ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The City of St. Petersburg has temporarily shut down the Northeast Sewer Treatment Plant (located at 1160 62nd Avenue NE) to protect it from an unprecedented storm surge caused by Hurricane Helene.

Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater will experience hurricane-force winds and catastrophic storm surge due to the storm’s huge wind field, despite being far from the forecast landfall region.

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor said about 40,000 residences are without power as Hurricane Helene hits the area. Most people are staying off the roads and storm surge is expected to hit five to eight feet.