TAMPA -- As we approach the one-week anniversary of Hurricane Milton's landfall, here's an update on services available for recovery.
Pinellas County: All county government offices have reopened as of Wednesday.
A sand drop-off site opened Wednesday at Sand Key Park in Clearwater. It will be open seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. TFN. Bulk sand only will be accepted, no storm debris or sandbags.
Several parks will reopen Saturday, including A. L. Anderson Park, Brooker Creek Preserve and Education Center, Eagle Lake Park, John Chesnut Sr. Park, Philippe Park, Ray Neri, and Walsingham Park Trails and amenities in these parks may be closed as rangers continue post-storm cleanup.
Utilities: About 12,000 customers remain without power in Pinellas, about 36,000 in Hillsborough as of Wednesday afternoon.
Dunedin: A multi-agency resource center opens at Dunedin City Hall Thursday (17) at 1 p.m. It'll be open daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Residents will be able to:
- Receive guidance on applying for FEMA Individual Assistance
- Request assistance from nonprofit and state partners for food, water, housing and more through Hope Florida navigators.
- Meet with a representative from the Agency for Persons with Disabilities to inquiry about storm recovery resources for the disabled.
- Apply for a replacement driver’s license or ID through a representative with the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
St. Petersburg: The city of St. Petersburg is opening remote permitting sites and permitting fees are waived for remediating storm damage.
Remote Permitting Sites Locations
- Azalea Recreation Center: 1600 72nd St. N
- Enoch D. Davis Center: 1111 18th Ave. S
- Roberts Recreation Center: 1246 50th Ave. N
Remote Permitting Sites are open Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., subject to change based on conditions.
Hillsborough County: The county is offering emergency permitting for residential and commercial buildings needing minor repairs that do not need a plan review. Permits may be requested online AT THIS LINK or in person at the Fred Karl County Center, 601 E. Kennedy Boulevard, Tampa FL 33602 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Small Business Administration opened a business recovery center at 1 p.m. Wed. to take disaster loan applications for Hurricanes Milton and Helene. It's located at the Entrepreneur Collaborative Center, 2101 E. Palm Avenue, Tampa FL 33605, open 8-5 Mon-Fri, 9a-2p Saturday, and closed Sunday.
Hillsborough has hired additional debris contractors to collect yard waste and tree debris as well as construction and demolition debris. Starting Wednesday, leaves and small twigs should be placed in containers or bagged for collection. Residents may now drop off storm debris 24 hours a day at the Hillsborough Heights Solid Waste Facility at 6209 County Road 579 in Seffner, and the Resource Recovery Facility on 350 N. Falkenburg Road in Tampa. All solid waste sites are limited to county residents.
A comfort station has opened at Hillsborough Avenue and Hanley Road, 7501 W. Hillsborough Avenue.
Pasco County: Multiple Points of Distribution are open daily from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. for anyone in need of essential supplies, including food and water:
Hudson Library Parking Lot, 8012 Library Road, Hudson
Dade City Fairgrounds Parking Lot, 36722 County Road 52, Dade City
St. Vincent DePaul Parking Lot, 4843 Mile Stretch, Holiday
Zephyrhills Location, 5435 Gall Blvd., Zephyrhills
Insurance: State Farm has opened customer care sites at these locations:
- Home Depot parking lot, 2070 Tyrone Blvd N, St., Petersburg FL | 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. ET
- Lowe’s Home Improvement,11375 Causeway Blvd., Brandon FL | 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. ET
- Lowe’s Home Improvement, 5750 Fruitville Rd, Sarasota FL | 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. ET
Insurance villages run by the state CFO are operating at these locations:
- RP Funding Center – Sikes Hall, 701 W Lime St., Lakeland FL
- FL Strawberry Festival Admin. Offices, 303 Berryfest, Place Plant City FL
- Downtown Bradenton, 101 12th Street West, Bradenton FL
- The Arc Tampa Bay Foundation, 1501 North Belcher Road, Clearwater FL
Sports: The Tampa Bay Rowdies will play Saturday's game against North Carolina FC at Cary, NC. That game was originally scheduled for Al Lang Stadium
Photo: Getty Images