Law enforcement escorted people out of the barrier islands due to dangerous conditions following Hurricane Helene. Pinellas County Officials said barrier islands will remain closed.

Pinellas County residents who live on the barrier islands and evacuated ahead of Hurricane Helene are still waiting to assess the storm damage.

Pinellas County Deputies and work crews are cleaning up the barrier islands. Photos shared by PCSO show the sand and debris in the wake of Hurricane Helene. This is Indian Rocks Beach and Indian Shores.

Thousands of residents along the Tampa Bay area’s beachside communities were told to leave Wednesday morning as Hurricane Helene threatened potentially record-breaking surge of more than five feet. Those who defied the orders, from St. Pete Beach north to Redington Shores, told the Tampa Bay Times it’s a decision they quickly regretted.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office is set to shut down access to the Barrier Islands at 6 p.m. Thursday in preparation for Hurricane Helene, the agency said in a news release. The following islands will be closed to residents and visitors until further notice, according to deputies:

Pinellas County Officials will hold a news conference to give updates to residents on operations and information about Hurricane Helene.

Our coastal communities in Pinellas County got hit hard with homes and businesses taking on several feet of water. Streets turned into beaches on Madeira Beach as the sand washed over.