Cold night shelters in Pinellas County will be open Saturday night, Jan. 31, and Sunday night, Feb. 1, the Homeless Leadership Alliance has announced. The shelters will be open from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Shelter guests are accepted until the shelter is full. All sites provide a warm and safe place to sleep, and many sites also serve a meal. Shelters are activated when the National Weather Service expects the “feels like” temperature to hit 40 degrees or below across the county between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m.

The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) will provide free bus rides to and from Cold Night Shelters both nights from 5 p.m. through 7 a.m. the next day. Riders must tell PSTA drivers they are going to a Pinellas Cold Night Shelter when boarding to ride fare-free.

The following cold weather shelters are available to adult men and women:

Tarpon Springs

• St. Timothy Luthern Church
  • 812 E. Tarpon Ave., Tarpon Springs
  • PSTA Route #19

Clearwater

• First United Methodist Church of Clearwater
  • 411 Turner Street, Clearwater
  • PSTA Route #52A

 Pinellas Park

• Boys & Girls Club of Pinellas Park
  • 7790 61^st St. N, Pinellas Park
  • PSTA Route #74
• First United Methodist Church of Pinellas Park
  • 9025 49^th St. N, Pinellas Park
  • PSTA Route #49

St. Petersburg

• Unitarian Universalist Church
  • 100 Mirror Lake Drive N, St. Petersburg
  • Note: This location requires the use of stairs.
  • PSTA Routes #9, #20, #24, SunRunner
• Salvation Army
  • 1400 4^th Street South, St. Petersburg
  • PSTA Route #4A or B
• Allendale Church
  • 3803 Haines Rd. N, St. Petersburg
  • PSTA Route #16, #38
• Northwest Church
  • 6330 54th Ave. N, St. Petersburg
  • PSTA Route #54, #66 

Families with children will be placed in family shelters on cold nights (if space is available). Families should call 2-1-1, First Contact, for information about family shelters.

The Homeless Leadership Alliance is in need of volunteers for this and future activations. Those interested in volunteering should visit pinellashomeless.org/become-a-volunteer to learn more.

League of Women Voters of the St. Petersburg Area to Host Indian Shores Council Member Candidate Forum

St. Petersburg, FL — Candidates for Indian Shores Council Member will appear at a Candidate Forum on Monday, February 2, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. The forum, hosted by the League of Women Voters of the St. Petersburg Area and the Pinellas Beaches Chamber of Commerce, will take place at Indian Shores Town Hall, located at 19305 Gulf Blvd., Indian Shores, FL 33785.

The Candidate Forum will provide voters with an opportunity to hear directly from candidates about the issues that matter most to the Indian Shores community ahead of the upcoming election, which is scheduled for March 10, 2026. Voters will be invited to submit questions both in advance of the forum and during the event. Submit questions ahead of time here.

 A moderator will introduce the candidates and guide the discussion.

 All Candidate Forums sponsored by the League of Women Voters follow a nonpartisan, unbiased, and impartial format, in keeping with League principles.

 The forum is free and open to the public. The candidate meet & greet is from 5:30 - 6:00 p.m., followed by the candidate forum from 6:00 - 7:00 p.m.

 For more information, please email office@lwvspa.org.

 About the League of Women Voters of the St. Petersburg Area

The League of Women Voters of the St. Petersburg Area (LWVSPA) is a nonpartisan political organization, encouraging informed and active participation in government, working to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influencing public policy through education and advocacy. Learn more at lwvspa.org.

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Statewide Tornado Drill set for Feb. 4

Immediate ReleaseJan. 28, 2026

Media ContactPinellas County Communications, (727) 580-1525OnCallPIO@pinellas.gov

Pinellas: Statewide Tornado Drill set for Feb. 4Schools, groups and individuals are encouraged to find safe cover and take a selfie  

Pinellas County Emergency Management is encouraging everyone to participate in the Statewide Tornado Drill on Wednesday, Feb. 4, at 10 a.m. Schools, organizations and individuals in Pinellas County are asked to simulate a Tornado Warning, find a safe place to take cover, and take a selfie photo to post on social media using the hashtag #PCTornadoDrill.  

A tornado can hit within minutes after a Tornado Warning is issued. The annual Statewide Tornado Drill is an opportunity to plan ahead, identify safe places to take cover in the event of a tornado, and practice emergency communications in classrooms, offices and other locations.  

Guidelines for the drill  

Before the drill  

• Designate an emergency coordinator.  
• Inform others at home, school or work.  
• Review and refine a tornado plan. 
• Find information about planning for a tornado at ready.gov/tornadoes. Watch a video about tornado safety in Pinellas County: https://youtu.be/dJJ90pcIDgA?si=LJZ4kExoSI_SPtWZ 
• Make sure everyone is signed up for Alert Pinellas to receive emergency notifications: disaster.pinellas.gov  

The day of the drill  Feb. 4 – After 8 a.m. Consider a Tornado Watch to be in effect. A watch means tornadoes are possible in your area.   

• Remain alert for approaching storms and closely monitor the weather.  
• Listen to your emergency NOAA emergency weather radio.  
• Make the announcement, “Tornado Watch. THIS IS A DRILL.”  

Feb. 4 – At 10 a.m.  

Consider a Tornado Warning to be in effect. A warning means a tornado has been sighted or indicated by weather radar. It is time to take cover! 

• Receive the TEST emergency message from Alert Pinellas.  
• Receive the TEST message on your NOAA emergency weather radio.  
• Go to the tornado safe space and take cover. Find information about staying safe during a tornado in this video:  https://youtu.be/dJJ90pcIDgA?si=LJZ4kExoSI_SPtWZ)  
• Take a selfie and post it on Facebook, Instagram or X using the hashtag #PCTornadoDrill    

After the drill  

Wrap–up

• Discuss, assess and revise your tornado plan as needed.   

Severe Weather Awareness Week  

The Statewide Tornado Drill is part of Severe Weather Awareness Week, which runs Monday to Friday, Feb. 2 – 6, with an emphasis on a specific weather event for each day.:  

• Monday, Feb. 2: Lightning  
• Tuesday, Feb. 3: Marine hazards and rip currents  
• Wednesday, Feb. 4: Thunderstorms and tornadoes  
• Thursday, Feb. 5: Hurricanes and flooding  
• Friday, Feb. 6: Extreme temperatures and wildfires

The National Weather Service has more information on tornado safety.

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