About 400 emergency workers from across Pinellas County spent five days rehearsing what a Category 3 hurricane would do to the county's coastal communities, including Palm Harbor and Dunedin.

The exercise, dubbed "Hurricane Bailey," ran July 5 through July 9 at the Pinellas County Emergency Operations Center in Largo. The simulated storm made landfall July 8, with winds topping 120 mph and storm surge of 10 to 15 feet.

Those surge numbers carry weight in Palm Harbor and Dunedin. Pinellas County's barrier islands, low elevation and dense population put it at elevated hurricane risk, and both communities sit along that vulnerable coastline.

"The response to a hurricane or other real-world emergency requires coordination of dozens of local government and partner agencies across Pinellas County and beyond," said Cathie Perkins, Pinellas County's emergency management director. "Exercises like this allow us to strengthen that coordination and fine-tune our emergency procedures so we can be prepared."

Participants from local, state and federal agencies worked through complex disaster scenarios, practiced with emergency communications equipment and tested response procedures. Staff from multiple departments collaborated at computer stations while large screens displayed exercise data, according to the county's announcement published July 10.

The county did not specify which municipal agencies participated in the drill.

Peak season approaching

Hurricane season opened June 1 and runs through Nov. 30, but the most dangerous window falls between mid-August and mid-October. The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office warns that during a hurricane's worst hours, no emergency services may be available. Deputies and 911 operators will be active, but dispatching law enforcement, fire rescue or ambulances becomes unsafe once winds reach a certain threshold.

Local resources

Palm Harbor residents can pick up the 2026 Hurricane Guide at The Centre, 1500 16th St., Palm Harbor. All residents can look up their evacuation zone, sign up for Alert Pinellas notifications and download the free Ready Pinellas app at disaster.pinellas.gov. Pinellas County Emergency Management can be reached at 727-464-3800 or [email protected].