Tag: hurricanes
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The Florida Public Service Commission’s staff advised Thursday that state regulators should stick to their decision to approve Tampa Electric Co.’s base-rate increases despite objections from consumer groups. The commission is set to revisit the issue on May 6, following a request for reconsideration filed by the state Office of Public Counsel, Florida Rising, Inc.,…
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As St. Petersburg recovers from past hurricanes and braces for a new season, the city is facing a sharp decline in financial support. Compared to this time last year, the city has received $31.3 million less in grant funding — an 83% drop from $37.6 million to just $6.3 million through March. The decline is…
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The Pines Trailer Park in Bradenton Beach has weathered storms for decades, but now, its residents face a new challenge: eviction. After enduring the devastation of Hurricane Helene and the difficult cleanup that followed, residents began to rebuild their lives. Many feared their homes would be red-tagged by FEMA, but 83 of the 86 homeowners…
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Local leaders from several beach communities across Pinellas County came together Thursday for a “State of the Beaches” discussion, reflecting on the region’s ongoing recovery from two powerful hurricanes. The Institute for Strategic Policy Solutions and the Pinellas Beaches Chamber hosted the event at Madeira Beach City Hall, which brought together mayors and vice mayors…
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The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Business Recovery Center in Clearwater will permanently close its doors at 2 p.m. today, Friday, April 25th, according to an announcement from Pinellas County on Thursday. Located on 58th Street North, the center has provided support to business owners, homeowners, and renters applying for disaster loans. With its closure,…
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Marilyn Mendez Arnett has lived in her Tampa home for over 40 years, raising a family and building a life with her late husband. Her property lies in what FEMA currently designates as a “non-flood zone”—Zone X. But that classification may soon change. Following recent hurricanes, including Hurricane Milton, FEMA is reassessing Tampa’s flood maps,…
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The City of St. Petersburg is facing a major setback in its storm preparedness efforts after the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced the termination of a key funding source. The city had anticipated receiving millions through FEMA’s Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program, which has historically supported flood mitigation projects and home elevation…
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The Florida Senate is now set to consider a major condominium reform bill after the state House overwhelmingly passed its version on Wednesday. Prompted by the tragic 2021 Surfside condo collapse, the legislation aims to ease financial burdens on condo associations and homeowners while maintaining safety standards. Miami Republican Representative Vicki Lopez is leading the…
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As hurricane season approaches, the Pinellas Beaches Chamber is organizing a special town hall this evening, Thursday, April 24th, to address the state of the county’s coastal communities. The event, dubbed the “State of the Beaches,” will feature mayors from several beach cities, including Treasure Island and Madeira Beach. Key topics on the agenda include…
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Just 3 days from now will mark 7 months since Hurricane Helene, and in only 2 weeks, 6 months since Hurricane Milton. Yet, hundreds, if not thousands, are still dealing with the fallout, attempting to recover from the double punch the historic storms delivered. Meanwhile, the Florida legislature is considering House Bill 1535, a set…
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Next month, St. Petersburg’s new Resident Task Force pilot program will kick off with a bus tour through the flood-prone neighborhoods of Shore Acres and Riviera Bay, as part of a collaborative effort to explore innovative flood mitigation strategies. “The city is finally giving residents a real voice,” said Kevin Batdorf, President of the Shore…
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As hurricane season looms, Florida’s House Bill 1535 is making waves with a bold proposal to ease the burden on property owners recovering from devastating storms. Backed by Rep. Fiona McFarland (R-Sarasota) and with a Senate counterpart (SB 180) sponsored by Sen. Nick DiCeglie (R-Indian Rocks Beach), the measure aims to streamline post-storm recovery and…
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Honeymoon Island State Park is once again welcoming visitors, and recovery efforts continue following Hurricane Helene’s extensive damage. The hurricane severely impacted the park’s coastal dunes. To restore the shoreline, the Florida Park Service hired Clearwater-based Gator Dredging to remove and redistribute 168,000 cubic yards of sand from nearby Hurricane Pass. That material was used…
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Hurricanes Helene and Milton devastated Tampa Bay’s tree canopy in 2024. Now, local initiatives are helping residents replant and restore the region’s greenery. The storms, striking just two weeks apart, caused unprecedented damage, felling trees and leaving landscapes bare. To counter this loss, tree giveaway programs are sprouting up across the area, offering free native…
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A long-vacant tower in downtown St. Petersburg, left visibly scarred by Hurricane Milton, is poised for a major transformation. The damaged 11-story structure at 300 Central Avenue is set to be replaced with a boutique hotel, according to plans submitted by Gianco Companies. The Tampa-based developer, which acquired the property in 2017, has officially proposed…
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For the first time in 20 years, the Town of North Redington Beach has a new mayor at the helm—just as the community faces one of its toughest recoveries yet. Jay Super was sworn in during the March town commission meeting after running unopposed. He succeeds Bill Queen, who stepped down in February after two…
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For many adults, revisiting the places from childhood can bring a rush of memories — post-game pizza parties, spring break lunches, or weekend family dinners. Capogna’s Dugout in Clearwater has long been one of those places. Owner Al Capogna takes pride in that legacy. “You start eating pizza and spaghetti here when you’re 6 or…
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The City of St. Petersburg plans to secure an $85 million line of credit from Bank of America to help fund ongoing storm recovery efforts, including debris removal and repairs to Tropicana Field. City officials say the borrowing strategy is a fiscally responsible move amid ongoing federal uncertainty and rising costs. The proposal, discussed during…
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A pattern emerges after every major storm: investors swoop in, offering to buy storm-damaged homes for cash. But what happens when those deals fall apart? Several homeowners in Redington Beach are now grappling with that very scenario. They believed their properties were sold, only to learn, months later, that the buyers had backed out. Now,…
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Residents in North Tampa’s Forest Hills neighborhood—classified as “Flood Zone X,” typically considered low-risk—gathered Monday night to demand answers from city and county leaders after devastating flooding last year. Sherri Allen, a longtime Forest Hills resident, recalled watching helplessly as water poured into her home the morning after Hurricane Milton made landfall. “It was terrible,”…
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After sustaining over $1.5 million in damage from Hurricanes Helene and Milton, Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital is investing nearly $34 million to strengthen its St. Petersburg campus against future storms. The historic hospital, which sheltered around 200 children and families during the storms, suffered roof, wind, and water intrusion damage. CEO K. Alicia Schulhof…
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Pasco County residents gathered Monday night for the first in a series of public meetings to discuss how to allocate millions in federal hurricane relief funds — with housing emerging as the community’s top concern. The meeting, held at the J. Ben Harrill Recreation Complex, was part of the county’s outreach effort to involve the…
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While April 15 is the traditional tax filing deadline, some Tampa Bay Area taxpayers impacted by recent storms have more time to submit their returns. The IRS has extended the tax deadline to May 1 for individuals affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. This extension applies automatically to those whose official address is in a…
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Community workshops will help shape how over $1.3 billion in federal disaster relief is used. Pasco and Pinellas counties are inviting residents to weigh in on how to spend more than a billion dollars in hurricane recovery funds. Both counties are launching a series of public workshops to gather community input on priorities for long-term…
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More than six months after Hurricanes Helene and Milton tore through the region, the recovery across Tampa Bay is still ongoing—but now, enforcement is ramping up. Beginning Monday, Pasco County officials will start re-inspecting storm-damaged areas and enforcing building permit regulations tied to hurricane recovery, especially in flood-prone zones. Federal, state, and local laws require…
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As Pinellas County residents continue to rebuild after hurricanes Helene and Milton, a troubling issue in Collier County is a stark warning: widespread permit fraud could leave property owners facing costly and complex consequences. In Collier County, officials revealed that at least 400 single-family homes and commercial buildings were issued certificates of occupancy using fraudulent…
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A comprehensive proposal aimed at improving hurricane readiness and recovery is making progress in the Florida House, just one day after the Senate passed its own version of the legislation. On Thursday, the House Transportation & Economic Development Budget Subcommittee approved the bill (HB 1535), which outlines responsibilities for local governments in areas such as…
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Diane Stephens hasn’t been able to return to her Dunedin home since Hurricane Helene sent a tree crashing through the roof, leaving it uninhabitable. On Thursday, she visited Dunedin City Hall looking for answers at a public input meeting about how Pinellas County plans to use more than $800 million in federal disaster recovery grants.…
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Florida homeowners looking to protect their properties from future flooding have until 7 p.m. tonight (Friday) to apply for Elevate Florida, a state-run program that offers significant financial assistance for raising homes above the floodplain. The initiative, overseen by the Florida Department of Emergency Management (FDEM), is funded with $400 million in federal money. It…
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Residents of mobile home communities in Dunedin are voicing their concerns after receiving “substantial damage” letters from Pinellas County, following the destruction caused by Hurricanes Helene and Milton in late 2024. The letters, sent to homeowners in flood zones, indicate that their properties have sustained damage exceeding 50% of their market value, triggering strict rebuilding…
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The Thunderbird Beach Resort, a historic landmark on Treasure Island since its opening in 1957, is slated for demolition to make way for a modern redevelopment. The resort, located at 10700 Gulf Blvd., has been a cherished part of the community for nearly seven decades, known for its retro charm and beachfront access along 310…
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The University of South Florida’s St. Petersburg campus is still assessing the full extent of damage caused by Hurricanes Helene and Milton, with early estimates suggesting costs could reach into the millions. The storms, which struck in late 2024, left significant destruction across the campus, impacting buildings, infrastructure, and equipment. Flooding from the hurricanes affected…
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As homeowners continue rebuilding after last year’s hurricanes, an experienced mold remediation expert is urging them to take proper precautions to avoid future problems caused by trapped moisture in building materials. Bob Richards, owner of Quality Remediation and a veteran in the industry with over 30 years of experience, says he’s receiving a growing number…
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The City of Treasure Island has decided against extending the presence of state-provided recovery staff, opting instead to rely on its own resources as it continues to rebuild from the devastating impacts of Hurricanes Helene and Milton. The decision, made during a recent city commission meeting, marks a shift in the city’s approach to managing…
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Residents of St. Pete Beach, Florida, are facing an uncertain future as their temporary hotel stays, provided by FEMA, are set to end on April 12, 2025. The community was devastated by back-to-back storms, Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton, which left many homes uninhabitable. Among those affected is Jennifer Macksey, who has been living in…
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In the Twelve Oaks subdivision of Town ‘n’ Country, the streets are lined with tall laurel oaks—planted decades ago after residents demanded greenery from the original developer. Now, those same trees are reaching the end of their lifespan, and neighbors like Sue Pritchard are taking action to prevent disaster. “We do love them very much,”…
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On Monday, Pinellas County residents had their first opportunity to share their priorities for over $800 million in federal hurricane recovery funds during a public meeting. More than 50 people gathered at the Lealman Exchange to discuss the $813 million allocation from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), aimed at supporting recovery…
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Tampa has unveiled its latest efforts to combat flooding impacts with a $94 million project aimed at improving the city’s pumping stations. Mayor Jane Castor, Sustainability Officer Kayla Caselli, and Wastewater Treatment Plant Manager Erik Garwell highlighted the importance of upgrading outdated infrastructure to ensure resiliency. This ambitious undertaking is part of the city’s $2.9…
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Manatee County annually funds the rehabilitation of numerous homes in unincorporated areas and Palmetto through its State Housing Initiative Program (SHIP). This year, however, the county is prioritizing residents affected by last year’s hurricanes for the allocation of its $1.2 million budget. “We tackle health and safety concerns first, followed by code violations, and then…
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Every year, Pasco County hosts its Disaster Expo to help residents prepare for the challenges of hurricane season and other natural disasters. This year’s event, held on April 5, 2025, at Pasco Safety Town in Shady Hills, carried heightened significance following a hurricane-filled 2024. Pasco County Emergency Management Director Andrew Fossa emphasized the importance of…
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St. Petersburg Fire Rescue (SPFR) has relied on a single high-water vehicle for countless citywide missions during recent storms. Soon, that number will jump to four. City Councilmember Lisset Hanewicz brought attention to this critical update during Thursday’s meeting, pulling it from the often-ignored consent agenda. Her visit to Station No. 4—serving Shore Acres, the…
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A South Tampa family, displaced by Hurricane Helene’s severe, unprecedented flooding, stored their salvaged belongings at a Public Storage facility while repairing their home. When Laura Gattis visited the South Dale Mabry Highway location last week, she was shocked to find her storage unit emptied. The front desk informed her that all her belongings had…
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Typically, March brings throngs of visitors to the sidewalk outside Walter Loos’ ice cream parlor in Bradenton Beach. “In the evenings, you’d see a solid crowd filling the space,” Loos recalled when speaking to WTVT. This year, however, the area stands deserted. The ice cream parlor, as well as Loos’ nearby pizza and donut shops,…
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The Colorado State University (CSU) research team has released its initial forecast for the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, predicting above-average activity. While the season is expected to be more active than usual, researchers note it likely won’t match the intensity of 2024. “The 2025 season is currently showing similarities to past years like 1996, 1999,…
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