Governor or Florida Statutes, then the relevant executive order or statute shall
control.
14. This Executive Order shall take effect immediately upon adoption and shall remain
in effect for seven days unless extended or rescinded
Executed this 23rd day of September, 2024.
_____________________________________
Bonnie M. Wise, County Administrator
Hillsborough County
APPROVED BY COUNTY ATTORNEY
By: Ernesto Mayor Jr.
Approved as to Form and Legal Sufficiency
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STATE OF FLORIDA
COUNTY OF HILLSBOROUGH
I, CINDY STUART, Clerk of the Circuit Court and Ex Officio Clerk of the Board of the
County Commissioners, do hereby certify that the above and foregoing Order is a true and correct
copy of an Order executed by the County Administrator on September ___, 2024.
WITNESS my hand and official seal this _____ day of September, 2024.
CINDY STUART
Clerk of Circuit Court
BY: ___________________________
Deputy Clerk
CIP Dashboard
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Posted 2/21/2024
Hillsborough County has launched a new web site that should make navigating the different departments easier. https://hcfl.gov/
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3/13/2024 Commissioner Cohen asked us to shared this article
Tampa Bay watering once a week looks like it’s helping, officials say Under restrictions due to dry conditions, Hillsborough County in particular was praised for education and enforcement. Watering the lawn in Tampa Bay has been restricted to once a week. And the driest months have just hit. [ Times (2019) ] By Sue CarltonTimes staff Tue., March 12, 2024 @ 6:29am For lawn-loving Tampa Bay residents dutifully watering only once a week, here’s news: Officials say combined with rain and cooler temperatures, there are signs that education and conservation are making a difference — particularly in Hillsborough County, the biggest water consumer in the region. The rules — which assign once-a-week watering days by the last number of an address — were established for Pinellas, Pasco and Hillsborough counties last year under severe drought conditions across Tampa Bay following a record dry summer. Those restrictions were just extended through July 1 by the Southwest Florida Water Management District. This month, parts of the region remained “abnormally dry,” according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. At a recent meeting of Tampa Bay Water, the area’s wholesale water supplier, Hillsborough was praised for both getting the word out and appearing to get results. “The months of December and January, it was cooler, it was wetter, and there was a lot of conservation messaging,” Warren Hogg, chief science officer with Tampa Bay Water, told the board at its Feb. 26 meeting. “And the county has done a fantastic job of getting out the message and enforcing restrictions, and we’ve seen significant declines in demand for those two months.” The region’s rainfall deficit has averaged 5.4 inches over the last year, and outdoor watering — not other household uses such as showering — accounts for up to half of the water used at home. By not watering on a day that it rains, a household can save 1,500 to 2,500 gallons, Tampa Bay Water said as part of the water conservation campaign. “It’s working, and we need people to know it’s working,” said Hillsborough County Commissioner Harry Cohen, chairperson of Tampa Bay Water. Officials noted that the region is headed into the driest months of the year.
Those caught soaking their lawns on days or times when they’re not designated can receive a warning and, on a second violation, a citation with the fee determined by their city or county government. In Hillsborough, a violation costs $100 and increases by $100 for each violation after that, with a maximum of $500. In Pinellas, the fine is $193, which is doubled for a subsequent violation. In Tampa, there are no warnings: the first citation is $100, the second is $200 and the third means a mandatory court appearance. Since restrictions kicked in late last year, through February Hillsborough issued 507 warnings and 23 citations. Pinellas handed out 47 warnings and 90 citations. Tampa gave out 106 citations. Approximately $180,000 has been spent getting the message out through radio ads, digital billboards and other means, officials said at the meeting. Under the current rules, addresses ending in 0 or 1 can water on Mondays; ending in 2 or 3 on Tuesdays; 4 or 5 on Wednesdays; 6 or 7 on Thursdays; and 8 or 9 on Fridays. Watering is generally allowed before 8 a.m. or after 6 p.m. unless the city or county has more restrictive hours. Low-volume watering of plants and shrubs — such as hand watering or using a soaker hose — is allowed any day or time. Residents can visit MyWaterDay.org to learn more