Pinellas County has introduced a new tool this week to assist with storm recovery efforts.

This tool is an online map designed for residents in unincorporated areas of the county, allowing them to view their substantial damage letters as soon as they are available, bypassing the wait for postal delivery.

“As of today, we’ve actually filed over 2,200 letters, with approximately 3,000 still to go, but we’re very confident that we will complete this task by the end of the year,” stated Kevin McAndrew, Director of Building Development Review Services for Pinellas County.

The online tool features a map where colored dots indicate homes: green for those not substantially damaged, and red for those that are. Residents can locate their homes by zooming into their neighborhood or entering their address, and if a letter has been processed, they can access it directly online.

RELATED: Substantial Damage Determination Letters Distributed in Unincorporated Pinellas

In the Feather Sound neighborhood, mostly marked by green dots, Chuck Swain of Spoonbill Lane was dealing with home repairs after Hurricane Helene caused five inches of flooding in his house.

“These are all my new cabinets,” Swain explained, pointing to the new, boxed cabinets and appliances in his garage, poised for installation.

Having renovated his home only five years prior, Swain was forced to make further changes due to the storm. “When I saw water in my house, I was shocked. We’ve lived here for 23 years without a single drop of water,” he recounted. Many of his neighbors faced similar issues.

Swain, eager to start repairs, faced delays due to the lack of his substantial damage letter, which is often required for permit applications. “I didn’t wait for the letter; I went directly to the county and got my permits,” he said. “They confirmed I wasn’t substantially damaged and provided the documentation.”

RELATED: Substantial Damage Letters Frustrating Pinellas County Residents

He praised the new tool, indicating it would ease the stress of waiting for such crucial documentation.

McAndrew explained that the county had implemented new policies in early November to expedite permit processing. “For properties with less than 12 inches of water, we’ve managed to process over 1,500 permits since Hurricane Milton through our substantial improvement process,” he said.

Additionally, Pinellas County has launched a text alert system where residents can text “RECOVER” to 888777 to receive updates on financial assistance programs for rebuilding or elevating homes. The county anticipates over $400 million in state funding to become available.

Although these programs might take some time to fully implement, the county’s Hurricane Home Repair Program and Elevate Florida are expected to start accepting applications shortly, with updates accessible via the county’s website.

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(Image credit: Pinellas County Government)