St. Petersburg Receives Major Hurricane Recovery Funding

News Summary

St. Petersburg is set to receive $159.9 million in recovery funding from HUD to help rebuild after Hurricanes Helene and Milton. This initiative is part of a broader $813.8 million support package for Pinellas County aimed at economic redevelopment and housing assistance. Community discussions will be held to address homeowners’ concerns, and additional state aid of $432,000 is also in place. The city is making significant progress in debris removal and organizing community support for recovery efforts, proving a commitment to a more resilient future.

St. Petersburg Receives Major Hurricane Recovery Funding!

St. Petersburg is bouncing back from the recent challenges presented by Hurricanes Helene and Milton, thanks to a generous boost of $159.9 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Community Block Grant – Disaster Recovery program. This windfall is part of a larger package, with Pinellas County receiving a total of $813.8 million for various recovery efforts. Talk about a strong comeback!

Funding for Bright Futures

Amy Foster, the city’s housing and neighborhood services chief, shared the fantastic news during a city council committee meeting. These funds are meant to fill in some gaps and help rebuild the community. How will the money be spent, you ask? Well, it will go toward economic redevelopment, mitigation efforts, and housing assistance. In short, it’s going to help St. Petersburg not just recover but come back stronger!

Homeowner Q&A: Get Your Questions Ready!

Homeowners who are feeling the stress of storm recovery will have a chance to voice their concerns. On January 16, Pinellas County Property Appraiser Mike Twitty will be hosting a public Q&A session at the South County office. This is a golden opportunity for homeowners to ask about:

New state and local recovery and repair programs
How to protect assessed values for repairs and rebuilding
Understanding the pre-storm building value reconsideration process
Appraiser’s structure value versus private cash value appraisals
Structure valuation under FEMA rules for condos and townhomes
Partial property tax refunds

This session could be a real game changer for many affected families!

Additional Assistance: Every Little Bit Helps

St. Petersburg isn’t stopping with just federal funding. The city has also secured $432,000 in state housing assistance to help those in need. Mayor Ken Welch has been vocal about the necessity of plans for long-term resilience as the city adapts to shifting environmental conditions. After all, it’s not just about getting back to normal; it’s about building a better future!

Making Progress: Cleanup and Recovery

So far, the city has made impressive strides. Nearly 5,000 damage assessments have been carried out on a total of 15,000 affected properties, clearing a whopping 186,000 cubic yards of debris. A 90-day debris removal plan is in the works to tackle an estimated 1 million cubic yards of debris, with hopes of pocketing $100 million in FEMA reimbursements. Now that’s some efficient cleanup!

Join the Efforts: We Are St. Pete Fund

Additionally, St. Petersburg has set up a community fund called “We Are St. Pete” to help with storm recovery. The fund kicked off with $200,000, and contributions are encouraged from both residents and nonresidents. Your support could make a tangible difference!

Accessing Assistance: Steps to Follow

Residents looking for disaster assistance should apply for FEMA aid first. To qualify, your income needs to be below 80% of the area median income. The good news is that the disaster assistance program can offer as much as $30,000 for home repairs and an additional $5,000 for insurance deductible help. Already, 104 homeowners have qualified for this much-needed relief!

Stay Organized for Debris Pickup

St. Petersburg is on the Road to Recovery!

With this substantial funding and organized planning, it seems St. Petersburg is well on its way to recovery. The city is not just rebuilding, but it’s aiming for a more resilient future. So mark your calendars for the Q&A session and stay informed, because every question and every concerned homeowner counts in this collective effort!