The Wave

Applications open Oct. 20 for County's People First Hurricane Recovery Programs

If you’re still struggling to repair your home or get back on your feet after last year’s devastating hurricanes, you can apply for help soon through Pinellas County’s People First Hurricane Recovery Programs.

Starting Oct. 20, 2025, you can apply to five programs that pay for major home repairs or replacement, reimbursement for work already done, buying a home, and paying for disaster-related expenses. There’s also a program for local landlords to fix up their storm-damaged units to be rented as affordable housing. 

The programs prioritize vulnerable residents with lower incomes, but help is available for people who make up to 120 percent of the Area Media Income, which is about $87,600 for an individual or $125,160 for a family of four.

Detailed program information, including income qualifications and what documents you need to apply, is posted online at recover.pinellas.gov.

The programs are funded by the largest federal storm recovery grant awarded to any local government in Florida in the aftermath of Hurricanes Helene and Milton - a total of $813,783,000 in Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The grant applies to unmet needs from these two hurricanes as well as Hurricane Idalia in 2023.

How to apply (starting Oct. 20, 2025)

1. Apply online at recover.pinellas.gov.
2. Call our helpline -- phone number goes live Oct. 20.
3. Meet with a case manager at one of these locations:

• 2600 McCormick Drive, Suite 100, Clearwater, FL 33579
• 5000 Park Street, Suite 4, St. Petersburg, FL 33709

Case managers will also visit community centers countywide at pop-up sites in the coming months. Check the website for dates/locations or text "RECOVER" to 888777 for updates.

Who should apply

Anyone in Pinellas County (excluding residents within the City of St. Petersburg) with ongoing housing or financial needs not fully covered by FEMA, insurance or other state or federal programs, like Elevate Florida, is encouraged to apply. The City of St. Petersburg received its own grant allocation. More information on St. Petersburg's programs is available at Sunrise St. Pete.

Home repair and reconstruction programs are for primary residences only and all programs apply only to people who lived in Pinellas County during one of the eligible storms and suffered documented losses.

County Commission adopts final FY26 budget with lower rate

The Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners recently approved the final Fiscal Year 2026 Budget, completing a 9-month process that saw the Commission engage with County leadership to reduce the general fund property rate to 4.5423 mills, its lowest level since 1990. Review a summary of what's in the budget on our Citizens Guide to the Budget.

How do weather alerts get sent to your phone?

Recently, we invited Mike from Mike's Weather Page to our Emergency Operations Center to meet with our Emergency Management staff to talk about these life-saving emergency alerts. See what he learned at the video below and sign up for Alert Pinellas to receive alerts to your phone or email.

Beach Nourishment Making Progress

Our ongoing beach nourishment construction completed work in Indian Shores, as Mayor Diantha Schear shared recently. North Redington Beach and Redington Shores are also finished, and construction is underway on Clearwater Beach and Belleair Beach. If you live in Indian Rocks Beach and haven't signed a temporary construction easement, you may still have time. Visit our project page for the latest details and construction schedule.

Planting is still on the way! This project includes planting of native coastal plants such as sea oats and beach grasses on the new dune areas.

Plus, the project is a boost to the habitat of endangered sea turtles living along our coastline. We recently met up with Clearwater Marine Aquarium to show how we're keeping sea turtles safe during construction and how the project can help them once we're done.

Honoring excellence in Fire Service

The Board of County Commissioners honored two extraordinary individuals whose dedication keeps our community safe every day. From performing CPR on a neighbor in distress to fire inspections and designing a 9/11 memorial, their service exemplifies the very best of Pinellas County Fire professionals. Help us congratulate Richard Minshall and Fire Marshal Robert S. Hill Jr. as the 2025 Fire Professionals of the Year!