PCSO Prepares for High Water Rescues

October 7, 2025

by Laura L. Sullivan, Public Relations Specialist

Last year during Hurricane Helene, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) had 102 calls for water rescues. Hurricane Milton had 80, plus devastating flooding in the Standard Apartments in Clearwater that led to a multi-agency response and the evacuation of more than 500 residents through water over six feet deep. “Last year we faced a tremendous challenge with Helene and Milton,” said Lieutenant Randy Hart of our newly formed Emergency Preparedness Section. “We got the job done, but we learned a lot.” Our agency was ready, but since there is no such thing as being too prepared for disaster, we’ve formed the High Water Rescue Team to assist people and save lives when flood waters start to rise.

At a recent training, PCSO members from all around the agency gathered to learn about rescue equipment both new and old, and improved procedures. Some of them were hand-picked for their experience in the Marine Unit, others volunteered from a desire to save lives. All deputies in the agency get training in our high water vehicles – many of which are also used for other purposes. The two MRAPs, armored vehicles which are primarily used in high-risk situations, have high ground clearance and can operate in three feet of water. Our five Humvees are nimble, versatile vehicles can run in two and a half feet of water. The two LMTVs can carry a 2.5-ton payload and transport up to 12 people through water three and a half feet high.

The Marine and Environmental Lands Unit has a variety of vessels. Some, like the Safe Boats, can operate in rough open water and others, like the airboats and Achilles inflatable boats, are good for shallow water. Most of the anticipated rescues will be in urban flooding situations, when water is pouring over barrier islands or into neighborhoods. Airboats can move from wet to dry surfaces, skimming over both floodwaters and grass or even dirt, but with their limited carrying capacity and the high level of skill involved in operating them, they’ll be exclusively used by Marine Unit deputies. Inflatable boats with their soft sides are ideal for pulling people from the water or pushing up against obstacles during rescues, but they are vulnerable to being pierced by debris in the water.

PCSO has what it hopes will be an improved way of rescuing people during urban flooding with an innovative pairing of two different vessels: Jon boats and personal watercraft (PWC). While each might be used on their own, they will be especially useful in tandem. The Jon boat is attached to a PWC, allowing the Jon boat to serve as the rescue platform while the nimble PWC guides it through urban floodwaters wherever it is needed. The shallow draft of a PWC lets it access areas many boats can’t reach, and there’s no propeller to damage.

“We’re expanding our fleet to enhance operational capacity and ensure more resources are available when needed,” said Lieutenant Hart. “There’s not a one size fits all vessel or vehicle, each have different capabilities and limitations.”

Members of the team will also be issued personal protective equipment such as dry suits, chest waders, helmets, headlamps, and of course a PFD. Everyone will also carry a volt detector. “If you walk into an energized field it will provide a warning,” said Lieutenant Hart. “The range depends on how strong the field is, and only works when it is facing the field. It’s not foolproof, but it can be life saving.”

In addition to new equipment, there are new procedures in place to get help where it is needed most efficiently. As a hurricane nears, teams will deploy to one of nine strategic positions throughout the county, staged at fire stations or high ground and ready to move out for rescues. Vessels and high water vehicles will be divided among these teams. In total there will be more than 100 deputies and supervisors and nearly 50 vehicles and vessels ready for high water rescues. And remember, this is in addition to all the patrol deputies who will also be able to assist. When a hurricane comes, everyone is on duty.

Calls during hurricanes can take many different forms and must be triaged by their risk to life. In a high water rescue, lives are in imminent danger, such as when people are swept away in floodwaters, or trapped in their cars as the water rises. Medical emergencies in areas surrounded by floodwaters are also included.

Water evacuations are to save people who ignored warnings and stayed in their homes. Now the water is rushing in and though they’re not in immediate danger, they soon might be. Non-critical evacuations may occur after the storm when people’s homes aren’t flooded but they can’t leave because they’re surrounded by high water. The team may also perform welfare checks after the storm when people call about elderly or disabled family members who are in evacuation zones but chose to shelter in place. And tragically, they will recover the bodies of people lost in the storms. In Pinellas County we had 12 fatalities related to Hurricane Helene, all in mandatory evacuation areas.

Members of the High Water Rescue Team will have to contend with environmental hazards like swift currents, debris, submerged objects, downed power lines, unstable structures, and contaminated water. Navigation will be a challenge where street signs are gone and roads are underwater. The team will be training throughout the year to be ready for whatever the hurricane season throws at them. At their first training class, Lieutenant Hart summed up everyone’s motivation for joining the team:

“Everybody in this room is here because they want to help save people, and keep Pinellas safe.”

Official Permission to Ignore Your “Boss”

by Laura L. Sullivan, Public Relations Specialist

Scams abound, and we want to make sure you’re aware of every single one. We’ve told you about job offer scams, and scams that target people who have just accepted a new job. Now we want to tell you about the kind of targeted scam you might receive when you’ve been on the job for a while.

Here’s how it works: you get a text or an email from someone claiming to be your boss. They have an urgent request, one that is out of the ordinary, but they explain it in a plausible way. A delivery came earlier than expected and they need to pay the vendor right away, but some problem with the banks means they have to pay in cash or the vendor won’t complete delivery of something crucial to the company’s success. They need you to go to the office safe and withdraw a large amount of cash.

Or maybe the person claiming to be your boss says they want to surprise the whole workforce with gift cards. They tell you to use your work credit card to buy a lot of gift cards and then send your boss the numbers on the back. Don’t have a high enough limit on your work credit card? Use your own, the company will reimburse you when the banks open tomorrow. Oh, and don’t tell anyone. This will be a great surprise for your coworkers.

The only problem is that it’s not your boss – it’s a scammer.

Scammers can find everything they need to impersonate your boss in this targeted attack. They’ll probably identify the company first, then go about gathering information. Thanks to social media and networking sites there is plenty of that for scammers to pick through. They’ll see that picture you posted at the holiday party that you tagged #bestbossever. They’ll find your whole work hierarchy, from the mailroom up to the CEO, on LinkedIn so the text can casually name-drop and let you think that your higher-ups have authorized the request. From social media to data breaches to clever sifting through publicly available information, scammers can get all they need to trick you if you’re not vigilant.

The scam can take various forms. Maybe they don’t want you to get them money, maybe they want information instead. “Hey, what was that password again?” You might not think twice about sending it if you thought the text came from your boss. “I’m at the bank and they won’t release payroll funds unless I have the account number.” It looks like it’s coming from the fiscal manager so you send the information.

Fraudsters are very clever at making you think they are who they aren’t. They can spoof phone numbers, so the text looks like it is coming from the real number. A sophisticated scammer can even duplicate your boss’ voice. All it takes is the right AI program and some clips of your boss’ voice – something that might be easy to pull from social media videos. As far as you know, you’re communicating with the real deal.

Whenever you get a text, email, or a call that seems out of the ordinary, be very skeptical. If it’s a request about something that usually isn’t your responsibility it may be a scam. Be especially wary of any request that asks for money, passwords, or financial information. When in doubt, don’t reply. Instead, contact someone else at the company to see if the request is legit. If your “boss” wants it to be a secret, that’s even more reason to be suspicious.

These scammers hope you’ll be too distracted by other work to pay close attention to the oddity of the request, and that you are so anxious to make a good impression on your boss or coworkers that you don’t question their request. If you think someone is trying to scam you like this, let your place of employment know right away. If you’ve been a victim of a scam you can call the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office non-emergency line at 727-582-6200.