ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Recovery efforts are in full swing in St. Petersburg following the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene. The City has launched several initiatives to assist residents, businesses, and City employees as they work to recover from the storm.
We Are St. Pete Fund
The City of St. Petersburg, in collaboration with the Pinellas Community Foundation, has established the We Are St. Pete Fund to provide disaster relief. The fund will support residents, small businesses, and City employees affected by Hurricane Helene.
Donors can choose how their contributions are allocated, and 100% of donations will go directly to those impacted. More details are available at WeAreStPete.org.
Read: AccuWeather Warns Of Potential Tropical Threat To Florida Following Hurricane Helene’s Devastation
Permitting & Rebuilding
- Emergency Permits: Streamlined applications for urgent repairs are available. For questions, contact permits@stpete.org or call 727-893-7231.
- Construction in Flood Zones: For information about construction guidelines in flood-prone areas, visit Pinellas County’s Construction in a Floodplain resource.
- Permit Fee Waivers: Fees for hurricane-related repairs may be waived. Further details will be shared soon.
- Remote Permitting Sites: To expedite the permitting process for storm damage repairs, the City has set up Remote Permitting Sites operating Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the following locations:
- Azalea Recreation Center (1600 72nd St. N)
- Enoch D. Davis Center (1111 18th Ave. S)
- Roberts Recreation Center (1246 50th Ave. N)
Fare-Free Bus Service
To assist those affected by the hurricane, the City has funded a two-week period of fare-free bus service within the St. Pete city limits from Monday, Sept. 30 through Sunday, Oct. 13. This applies to regular bus trips within the city. However, Access, MOD, and other mobility services are excluded. SunRunner routes are limited due to access restrictions. Regular fares will resume on Monday, Oct. 14. More information on routes and schedules can be found at psta.net.
Read: Biden Deploys 1,000 Troops To North Carolina For Hurricane Helene Recovery Efforts
Comfort Stations
Residents impacted by the hurricane can visit Comfort Stations to cool off, charge electronic devices, and receive recovery kits with cleaning supplies, fans, and tarps. The stations will operate daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the following locations:
- Azalea Recreation Center (1600 72nd St. N)
- Enoch D. Davis Center (1111 18th Ave. S)
- Roberts Recreation Center (1246 50th Ave. N)
- USF St. Pete, University Student Center (200 6th Ave. S) – Open until 8 p.m.
St. Pete libraries are also open to residents for cooling, charging, and internet access:
- Childs Park Community Library (691 43rd St. S)
- James Weldon Johnson Community Library (1059 18th Ave. S)
- Mirror Lake Community Library (280 5th St. N)
- North Community Library (861 70th Ave. N)
- South Community Library (2300 Roy Hanna Dr. S)
- West Community Library (6700 8th Ave. N)
Laundry Stations
Free laundry services are available for residents without power:
- Parking lot across from Allendale United Methodist Church (3803 Haines Rd. N): 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.
- Clothesline Laundromat (840 49th St. N): 12 – 8 p.m. (Monday – Friday)
- St. Pete Laundry Company (8461 4th St. N): 8 a.m. – 10 p.m. (last wash at 8:30 p.m.)
Mobile Restroom Units
The City has deployed mobile restrooms at the following locations for residents impacted by the storm:
- Shore Acres Recreation Center (4230 Shore Acres Blvd. NE)
- Riviera Bay Park (8131 Macoma Dr. NE)
- Bartlett Park (2000 7th St. S)
- Coquina Key Park (3595 Locust St. SE)
- Sunset Park (Park St. N and Central Ave.)
Debris Clean-Up
City crews will conduct multiple sweeps across St. Petersburg to collect storm debris. The first round of collections is expected to begin no sooner than Oct. 7. Residents are advised not to place debris in trash bags. Regular trash and recycling services continue as usual.
Volunteers Needed
For those looking to assist with recovery efforts, volunteer opportunities are available. Visit stpete.org/heleneaid to sign up and support the community in its time of need.