The City of St. Petersburg has faced expenses exceeding $247.3 million from Hurricanes Helene and Milton, with more than half of that sum attributed to debris removal.

City officials are optimistic about securing necessary funds from various sources to cover these costs. However, the city is still pending a $3 million reimbursement for damages from Hurricane Ian in 2022.

During a Thursday morning committee meeting, City Council members reviewed a report detailing the storm damage costs. Council Chair Copley Gerdes commented that St. Petersburg has the “flexibility to manage this situation, unlike some neighboring areas.”

Gerdes emphasized, “This will shape the financial future of St. Petersburg. How we manage this will be pivotal.”

Infrastructure affected includes Tropicana Field, the St. Petersburg Fire Rescue headquarters, the St. Pete Pier, the Municipal Marina, Lake Vista Recreation Center, the Northeast Wastewater Reclamation Facility, the Port of St. Petersburg, and numerous sewage lift stations, all needing FEMA inspections for permanent repairs.

To secure FEMA reimbursements, emergency repairs for Helene and Milton must be completed by March and April, respectively, with an additional year allowed for permanent repairs. Debris removal alone has cost $125.8 million, with Milton responsible for 89% of this expense. Other costs include $113.4 million for facility damages and $8.1 million for protective measures.

Assistant City Administrator Tom Greene noted, “The resources we’ve identified exceed our projected costs by about $19.4 million, anticipating further expenses.”

Financially, the city has received $37 million from FEMA for debris, issued a $50 million disaster note (to be repaid with interest), and received $3.2 million in insurance payments. An additional $7.65 million insurance advance for Tropicana Field is expected, alongside $88 million from FEMA for further emergency measures, with FEMA covering 100% upon meeting city obligations.

The city has identified $78.4 million in departmental resources, including workers’ compensation, to aid recovery. Greene expressed a “75% confidence level” in these funds supporting recovery efforts without additional strain.

Administrator Rob Gerdes praised the city’s fiscal readiness, attributing it to past council leadership.

The city has allocated over $58 million for various projects, with significant spending on debris removal ($39.3 million), Tropicana Field ($8.3 million), the 5th Avenue NE seawall ($3.6 million), and two stormwater drainage projects ($3.3 million).

Erika Langhans, Budget and Management Director, explained that FEMA would fund 75% of permanent damage costs, with the state covering 12.5%, leaving the city to manage the final 12.5%. If everything proceeds as planned, St. Petersburg’s direct cost would be approximately $14 million out of the $274 million total.

Council Chair Gerdes also mentioned potential access to $160 million in federal recovery funds, contingent on following HUD guidelines.

The Hometown Haulers initiative, although potentially not reimbursable by FEMA, was deemed valuable for community safety and engagement. Greene highlighted the initiative’s success in community involvement and documentation.

Councilmember Lisset Hanewicz pointed out ongoing reimbursement delays for past hurricanes like Irma, Ian, and Idalia. Gerdes noted improved relations with state and federal authorities, suggesting that more significant damage results in more support.

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(Image credit: St. Pete Catalyst)