Tag: Hurricane Milton
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After five months of extensive repairs, the Ruskin Family Drive-In Theatre reopened on Friday night, drawing eager crowds who lined up early to secure their spots. The beloved venue had been severely damaged by Hurricane Milton, marking a challenging chapter for the community. “It took a lot of blood, sweat, and tears—not to mention a…
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Hurricane Milton devastated coastal communities across the greater Tampa Bay region, but inland areas were hit just as hard. Tracy Boyette has lived near Lakeland for 17 years—but her home, or what’s left of it, is almost unrecognizable. “Everything was damaged,” Boyette told WUSF. “I’ve never seen mold grow so fast, spreading up the walls.…
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A cherished Hernando Beach staple is making a resilient return after facing back-to-back challenges. Brian’s Place, a beloved local restaurant, was forced to close temporarily following severe damage from Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Just as recovery efforts were nearing completion, a fire dealt another blow. But through it all, the restaurant’s spirit—and its team—emerged stronger…
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In October, Hurricane Milton battered the Tampa Bay area, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. Now, nearly six months later, some Zephyrhills residents continue to grapple with persistent flooding, lacking access to basic necessities like running water and electricity. Don Ferguson, a resident of nearly 20 years, saw his entire home inundated during…
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In fiscal year 2024, the City of St. Petersburg allocated $13.5 million to certified small business enterprises (SBEs). City officials are optimistic that this number will grow thanks to new programs and partnerships. During a Feb. 27 committee meeting, city council members received an encouraging annual business enterprise report. Although there was a slight year-over-year…
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A new state bill is in the works to streamline the permitting process, aiming to help storm-affected residents rebuild and recover more efficiently. This issue has been especially persistent in the Bay Area following hurricanes Helene and Milton, leaving homeowners like Sean Bryan in limbo as they wait to repair their properties in St. Pete…
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As the March 31 deadline approaches, the Tampa Bay Rays face a critical decision about their proposed $1.3 billion stadium and the surrounding $6.5 billion Historic Gas Plant District development in St. Petersburg. Despite prior agreements and enthusiasm, recent events have created significant obstacles that may derail the project. The Current Situation The Rays must…
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St. Petersburg originally planned $960 million in stormwater projects over five years. However, Mayor Ken Welch’s push to tackle growing climate threats has increased the total to $1.5 billion. City council members received their first in-depth briefing on the St. Pete Agile Resilience (SPAR) program Thursday. Launched after Hurricanes Helene and Milton, SPAR aims to…
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St. Petersburg’s booming development has resulted in a backlog of construction permits, further aggravated by an unprecedented hurricane season. Although officials believe a new platform will help address the issue, persistent staffing challenges remain a significant concern. A 2024 independent study echoed local developers’ sentiments: the understaffed permitting department needs more personnel. Elizabeth “Liz” Abernethy,…
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Some St. Petersburg residents can soon receive a full reimbursement to fix faulty sewer laterals, which officials say contribute significantly to flooding and sewage overflows. Private laterals connect a home’s plumbing to public sewer systems, and a new initiative will eventually offer up to $5,000 rebates citywide. Administrators believe the program could reduce inflow from…
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Bradenton Beach officials have reached a consensus on demolishing 16 structures severely damaged by the 2024 hurricanes. During a Feb. 20 commission meeting, Police Chief John Cosby, who leads the city’s emergency management team, reported that he had notified property owners on Feb. 10 about the need for demolition. According to FEMA guidelines, if a…
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One of Manatee County’s major employers, Tropicana, faces potential bankruptcy amid a struggling citrus industry. Sales for Tropicana brands have declined, leading to reduced profits. The company grapples with rising prices, intensifying competition, and shifting market trends. A notable example of Tropicana’s financial difficulties: CNN reports that a European private equity firm recently extended a…
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The Pinecrest-Leto community is one of several North Tampa neighborhoods that, despite not being designated as FEMA flood zones, suffered extensive flood damage from Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Many homeowners in the area lack flood insurance and are relying on federal assistance—some of which, they claim, has yet to arrive. Codie Parkinson has already spent…
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A legal battle over the presidential administration’s pause and review of federal funding has created uncertainty for the City of St. Petersburg at a critical time. City officials are awaiting approximately $200 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and an additional $160 million in hurricane recovery funds for residents. Frustrated city council members…
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Pinellas County is exploring a plan to ease the burden on hurricane victims by eliminating permit fees for rebuilding efforts. For families in parts of Pinellas County, the aftermath of recent storms lingers, with homes still in disrepair months later. County commissioners are looking at a proposal to waive building permit fees for repair and…
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Sarasota County is confident that hurricane recovery funds will continue to flow despite shakeups in the federal bureaucracy. Local officials are depending on the U.S. government’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program to address the housing and infrastructure needs caused by the trio of hurricanes—Debby, Helene, and Milton—that struck the area in 2024. This program…
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U.S. Representative Kathy Castor (FL-14) has introduced the Rebuild & Save Act, a bill designed to ease the financial burden on homeowners and small businesses rebuilding after hurricanes and other natural disasters. The legislation proposes increasing the Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster loan mitigation assistance cap from 20% to 30%, potentially providing up to an…
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When Hurricanes Helene and Milton struck the Sarasota area, Longboat Key was among the hardest-hit islands. The devastation forced many businesses to close, including the beloved SeaHorse Beach Resort. After months of repairs, the resort fully reopened earlier this week, and eager visitors wasted no time returning. Paul Will, a longtime guest, was relieved to…
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Four months after Hurricane Milton devastated the Lake Bonny area, residents continue to face significant challenges with insurance denials, elevated water levels, and slow recovery progress. Ongoing Water Level Concerns Residents around Lake Bonny and Little Lake Bonny are anxiously monitoring water levels as they attempt to rebuild their storm-damaged homes. Many fear that the…
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The St. Petersburg City Council continues to investigate why some residents’ water bills skyrocketed to as much as six times the normal amount following last year’s hurricanes. After Hurricanes Helene and Milton subsided, several St. Petersburg residents were left with astonishingly high water bills. “Imagine my shock when I received my December utility bill for…
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Felix Figueruelo keeps what remains of his parents’ possessions in a pod on their front porch. “They’re eager to return home,” he told Bay News 9. It’s been four months since Hurricane Milton flooded their house. “I promised them, ‘I’ll pick you up in the morning,’” he recalled. “‘You’ve got nothing to worry about.’ I…
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Hernando County Government, Development Services, and Emergency Management are notifying residents that damage assessment teams will be visiting homes affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Assessments are already underway, with additional teams deployed starting Monday, February 24, 2025. These teams, composed of County-hired contractors, will conduct substantial damage evaluations to determine the storms’ impact on…
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St. Petersburg residents, small business owners, and city employees affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton will soon receive aid. Starting in March, officials will distribute over $800,000 from the We Are St. Pete Fund, which was approved unanimously by the city council. The fund allocates $400,000 for resident grants, $200,000 for small businesses, and $200,000…
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Homeowners in Pinellas County whose homes sustained major hurricane damage last year and were uninhabitable for at least 30 days may be eligible for a partial property tax refund. This marks the second year that Pinellas County has been able to offer tax relief for significant hurricane damage. The deadline to apply for a Property…
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While some businesses have managed to rebuild after hurricane damage, others have faced the difficult decision of whether to reopen. Joe Lalond, owner of Frost Oasis, an ice cream shop offering various desserts, made the tough choice to close his beloved store. “Scooping ice cream isn’t as easy as it looks. Anyone who works in…
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Driving along the Tampa Bay area coast, the devastation from last year’s hurricanes is unmistakable, with billions of dollars in damages. To better grasp the full extent of this impact, new data reveals over 329,000 residential property insurance claims statewide since the storms hit. However, the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (FLOIR) reports that less…
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The University of South Florida, in collaboration with Neptune Flood, the largest private flood insurance provider in the U.S., has unveiled the results of the 2024 Neptune Consumer Survey of Flood Awareness. This annual survey provides valuable insights into national perceptions of flood risks and insurance coverage. Led by Philip Trocchia, a marketing professor at…
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Treasure Island leaders are making strides toward aiding local businesses in hurricane recovery. City officials have unanimously advanced an ordinance designed to support restaurants and bars impacted by recent storms. With beachgoers returning, commissioners acknowledge the need for ample dining and leisure options. Mayor John Doctor emphasized, “Without our hotels, without our restaurants, without the…
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Stakeholders in Tampa Bay’s development industry predict service demand and construction will cool down in 2025, owing to the impacts of an unprecedented hurricane season and rising costs. Nonetheless, they believe even modest growth highlights the region’s resilience to building challenges. Will Conroy, president of St. Petersburg-based Backstreets Capital, and Jonathan Moore, president of Tampa’s…
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Following Hurricanes Helene and Milton, over 10 million cubic yards of debris were cleared from Tampa Bay, with Hillsborough County alone contributing nearly 5 million cubic yards – enough to fill over 1,400 Olympic-sized swimming pools. Residents waited patiently for months as piles of vegetative debris were removed from their street corners. Now, that same…
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Five months have passed since Hurricane Helene hit, flooding hundreds of homes in the Tampa Bay area’s beach towns. One resident, Jeff Fuller, is facing significant challenges rebuilding his home after it was inundated by five feet of water. His efforts have been stalled, as he waits for the necessary permits. Fuller, a resident of…
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Treasure Island leaders could take a step forward on Tuesday in supporting business owners still struggling to rebuild months after Hurricanes Helene and Milton. City officials plan to discuss a proposal that would allow businesses to apply for “special event permits” to set up tents, temporary bars, food trucks, or trailers for an extended period…
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The City of Treasure Island is set to explore the possibility of waiving additional permit fees for residents rebuilding homes damaged by hurricanes. At a workshop scheduled for Tuesday evening, city commissioners will deliberate on the proposal to eliminate permit fees for both elevating existing homes and for new constructions aimed at replacing hurricane-affected properties.…
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A couple in Gulfport, Becky McCoy and Jim Newman, faced a significant setback in their recovery efforts after waiting nearly five months for a permit from city officials to repair their roof and the damage left by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Initially, a substantial damage determination letter from November indicated that their home suffered less…
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Sarasota County is engaging its community to shape a $210 million hurricane recovery plan, involving input from residents affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton, and Tropical Storm Debby in 2024. The county has initiated the “Resilient SRQ Unmet Needs Survey” and is hosting public meetings to gather this crucial feedback. The next scheduled public meeting…
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The tourism industry in Pinellas County is on the mend after the devastating impacts of Hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024. Local business owners and employees are eager to welcome back snowbirds and vacationers. The effects on tourism trends will become clearer in the coming months and years, particularly during the peak season. Sean Green,…
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After five months of restoration, the popular beach at Pinellas County’s largest public park is set to reopen on Presidents’ Day. Fort De Soto Park sustained significant damage from Hurricanes Helene and Milton. While most of the 1,136-acre park reopened weeks ago, North Beach remained one of the final areas under repair. Park Ranger Marina…
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New state data reveals that sky-high deductibles are a major reason for insurance claim denials. After enduring years of high insurance premiums, the recent hurricane season has tested insurance companies. However, many Tampa Bay area homeowners feel let down by their insurance providers. Local news WFTS is delving deeper into why numerous hurricane claims are…
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Residents of storm-battered St. Petersburg, along with several real estate agents, have voiced worries after city officials initiated nearly 11,000 code enforcement cases on properties potentially affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Many residents argue that their properties do not exhibit significant damage, while others worry that open cases could tarnish property reputations, complicating sales. …
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After being closed for months due to significant damage from hurricanes Helene and Milton, local favorite, Fort DeSoto Park in Pinellas County, is set to fully reopen. The park has been gradually reopening in phases, with dedicated crews and volunteers working tirelessly to clean up and repair the damage caused by Helene’s powerful surge and…
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When Hurricane Helene struck, it was just another chapter in the history of flooding for the home recently acquired by Melanie Cook and her partner Shawn, months before last year’s relentless storms. Realizing the home’s recurrent flooding issues, the couple felt they had no choice but to elevate their house. “Until we elevate, the threat…
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In the state of Georgia, Augusta’s storm cleanup efforts have made significant progress over four months, but completing the work quickly has become increasingly urgent for the city’s finances. “We’ve been working every day to clear this debris. Fortunately, FEMA initially extended our deadline from 90 to 120 days,” said Mayor Pro-Tem Wayne Guilfoyle. Though…
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As St. Petersburg residents continue rebuilding after last year’s Hurricanes Helene and Milton, many are encountering code enforcement violations for making repairs without the required permits. The city currently has nearly 11,000 open code enforcement cases, primarily focused on homes that may not have obtained proper permits for storm-related repairs. Officials say this effort is…
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