In response to the widespread damage caused by Hurricanes Helene and Milton, officials and homeowners in Pinellas County are moving ahead with elevating homes and implementing stricter floodplain standards — part of what authorities say is a longer-term strategy to protect lives and property.

What’s happening

• After the recent storms, Pinellas County has begun inspections and damage assessments of many homes in flood hazard areas. If repairs to a structure meet or exceed 49% of its cash value (excluding land), state and federal rules require that the home be elevated, rebuilt, or demolished to meet current floodplain standards.
• The county has waived permit fees for storm-related home repairs to help homeowners cope with costs.
• Construction already is underway in communities like Gulfport. One homeowner, Barbara Banno, is elevating her home by about 14 feet after it was substantially damaged. Her project is expected to be completed in advance of the peak of the 2025 hurricane season.

Why it matters

• Elevation of homes is being pressed not only as a compliance issue, but as a measure to prevent repeated damage. As Kevin McAndrew, director of Building & Development Review Services in Pinellas County, put it: the goal is to break the cycle of large reinvestments in damaged properties only to face similar storm losses again.
• Many homeowners are facing steep costs. The home elevation project in Gulfport, for example, is estimated at approximately $260,000. Though costly, homeowners say staying in their neighborhood and reducing future damage makes the expense worth it.
• Federal and state resources are available. Grants, FEMA ­programs, and local assistance are being used to offset some of the cost burden.

Challenges and community impact

• Many residents are currently displaced or living in temporary housing while their homes are repaired or rebuilt. The process of elevation is complex, time-consuming, and expensive.
• The timeline for compliance has been extended in some cases. For instance, the county has extended the compliance deadline for properties with substantial damage through June 1, 2026, giving homeowners extra time to explore their options and begin the elevation or reconstruction process.
• There is concern among some residents about affordability, structural logistics, and insurance eligibility, especially in neighborhoods where many homes were built before more rigorous floodplain standards existed.

What comes next

Authorities are continuing damage determinations and working with homeowners to guide them through rebuilding, elevation, or relocating where necessary. Communities are being encouraged to use available grants and incentives. Officials also say they are doing public outreach and workshops to help people understand their options.

Meanwhile, many hope that elevating structures now, before the next hurricane season, will reduce future loss and give peace of mind to residents whose homes have repeatedly been threatened by flooding.

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