Here’s all the updated information from local governments related to storm recovery from Hurricane Helene.
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY
Wastewater Pump Station Repaired, Reopens in South Hillsborough County
A wastewater pumping system in South Hillsborough County that was impacted by flooding from Hurricane Helene is now fully operational.
Residents who live in the Apollo Beach and Ruskin communities, west of Interstate 75 and south of the Alafia River, were affected. Residents in the area can resume regular wastewater activities such as bathing and showering, clothes washing, dishwashing, and flushing.
Hillsborough Asks Residents to Report Damage from Hurricane Helene
Hillsborough County is urging residents to report storm damage on their property with an online form. The Hurricane Helene Damage Reporting Form is designed to help officials determine the extent of the damage across the county.
Hillsborough County residential property owners can use the form to report property loss or damage from the storm to the County by visiting HCFL.gov/DamageAssessment. The information will be routed to the appropriate County department, which will respond within 72 hours. Property owners who need assistance completing the form should call (833) HC Storm or (833) 427-8676.
County staff will evaluate and document the damage and provide the information to state and federal agencies. This County assessment form IS NOT a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) application. To register with FEMA, visit DisasterAssistance.gov. Please keep in mind that completing this form DOES NOT replace a business or homeowner's insurance claim, nor does it serve as an application for resources. Residents can learn about additional resources that may be available to them by visiting HCFL.gov/StaySafe and clicking on the Storm Recovery Resources tab.
Hillsborough County Public Schools to reopen schools on Monday
Hillsborough County Public Schools will reopen all schools on Monday, September 30.
Hillsborough County Tax Collector's Office to Reopen Monday
The Hillsborough County Tax Collector's Office is set to reopen on Monday, September 30th after temporarily closing due to Hurricane Helene.
PINELLAS COUNTY
Cooling stations open Saturday
Pinellas County has opened cooling stations in areas where residents remain without power following Hurricane Helene. These stations will provide a place for residents to cool off and charge their phones.
They will be open today, Saturday, Sept. 28, until further notice at the following locations/times:
Clearwater:
Morningside Recreation Center, 2400 Harn Blvd, Clearwater - 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Long Center, 1501 N Belcher Road, Clearwater - 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Countryside Rec Center, 2640 Sabal Springs Drive, Clearwater - 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
McMullen Tennis Complex, 1000 Edenville Ave., Clearwater - 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Moccasin Lake Nature Park, 2750 Park Trail Lane, Clearwater - 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
North Greenwood Recreation and Aquatic Center, 900 N Martin Luther King Jr Ave., Clearwater - 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
A Mother's Arms, 714 N Fort Harrison Ave., Clearwater - 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (limited capacity)
All Clearwater libraries will be open Saturday, Sept. 28, except for the Beach Library. St. Petersburg:
City locations will be open Saturday, Sept. 28, and Sunday, Sept. 29, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Azalea Recreation Center (1600 72nd St. N)
Enoch D. Davis Center (1111 18th Ave. S)
Robert Recreation Center (1246 50th Ave. N)
Community locations will be open on Saturday, Sept. 28:
City On a Hill Church (4265 13th Ave, N): Saturday, Sept. 28, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Mount Zion AME Church (1045 16th St. S): Saturday, Sept. 28, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Mount Zion Progressive Missionary Baptist Church (955 20th St, S): Saturday, Sept. 28, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Madeira Beach:
Madeira Beach City Hall, 14225 Gulf Blvd, Madeira Beach, Saturday, Sept. 28, - 8 a.m. to sunset, until further notice.
Seminole:
Seminole Recreation Center, 9100 113th St, Seminole, Saturday, Sept. 28, - 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Closed Sunday, reopening Monday, Sept. 30).
Largo:
Largo Public Library, 120 Central Park Dr, Largo - 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Closed Sunday, reopening Monday, Sept. 30).
Additional Rides Off Barrier Islands Today
Additional pickup times are being offered today, September 28, 2024, to assist individuals wishing to leave the Barrier Islands:
Designated Routes:
South County:
Stop 1: 12:00 p.m. - 12:10 p.m. - Dolphin Village at Gulf Boulevard
Stop 2: 12:30 p.m. to 12:40 p.m. - 107th and Gulf Boulevard
Drop-Off Location: CVS - 66th Street & Pasadena Avenue
Mid County:
Stop 1: 12:00 p.m. - 12:10 p.m. - Park Boulevard and Gulf Boulevard
Stop 2: 12:30 p.m. - 12:40 p.m. - 174th Avenue and Gulf Boulevard
Stop 3: 1:00 p.m. - 1:10 p.m. - 150th Avenue and Gulf Boulevard
Drop-Off Location: Publix - 150th Avenue & Duhme Road
North County:
Stop 1: 12:00 p.m. to 12:10 p.m. - Pier 60 on Clearwater Beach
Stop 2: 12:30 p.m. to 12:40 p.m. - Belleair Beach Causeway and Gulf Boulevard
Stop 3: 1:00 p.m. - 1:10 p.m. - 5th Avenue (Walsingham Road) and Gulf Boulevard
Drop Off Location: Publix - Park Boulevard & 113th Street
Anyone with any questions, please contact the County Information Center at727-464-4333.
CITY OF CLEARWATER
The city of Clearwater will be opening access for residents and business owners of Island Estates only. Business owners and residents may return to their homes and inspect their businesses. Island Estates residents and business owners must prove their residency or property interest to get through the checkpoint. To keep the re-entry process moving as smoothly and quickly as possible, it is preferred that residents or business owners show their barrier island re-entry passes to expedite the process. If residents or business owners don't have a re-entry pass, re-enter may be delayed. Employees of Island Estates businesses will also be given access with proper identification.
Residents of Clearwater Beach and Sand Key will not be able to gain access through the checkpoint. Re-entry to the beach and Sand Key will not happen until conditions are deemed safe. City crews are working around the clock to make conditions safe enough for reopening. We appreciate your patience.
For Local Media, the City Manager Jennifer Poirrier and Police Chief Eric Gandy are available at the entrance to Island Estates to provide sound on recovery efforts. Rob Shaw will be at the entry point to facilitate media interviews and access to areas hardest hit by the storm.
ST. PETERSBURG
City of St. Petersburg Situation Report:
City street teams and damage assessment teams are out today in neighborhoods that were not accessible yesterday to provide resources to those impacted and access damage.
160 trees reported downed.
All 9 City boat ramps were damaged and remain closed
574 SeeClickFix requests received.
Three cooling stations opened today at 9 a.m. for residents to cool off and charge electronics
City is deploying local food trucks on Saturday, Sept. 28, to heavily impacted areas to serve food to those recovering from damage and flooding.
City Stormwater crews are out street sweeping and clearing lines.
In collaboration with the County, the City is hosting a hazardous waste collection event today at SPC Allstate campus from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. for residents to drop hazardous material from the storm.
City facilities will be open for normal business operations on Monday, Sept. 30.
St. Pete Pier is open; the playground remains closed.
St. Pete Fire Rescue Situation Report: (from 9/26 to 9/28, as of 7 a.m.)
3 stations damaged
7 structure fires 86 water rescues
1,744 total emergency calls during the storm
St. Pete Police Dept Situation Report:
Up to 97 traffic signals went out, but most have come back on
Responded to 80 disabled vehicles
65 downed power lines
7 SPPD vehicles storm-related damaged
One storm-related death
Debris Pick-Up Update:
The City of St. Petersburg is committed to cleaning up the city from the impacts from Hurricane Helene. Crews will do multiple citywide sweeps to pick up storm debris. Residents should expect debris to be collected no sooner than Oct. 7. DO NOT place debris in trash bags.
Collected Debris:
Vegetative Debris: Branches, leaves, logs, and plants
Fencing Materials: Fences knocked over during the storm
Electronics: Computers, televisions, and other devices
Appliances: Air conditioners, dishwashers, washers and dryers, stoves, refrigerators, water heaters
Important:
Before you dispose of storm debris from your home, be sure to document your flood damage.
Take photos and videos of the damage, including structural and personal property damage to the interior and exterior of your home, before discarding items. Your insurance adjuster and/or Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will need evidence of the damage to prepare your claim.
MANATEE COUNTY
Helene Recovery Continues with Animal Event
As residents across Manatee County continue to clean up and recover from the effects of Hurricane Helene, Manatee County Animal Welfare (MCAW) staff continued to prepare for their Adopt-a-Palooza event.
“We contemplated cancelling the event altogether, but the truth is we simply cannot afford to,” said Manatee County Deputy Director of Community and Veterans Services Sarah Brown, who has been working with the Friends of Manatee County Animal Welfare on this highly-anticipated annual event. “After every disaster, Manatee County Animal Welfare is inundated with pets who get lost and find themselves without the love of their family. They’re scared, they’re alone, and our hearts break for them.”
So, the team pivoted, and has worked to combine the adoption activities with a newly established reunification spot with staff on hand to help start the process of reuniting with any animals who may have been have lost during Helene. The event is scheduled from 11-3 at the Bradenton Area Convention Center in Palmetto (1 Haben Blvd, Palmetto, FL 34221).
Damage surveys in the county continue:
As of Friday evening, just over half of the initial “windshield assessments” had been completed showing 230,471 structures located in 12 zones affected by wind and surge.
- Residential Damage $153,127,695
- Commercial Damage $1,971,612
Residents doing their own damage assessments are reminded to beware of scammers looking to take advantage of the vulnerable - using creative tactics to take money or personal information during this time of recovery. Also make sure any contractors are licensed and insured and proper permits are acquired before moving forward on any work.
Manatee County continues to work with two contract haulers to coordinate debris removal. While there is no set schedule, it is anticipated that the work to clear the county of debris will begin next week. Residents are reminded to separated debris from other refuse.
Returing to island homes:
Starting at 10:00 am, property owners and business owners of Holmes Beach and the City of Anna Maria, will be allowed to come onto the island to assess their damages. YOU MUST HAVE A RE-ENTRY TAG.
The only access to the Island currently is from Manatee Ave. The roads in Bradenton Beach are still impassable. There will be barricades at the city line of Holmes Beach/ Bradenton Beach so no one can enter Bradenton Beach through Holmes Beach. There is still no power or water and the roads still have standing water and debris.
Manatee County Area Transit (MCAT) will be running modified service on routes 3 and 6 and there will be no Beach Trolley. All other Fixed Routes will be operational. The MCAT shuttle will provide service from Manatee Ave. W. at 75th St. W. to take island evacuees to the shelter.
Meals:
As the clean-up continues, Points of Distribution (PODs) have been established at the following locations providing ready-to-eat-meals, water and tarps:
- Bennett Park (400 Cypress Creek Blvd., Bradenton, FL 34208)
- Blackstone Park (2112 14th Ave. W., Palmetto, FL 34221)
- GT Bray Park (5502 33rd Ave. Dr. W., Bradenton, FL 34209)
Activities return:
Athletic League play has returned to regular schedules across the county. Libraries have reopened except for the Island Branch Library (5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach) and Palmetto Branch (923 6th Street W., Palmetto, FL 34221).
Manatee County facilities are expected to fully reopen Monday (except for those directly impacted by the storm). Continue to monitor local news and weather broadcasts as well as the County's social media accounts for updates.
SARASOTA COUNTY
Damage Assessments:
Preliminary windshield damage assessments continue and as of 9:30 a.m., Sept. 28, there is an estimated $49 million in residential damages in unincorporated areas of Sarasota County. Please note, this is after one day of assessments only in areas that were accessible. As staff are able to access additional impacted areas, this is expected to increase.
Barrier Island Community Members:
Debris collection contractors have been activated and are mobilizing their service teams. To allow barrier island residents time to return home and place damaged materials at the curb, collection of storm-related debris materials in these areas is expected to begin on Wednesday, Oct. 2.
Storm-debris preparation guidelines
· Place large storm-related debris separately from regular garbage at the curb for collection
· Separate items by category (construction and demolition materials, furniture/mattresses and appliances/white goods)
· Any construction and demolition materials contained in plastic bags should be placed with the regular garbage
Residents Not Living on the Barrier Islands:
Residents not living on the barrier islands are to follow normal disposal guidelines for collection services. View the Solid Waste How-To Guide for Residents in Sarasota County [scgov.net] for details.
Materials, including yard waste, not properly prepared for collection will not be collected by the service provider.
All vegetative materials, including large branches, palm fronds, tree trunks, small branches and leaves should be properly prepared for curbside collection.
Properly prepared vegetative materials should be:
- Bagged (paper only), bundled and tied or containerized
- 4 feet or less in length
- 16 inches or less in diameter
- 40 pounds or less in weight (each paper bag, bundle or container)
Items that are in bags, containers or bundles should not exceed 40 pounds. This applies to both garbage and yard waste.
Breeze Transit:
The following Breeze Transit routes have returned to normal service:
- Standard routes and the 76 Flyer
- Breeze OnDemand service in North Port and Venice/Englewood
- Breeze Plus for medically necessary trips ONLY
The following routes remain suspended at this time:
- Breeze OnDemand service in the Downtown/Lido Key/Longboat Key zone and in the Siesta Key zone.
- Breeze Plus returned to regular service today, Saturday, Sept. 28.
Safety reminders:
Food safety after power outage:
Foods may be unsafe to eat after a power outage, disaster or emergency. To prevent foodborne illness, keep your food at safe temperatures. Your refrigerator will keep food cold for about four hours if the doors stay closed, and a full freezer will maintain its temperature for approximately 48 hours. When in doubt, throw it out! Learn more food safety tips: https://loom.ly/8YEVoc0 [loom.ly]
Turn Around, Don’t Drown!
Do not drive or walk through flooded waters. Flood waters can be contaminated with bacteria and viruses. Avoid skin contact with flood waters, especially if you have open cuts and wounds. If an open cut or wound comes into contact with flood waters, wash the area well with soap and clean water to prevent infection. If you are cut or have a puncture wound, get a tetanus booster.
Scams:
After hurricanes and other disasters, scammers often come into the community trying to take advantage of those impacted by the storm. Watch out for unsolicited offers or contractors claiming to perform repairs at a discount with leftover supplies from another job; Research a company and its reputation—look for references online, or ask a friend; Check to see if a company is properly licensed, insured and if there are any consumer complaints filed against a licensed contractor at MyFloridaLicense.com [myfloridalicense.com]; Never pay the full amount of a repair expense upfront, and hesitate before providing large deposits; and do not sign a certificate of completion or make final payment until satisfied with the work performed. More information: https://loom.ly/e8esJts [l.facebook.com]
See road closures and damage reports:.
Sarasota County encourages community members to view road closures, damage reports, flooding reports and windshield damage assessments by visiting https://loom.ly/cy7Zpeg [l.facebook.com] This website will be updated in real-time from Sarasota County professionals in the field. To report an issue, please call 311.
Not operating traffic signals:
When traffic signals are out, treat them like a four-way stop. Come to a complete stop, look carefully in all directions, and take turns proceeding in the order vehicles arrive. Stay safe on the roads and keep calm during unexpected signal outages.
"I knew this would happen"
Bradenton business owner deals with damage from Hurricane Helene
