Pinellas urges "no sightseers" as beaches set to reopen after Helene

• Peters lives in Treasure Island and left the meeting early to meet water remediation workers at her home.

State of play: Many residents and businesses are still in the process of assessing and clearing damage. Some areas still have no power or water.

• It may take weeks, not days, for the barrier islands to fully regain power, the Tampa Bay Times reported.
• Duke Energy opened a command center to start the process of repairing equipment and rebuilding portions of the electrical grid, the company said.

Meanwhile, Florida Department of Transportation crews have cleared 50,000 cubic yards of sand from barrier island roads — enough to fill more than 3,000 dump trucks.

Yes, but: "There is still much work to be done," the agency said on X.

What they're saying: Clearwater Mayor Bruce Rector said the city has been "inundated" with calls from those wanting to help. "It's not just folks that want to come out and sightsee."

• But he said even well-meaning visitors could get in the way of repair crews and resources reaching residents in need.
• "If you really want to help them, please stay away unless you absolutely have to be out here," he said.