Here’s all the updated information from local governments related to storm recovery from Hurricane Helene.
Jump to your county:
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY
Comfort stations opening for those in need
Hillsborough County and the City of Tampa are opening six comfort stations to help residents affected by Helene.
The comfort stations will offer showers, restrooms, ice, washers and dryers for laundry and charging stations for phones, laptops and other devices. Hot food or boxed meals will be available at lunch and dinner.
Once opened, the stations will be operational daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. until further notice.
Open Monday, Sept. 30
- Marjorie Park Marina: 97 Columbia Dr., Tampa, FL 33606
- Desoto Park: 2617 Corrine St., Tampa, FL 33605
Open Tuesday, Oct. 1
- Apollo Beach Park & Recreation Center: 664 Golf and Sea Blvd., Apollo Beach, FL 33572
- Ruskin Park & Recreation Center: 901 6th St. SE, Ruskin, FL 33570
- Sandy Perrone Park: 5120 Kelly Road Tampa, FL 33615
- Skyway Sports Complex & Park: 3901 George Rd., Tampa, FL 33634
Officials said restrooms, showers, and laundry services will be available at unincorporated county comfort station locations later today. The other amenities will be available tomorrow.
In the meantime, residents can charge their devices at Hillsborough County libraries.
On Monday, lunch will be available at Desoto Park, Ruskin Park and Skyway Sports Complex, provided by the American Red Cross, and at Apollo Beach Park and Sandy Perrone Park, provided by the Salvation Army. Dinner will start around 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, the American Red Cross will be serving lunch starting at around 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and dinner starting at around 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at all comfort station locations.
Wastewater Pump Station Repaired, Reopens in South Hillsborough County
A wastewater pumping system in South Hillsborough County that was impacted by flooding from Hurricane Helene is now fully operational.
Residents who live in the Apollo Beach and Ruskin communities, west of Interstate 75 and south of the Alafia River, were affected. Residents in the area can resume regular wastewater activities such as bathing and showering, clothes washing, dishwashing, and flushing.
Hillsborough asks residents to report damage from Hurricane Helene
Hillsborough County is urging residents to report storm damage on their property with an online form. The Hurricane Helene Damage Reporting Form is designed to help officials determine the extent of the damage across the county.
Hillsborough County residential property owners can use the form to report property loss or damage from the storm to the county. The information will be routed to the appropriate county department, which will respond within 72 hours.
Property owners who need assistance completing the form should call (833) HC Storm or (833) 427-8676.
County staff will evaluate and document the damage and provide the information to state and federal agencies. The county assessment form is not a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) application. To register with FEMA, click here.
Please keep in mind that completing this form does not replace a business or homeowner's insurance claim, nor does it serve as an application for resources.
Residents can learn about additional resources that may be available by clicking on the Storm Recovery Resource tab found here.
PINELLAS COUNTY
Cooling stations open Saturday
Pinellas County has opened cooling stations in areas where residents remain without power following Hurricane Helene. These stations will provide a place for residents to cool off and charge their phones.
They will be open today, Saturday, Sept. 28, until further notice at the following locations/times:
Clearwater:
- Morningside Recreation Center: 2400 Harn Blvd, Clearwater - 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Long Center: 1501 N Belcher Road, Clearwater - 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Countryside Rec Center: 2640 Sabal Springs Drive, Clearwater - 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- McMullen Tennis Complex: 1000 Edenville Ave., Clearwater - 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Moccasin Lake Nature Park: 2750 Park Trail Lane, Clearwater - 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- North Greenwood Recreation and Aquatic Center: 900 N Martin Luther King Jr Ave., Clearwater - 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
- A Mother's Arms: 714 N Fort Harrison Ave., Clearwater - 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (limited capacity)
All Clearwater libraries will be open Saturday, Sept. 28, except for the Beach Library.
St. Petersburg:
Locations will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Azalea Recreation Center: 1600 72nd St. N
- Enoch D. Davis Center: 1111 18th Ave. S
- Robert Recreation Center: 1246 50th Ave. N
Locations will be open from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
- St. Luke’s United Methodist Church: 4444 5th Ave N, St. Petersburg
- Lakewood United Methodist Church, 5995 Dr. M.L.K. Jr. St. S., St. Petersburg (Pets welcome)
Madeira Beach:
- Madeira Beach City Hall: 14225 Gulf Blvd, Madeira Beach - 8 a.m. to sunset
Seminole:
- Seminole Recreation Center: 9100 113th St - 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Largo:
- Largo Public Library: 120 Central Park Dr, Largo - 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
CITY OF CLEARWATER
The City of Clearwater will open access for Island Estates residents and business owners only so they may return to their homes and inspect their businesses. To get through the checkpoint, Island Estates residents and business owners must prove their residency or property interest.
To expedite the re-entry process, it is preferred that residents or business owners show their barrier island re-entry passes. If residents or business owners don't have a re-entry pass, re-entry may be delayed. Employees of Island Estates businesses will also be given access with proper identification.
Residents of Clearwater Beach and Sand Key will not be able to gain access through the checkpoint. Re-entry to the beach and Sand Key will not happen until conditions are deemed safe. Officials said city crews are working around the clock to make conditions safe enough for reopening.
ST. PETERSBURG
City of St. Petersburg Situation Report:
City street teams and damage assessment teams are out today in neighborhoods that were not accessible yesterday to provide resources to those impacted and access damage.
- 160 trees reported downed.
- All 9 City boat ramps were damaged and remain closed
- 574 SeeClickFix requests received.
Three cooling stations opened today at 9 a.m. for residents to cool off and charge electronics.
The city is deploying local food trucks on Saturday, Sept. 28, to heavily impacted areas to serve food to those in need. City stormwater crews are out street sweeping and clearing lines.
City facilities will be open for normal business operations on Monday, Sept. 30.
St. Pete Pier is open; the playground remains closed.
St. Pete Fire Rescue Situation Report:
- Three stations damaged
- Seven structure fires
- 86 water rescues
- 1,744 total emergency calls during the storm
St. Pete Police Dept Situation Report:
- Up to 97 traffic signals went out, but most have come back on
- Responded to 80 disabled vehicles
- 65 downed power lines
- Seven SPPD vehicles with storm-related damaged
- One storm-related death
Debris Pick-Up Update:
Crews with the City of St. Petersburg will do multiple citywide sweeps to pick up storm debris. Residents should expect debris to be collected no sooner than Oct. 7. Do not place debris in trash bags.
Collected debris:
- Vegetative Debris: Branches, leaves, logs, and plants
- Fencing Materials: Fences knocked over during the storm
- Electronics: Computers, televisions, and other devices
- Appliances: Air conditioners, dishwashers, washers and dryers, stoves, refrigerators, water heaters
Before you dispose of storm debris from your home, be sure to document your flood damage.
Take photos and videos of the damage, including structural and personal property damage to the interior and exterior of your home, before discarding items. Your insurance adjuster and/or Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will need evidence of the damage to prepare your claim.
CITY OF MADEIRA BEACH
Officials said they will not pick up if debris is not in separate piles.
If you hire a contractor, they are responsible for the removal of debris piles, including large appliances, construction debris, vegetative debris, hazardous waste and electronics.
Permits fees for demolition will be waived. Start the process here.
Those interested can drop off donations at the Marina, located at 503 150th Avenue.
Items needed include:
- Cleaning products/supplies
- Personal hygiene supplies
- Baby supplies
- Pet supplies
If you're interested in volunteering, contact Keep Pinellas Beautiful at 727-533-0402.
The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office will help with boats found on your property. Reach out to them, and they will try to find the owner for removal at 727-582-6200.
MANATEE COUNTY
Damage surveys in the county continue
As of Friday evening, just over half of the initial “windshield assessments” had been completed, showing 230,471 structures located in 12 zones affected by wind and surges.
- Residential damage: $153,127,695
- Commercial damage: $1,971,612
Residents doing their own damage assessments are reminded to beware of scammers looking to take advantage of the vulnerable. Before proceeding with any work, make sure contractors are licensed and insured and proper permits are acquired.
Manatee County continues to coordinate debris removal with two contract haulers. While there is no set schedule, the work to clear the county of debris is anticipated to begin this week. Residents are reminded to separate debris from other refuse.
Returning to island homes
Starting at 10 a.m., property owners and business owners of Holmes Beach and the City of Anna Maria will be allowed to come onto the island to assess their damages with a re-entry tag.
The only access to the island currently is from Manatee Avenue. The roads in Bradenton Beach are still impassable. There will be barricades at the city line of Holmes Beach/Bradenton Beach, so no one can enter Bradenton Beach through Holmes Beach. There is still no power or water, and the roads still have standing water and debris.
Manatee County Area Transit (MCAT) will be running modified service on routes 3 and 6, and there will be no Beach Trolley. All other fixed routes will be operational. The MCAT shuttle will take island evacuees to the shelter from Manatee Ave. W. at 75th St. W.
Meals
As the clean-up continues, Points of Distribution (PODs) have been established at the following locations, providing ready-to-eat-meals, water and tarps:
- Bennett Park: 400 Cypress Creek Blvd., Bradenton
- Blackstone Park: 2112 14th Ave. W., Palmetto
- GT Bray Park: 5502 33rd Ave. Dr. W., Bradenton
Activities return
Athletic League play has returned to regular schedules across the county. Libraries have reopened except for the Island Branch Library (5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach) and Palmetto Branch (923 6th Street W., Palmetto).
Manatee County facilities are expected to fully reopen Monday (except for those directly impacted by the storm). Continue to monitor local news and weather broadcasts as well as the county's social media accounts for updates.
CITY OF BRADENTON
Water bottle distribution sites have opened to help those in need. Locations are open from 12 p.m. until 7 p.m. on Monday. Proof of residency is required.
- Former location of Wakeland Elementary: 1812 27th Street East
- 3rd Avenue West & 10th Street (adjacent to the City parking garage)
- Bradenton Auditorium: 100 10th St. W.
SARASOTA COUNTY
Damage assessments
Preliminary windshield damage assessments continue and as of 9:30 a.m., Sept. 28, there is an estimated $49 million in residential damages in unincorporated areas of Sarasota County. Please note, this is after one day of assessments only in areas that were accessible. As staff are able to access additional impacted areas, this is expected to increase.
Barrier island community members
Debris collection contractors have been activated and are mobilizing their service teams. To allow barrier island residents time to return home and place damaged materials at the curb, collection of storm-related debris materials in these areas is expected to begin on Wednesday, Oct. 2.
Storm-debris preparation guidelines
- Place large storm-related debris separately from regular garbage at the curb for collection
- Separate items by category (construction and demolition materials, furniture/mattresses and appliances/white goods)
- Any construction and demolition materials contained in plastic bags should be placed with the regular garbage
Residents not living on the barrier islands
Residents not living on the barrier islands are to follow normal disposal guidelines for collection services.
Materials, including yard waste, not properly prepared for collection will not be collected by the service provider. All vegetative materials, including large branches, palm fronds, tree trunks, small branches and leaves should be properly prepared for curbside collection.
Properly prepared vegetative materials should be:
- Bagged (paper only), bundled and tied or containerized
- 4 feet or less in length
- 16 inches or less in diameter
- 40 pounds or less in weight (each paper bag, bundle or container)
Items that are in bags, containers or bundles should not exceed 40 pounds. This applies to both garbage and yard waste.
Breeze Transit
The following Breeze Transit routes have returned to normal service:
- Standard routes and the 76 Flyer
- Breeze OnDemand service in North Port and Venice/Englewood
- Breeze Plus
The following routes remain suspended at this time:
- Breeze OnDemand service in the Downtown/Lido Key/Longboat Key zone and in the Siesta Key zone.
HERNANDO COUNTY
The Hurricane Helene Cleanup Hotline has now been activated for those needing help with cleaning up damage. It also connects people with volunteers from local relief organizations, community groups, and faith communities who may be able to help with jobs such as muck-outs (cleaning up), trees, tarps and debris.
All services are free, but service is not guaranteed, officials said. The hotline will remain open at (844) 965-1386 from today until Friday, Oct. 11.
Safety reminders:
Food safety after power outage
Foods may be unsafe to eat after a power outage, disaster or emergency. To prevent foodborne illness, keep your food at safe temperatures. Your refrigerator will keep food cold for about four hours if the doors stay closed, and a full freezer will maintain its temperature for approximately 48 hours. When in doubt, throw it out. Click here for more details.
Turn Around, Don’t Drown!
Do not drive or walk through flooded waters. Flood waters can be contaminated with bacteria and viruses. Avoid skin contact with flood waters, especially if you have open cuts and wounds. If an open cut or wound comes into contact with flood waters, wash the area well with soap and clean water to prevent infection. If you are cut or have a puncture wound, get a tetanus booster.
Scams
After hurricanes and other disasters, scammers often come into the community trying to take advantage of those impacted by the storm. Watch out for unsolicited offers or contractors claiming to perform repairs at a discount with leftover supplies from another job. Research a company and its reputation—look for references online or ask a friend and check to see if a company is properly licensed and insured and if there are any consumer complaints filed against a licensed contractor. Never pay the full amount of a repair expense upfront, hesitate before providing large deposits and do not sign a certificate of completion or make final payment until satisfied with the work performed. Click here for more.
See road closures and damage reports
Sarasota County encourages community members to view road closures, damage reports, flooding reports, and windshield damage assessments by clicking here. This website will be updated in real-time by Sarasota County professionals in the field. To report an issue, please call 311.
Non-operational traffic signals
When traffic signals are out, treat them like a four-way stop. Come to a complete stop, look carefully in all directions, and take turns proceeding in the order vehicles arrive. Stay safe on the roads and keep calm during unexpected signal outages.
A state report says hundreds of frail elderly nursing home residents were stacked side by side, head to toe in a small church with no working air conditioning or refrigerator during Hurricane Helene.