ST. PETERSBURG — A number of deaths have been reported in the wake of Hurricane Helene.

Pinellas County officials who spoke at a Friday morning news conference said five county residents were killed. Two of the deaths were at Treasure Island, two at Indian Rocks Beach and one in Dunedin, Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said. No further details were immediately available.

Gualtieri said the deaths all occurred in neighborhoods where residents were told by authorities to evacuate, but many chose to stay and then found themselves trapped by 8 feet of storm surge — an unprecedented event in the county.

Gualtieri said survivors told them they didn’t believe the warnings after other residents told them the surge wouldn’t be that bad. He said people wound up hiding in their attics to get away from the water.

“We made our case, we told people what they needed to do and they chose otherwise,” Gualtieri said. He added that his deputies tried overnight to reach those who had been trapped, but it just wasn’t safe.

“I was out there personally. We tried to launch boats, we tried to use high-water vehicles and we just met with too many obstacles,” Gualtieri said. He said the death toll could rise as emergency crews go door-to-door in the flooded areas to see if anyone remains.

In Hillsborough County, two Helene-related deaths have been reported.

The first fatality associated with Hurricane Helene was reported Thursday night on Interstate 4 as the storm whipped through the area, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Thursday.

Shortly before 8 p.m., traffic cameras showed what appeared to be an overhead sign that fell on a vehicle.

It happened in the westbound lanes of I-4, near mile marker one.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.