TAMPA, Fla. — Recovery centers and assistance are being provided to residents throughout the Tampa Bay area following Hurricane Helene. Here is where you can find food, water, and emergency assistance near you.
National and State Resources
- FEMA Hurricane Helene
- FEMA Helpline — 1-800-621-3362
- Apply for FEMA Financial Assistance
- Disaster Distress Hotline (Mental Health Care) — 1-800-985-5900
- Florida residents in need of overall information can call: 1-800-342-3557 (English, Spanish, and Creole speakers available)
- Florida Disaster
- Point of Distribution Sites
- Disaster Legal Hotline — 1-833-514-2940
- Red Cross Hotline — 1-800-733-2367
- Florida Baptists Disaster Relief Public Assistance - 1-904-253-0502
- Sarmaritan's Purse hotline - 1-833-747-1234
- SNAP Program Food Replacement — Complete form here by October 6
- Hope Florida
- Free WiFi Hotspots via Xfinity
- Free Wifi Hotspots via Spectrum
- Disaster Contractors Network
- Florida Business Damage Assessment Survey
- Florida Department of Veterans Affairs VISN Clinical Contact Center — 1-877-741-3400
Hillsborough County
The Hillsborough County Office of Emergency Management, Florida Department of Emergency Management (FDEM), and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Disaster Recovery Center
- Hillsborough Community Center
- The Regent at 6437 Watson Road, Riverview, FL
- Monday, Sept 30, 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
- Tuesday, Oct. 1 - Sunday, Oct. 6, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- FEMA representatives will be there to help and residents in Hillsborough County will be able to apply for aid through the Individuals and Households Program.
- Storm Information Line remains open and residents are encouraged to call (833)-427-8676 for questions related to the county's damage assessment tool, reporting unmet needs, Disaster Recovery Center, and anything else storm related
Comfort stations:
- Apollo Beach Park and Recreation Center
- DeSoto Park
- Marjorie Park Marina
- Ruskin Park and Recreation Center
- Sandy Perrone Park
- Skyway Sports Complex and Park
- Feeding Tampa Bay emergency distributions:
- October 1 - 4 pm to 6 pm at the Feeding Tampa Bay facility at 3624 Causeway Blvd, Tampa, Florida 33619
Pinellas County
- FEMA
- FEMA assistance is available in Pinellas County for residents who experienced damage or losses due to Hurricane Helene.
- Residents can apply online by clicking here.
- FEMA Disaster Recovery Center opens at Largo Public Library (opens for first time at 1 p.m. Wednesday)
- open 9 am to 7 pm Monday Through Wednesday; 10 am to 6 pm on Thursday and Friday; 10 am to 5 pm on Saturday
- Storm Debris Pickup
- Storm debris pickup by zone will begin Wednesday
- Areas prepared for the first pass of storm debris removal on Wednesday include: Crystal Beach, Ozona, West Palm Harbor, Unincorporated Seminole, and West Lealman
- Storm debris must be loose and separated by type
- More information on storm debris pickup can be found here
- A second pass for each zone at a later date will be announced
- Storm debris pickup by zone will begin Wednesday
- Supplies
- Palm Harbor Fire Rescue will have supplies (water, MRE's, and tarps) available at White Chapel at 1190 Georgia Avenue in Palm Harbor on Wednesday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Free Cleanup Supplies are available Wednesday at 5175 45th Street North in St. Petersburg
- Food Assistance
- Feeding Tampa Bay emergency distributions
- October 2
- 4 pm to 6 pm at Trade Winds Resort - 5500 Gulf Blvd, St. Pete Beach, FL 33706
- 5 pm to 7 pm at Grand View Park - 3814 6th Street South, St. Petersburg, 33705
- October 2
- Points of Distribution for free food, water, and tarps
- St. Pete Beach: 4700 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach (Food, water, and tarps)
- Treasure Island: 10451 Gulf Blvd., Treasure Island (Food, water, and tarps)
- Tierra Verde Fire Station: 540 Sands Point Drive, Tierra Verde (Water only)
- Redington Shores: 18200 Gulf Boulevard (Food, water, and tarps)
- Lake Vista Park: 401 62nd Ave S, St Petersburg (Food and water)
- Feeding Tampa Bay emergency distributions
- Family Resource Center
- Now open in St. Petersburg at 6690 Crosswinds Drive North
- Cooling Centers
- Remain open in multiple areas where residents are without power following Hurricane Helene. Open locations can be found here.
- Storm and Sand Debris
- All the information you need about sand and storm debris an dhow to deal with it can be found here.
- Business Assistance
- Businesses impacted by Helene can access disaster recovery assistance and emergency loan programs
- Call Small Business Development Center at 727-453-7200 for more information or email businesshelp@pinellas.gov
- Businesses impacted by Helene can access disaster recovery assistance and emergency loan programs
- Madeira Beach
- Restrooms/Showers/Laundry:
- Hours: 8:00 am to 8:00 pm
- Location:
- 133rd & Gulf
- 141st & Gulf
- Restroom/Showers/Laundry
Winn Dixie Parking lot
Rules:
One washer/dryer per household
- Shuttle Service
- Call City Hall to schedule a ride: 727-391-9951
- Cleaning Help:
- We have partnered with a couple organizations to help clean out for the elderly and disabled.
- Need Help? Call City Hall- 727-391-9951
- Looking to Volunteer to Clean out? Contact Costal Crusaders: CoastalCrusadersFlorida@gmail.com; 727-277-3685
- Comfort Station:
- City Hall is open to cool off and recharge electronics.
- Slyce serving food until gone
- Hours: Daily 9am to 8pm
- Building Permit Fees
- Permits fees for demolition are being waived
- Starting the permit process can be found here.
- Restrooms/Showers/Laundry:
- Dunedin
- A laundry facility with 6 washers and dryers will be available outside the Community Center, free of charge and open 24/7. The facility will operate on a first-come, first-served basis. You must provide your own detergent, soap, and softeners.
Gulfport
Crisis cleanup activated Hurricane Helene Cleanup Hotline at 844-965-1386. It will be open until October 11
- It will connect residents with volunteers from local relief organizations and community groups
- Organizations can help with things like muck outs, trees, tarps, and other debris
- If residents are displaced from their homes and unable to stay with friends, family, or at a hotel, they should contact the Pinellas County Information Center at 727-464-4333 from 8 am to 6 pm for assistance in finding temporary shelter
- Before beginning any removal, property owners and contractors should assess the extent of the damage in accordance with FEMA’s 50% Rule. If repairs are found to meet or exceed 50% of the structure’s pre-damage value, the property must be brought up to code for construction in a flood zone. This often includes elevating the structure to meet the Base Flood Elevation (BFE) plus one foot. For property owners without a pre-damage private appraisal, the Pinellas County Property Appraiser’s valuation can be used to determine the maximum allowable value for repairs under the FEMA 50% Rule. The Substantial Damage/Improvement Review application is available at the permit counter. If a private appraisal is available, property owners are encouraged to email a copy for assistance in determining the 50% replacement value, less depreciation.
Treasure Island
- Full information about the latest regarding water, sewage, trash and recycling, storm debris removal and more can be found here: My Treasure Island
- The city said debris removal may take up to 6 months or longer to complete
- To ensure your debris is picked up, separate debris into four categories: Appliances, Household Items, Construction Materials, Yard Debris
Pasco County
- Three comfort stations are available with hours from 7 am to 7 pm until further notice
- Aripeka Baptist Church - 18731 Aripeka Road (**No food/water**)
- Hudson Library - 8012 Library Road
- J Ben Harrill Recreation Complex - 2830 Gulf Trace Blvd.
Sarasota County
- Disaster Recovery Center is located at Sarasota Christian Church (2923 Ashton Road) and has resources available for individuals and businesses affected by Hurricane Debby and Helene
- Hours: Monday - Saturday, 9 am - 7 pm; Sunday - 1 pm - 5 pm
- Osprey/Gulf Gate Community cleanup scheduled for Saturday, October 5
- Community members can gather discarded household items, tree trimmings, and other garbage/debris as Sarasota County hosts a free community cleanup in Osprey and Gulf Gate. Dumpsters for residential customers will be available at no cost at 7112 Curtiss Ave., Sarasota
- Hazardous waste, such as oil, aerosol cans, and paint, will not be accepted. Appliances and car tires will be accepted, with a limit of four 25 inches X 16 inches or smaller tires per household.
- Hazardous materials may be taken to the Citizens’ Convenience Center, 4000 Knights Trail Road, Nokomis, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, or 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Saturdays, or the Sarasota County Chemical Collection Center, 8750 Bee Ridge Road, Sarasota, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Saturday.
Hernando County
- Hernando County Solid Waste is extending the hours at the West Hernando Convenience Center. Starting Wednesday, you can drop off storm debris from 7 am to 7 pm for the remainder of the week.
How You Can Help
- World Central Kitchen
- GoFundMe Hurricane Relief Fund
- American Red Cross
- The Salvation Army
- The United Way
The massive piles of debris littering communities across the Bay Area are not likely to end soon. We went to Town n Country, Baycrest, and Dana Shores to see how those areas are coming together.
Neighbors helping neighbors as storm cleanup continues
