Pinellas County's Online Support Services for Storm Recovery

Pinellas County has introduced comprehensive online support services, enabling 24/7 access to permitting, inspection scheduling, and fee payments. Amidst its recovery initiatives, the county has mobilized the Pinellas Recovers program to address the extensive storm damage caused by hurricanes Helene and Milton.

East Lake resident Martha Cannon is the first to benefit from the county's People First Home Rehabilitation and Reconstruction initiative. Despite previous challenges with her insurance carrier and assistance programs, Cannon expressed optimism about the reconstruction progress supported by Pinellas County.

The People First Home Rehabilitation and Reconstruction program provides up to $375,000 for storm damage repairs, funded by an $813-million allocation from the federal Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR). Administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the program launched a year after Hurricane Milton, faster than typical similar initiatives.

The program supports homeowners, renters, and landlords across Pinellas County, excluding the City of St. Petersburg, which offers separate disaster recovery resources. To date, over 7,000 applications have been filed, with more than 2,000 directed towards home rehabilitation. Ample resources remain to aid additional homeowners in their recovery efforts.

Applications and detailed eligibility information are readily available online at recover.pinellas.gov, with in-person assistance offered Monday through Friday. Interested parties can also reach out to program case managers by phone for personalized guidance.

The county plans to announce further funding opportunities for local businesses, nonprofits, and infrastructure development soon, showcasing its commitment to enhancing community resilience and supporting disaster recovery work.