It’s been 48 days since Hurricane Helene swept through Tampa Bay, leaving widespread and severe damage. For residents in Indian Rocks Beach, that’s also how long they’ve been unable to return to their homes as they await necessary paperwork to start repairs.
Lori Hurley, a resident of E. Gulf Boulevard, felt the absence of her usual neighbors as she picked up her mail last week. “There’s just no one around,” Hurley said. “I should be hearing hammers, nails, and drills,” she told Bay News 9, lamenting the eerie silence in her once-bustling neighborhood.
Hurley and her boyfriend left their apartment due to severe storm surge damage. They’ve been living in an Airbnb while their landlord waits for approval to begin repairs. “It’s awful not being able to go home, to just lay in your bed or cook dinner,” Hurley said, echoing the frustration of others in her community.
READ: Long Building Permit Wait Frustrates Flood Victims Ready to Rebuild
Shawn Lee, who owns a second home on Bay Boulevard that also serves as a rental property, has faced weeks of delays since he submitted his permit application on October 1. “They processed everything by the 14th, and told me, ‘You’re almost ready, but we’re waiting on one letter,’” Lee recalled.
This letter, known as a “substantial damage determination,” is required before repair permits can be issued. Based on assessments by Pinellas County, the letter informs homeowners if their properties have been substantially damaged, allowing them to proceed with the permitting process, or, if they need further documentation. (Indian Rocks Beach residents can find out more here: https://www.indian-rocks-beach.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Website-FAQ-Final-for-Review.pdf.)
Hurley’s landlord is in the same position, waiting for the letter before repairs can start. “Everyone’s ready to go,” Hurley said. “Please, just push this paperwork through.”
Indian Rocks Beach Mayor Denise Houseberg provided an update, stating that 95% of substantial damage assessments are complete and that the first batch of letters should be sent out later this week or early next week. An official at Tuesday’s city commission meeting noted that roughly 100 letters would be going to Indian Rocks Beach, with more to follow.
READ: St. Pete Takes Steps to Simplify Post-Storm Rebuilding
In the meantime, Hurley and her boyfriend are preparing to move into a Clearwater hotel with a temporary housing voucher from FEMA, which will expire on January 14. “We’re losing sleep over this. We all have homes we work hard for, but we can’t even touch them,” she said. “We can’t even put up a wall.”
City Manager Brently Gregg Mims noted that Indian Rocks Beach isn’t the only community facing delays in issuing these essential letters. In a recent call with building officials from across the county, he found that only Madeira Beach had started sending out letters, and even then, only seven were issued. “This is a widespread problem,” Mims said.
Pinellas County Public Information Coordinator John Carkeet confirmed that Tidal Basin has completed over 20,000 inspections, and letters are expected to go out soon. He added that homeowners with repair costs estimated at less than 49% of the property value can apply for permits now, even if they have not yet received a letter.
For some homeowners, there may be other ways to move forward. According to city planning consultant Hetty Harmon, residents can apply for permits if they can prove floodwaters were less than 12 inches below electrical outlets, or if their structure is elevated and only the garage or entryway was affected by flooding.
As the wait continues, residents like Hurley are hopeful that their letters will arrive soon, allowing them to begin the long-awaited process of repairing their homes and restoring their community.
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(Image credit: Miguel Rodriguez/AFP via Getty Images)
St. Pete-Clearwater Sun 
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