High surf, rising tides put St. Pete Beach residents on alert ahead of Hurricane Isaias

Residents are preparing for possible flooding, while St. Petersburg deploys temporary pumps in Shore Acres as part of a broader infrastructure effort

ST. PETE BEACH, Fla. — Rough surf and rising tides are raising concerns along the Tampa Bay area’s Gulf Coast as Hurricane Isaias moves through the Gulf of Mexico, prompting preparations in flood-prone communities.

In St. Pete Beach, waves crashed against the shoreline Friday as seawater pushed toward a neighborhood seawall. Vincent Tormenia, who has lived in St. Pete Beach for more than 30 years, said high tide remains a major concern.

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“It’s the high tide, and that’s the problem,” Tormenia said.

Tormenia said he is preparing for rising water over the weekend. He has installed barriers near his garage and doorways in case water reaches his home.

“I have a steel thing in front of my garage door, and I have slots in front of my doorways in case the water comes up that high again,” he said.

Although the expected impacts are not projected to match the flooding residents experienced during hurricanes Helene and Milton, Tormenia said the possibility of more flooding remains stressful.

“It’s very on edge. It’s very dreadful,” he said.

A temporary pump positioned near the seawall offers some relief, but Tormenia said water can still rise through neighborhood drains.

“It helps a little bit, but the drains here, the water just comes up from the drains,” he said.

The city of St. Pete Beach said crews are preparing for the storm by inspecting and clearing storm drains, evaluating pump and lift stations, and deploying bypass pumps in the Don CeSar and Belle Vista neighborhoods. Backup pumps have been fueled and are ready for use if needed.

City crews are also checking emergency generators, topping off fuel supplies and preparing additional personnel and equipment for storm response. Sandbags remain available at Egan Park, and residents can report flooding by calling 727-224-4189.

In St. Petersburg’s Shore Acres neighborhood, the city has also deployed six temporary pumps as officials work toward a longer-term solution for recurring flooding.

Claude Tankersley, the city’s public works administrator, said staff will monitor the temporary pumps to make sure they are operating.

The pumps are a short-term measure while the city works on infrastructure improvements, he said.

“We have this $2.7 billion program to improve our infrastructure. Part of that includes permanent stormwater pump stations in Shore Acres, so that we won’t have to deploy these temporary ones,” Tankersley said.

As Isaias moves toward the northern Gulf Coast, residents in low-lying areas are watching water levels and preparing for possible flooding. In St. Pete Beach, city officials say they will continue monitoring conditions and adjusting their response as needed.