ST. PETERSBURG — City of St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch and teams spent the first day of recovery from Hurricane Idalia assessing damage, distributing resources and information, and working with partners to analyze what recovery will look like for St. Petersburg.
“St. Petersburg is in recovery mode – the deployment of City teams and resources into the most affected areas is top priority,” said Mayor Welch. “Speaking with residents and seeing the damage firsthand today really puts storms like Idalia in perspective. Our teams are working around the clock to keep our city and its citizens safe as all of us work towards a sense of normalcy.”
What Happened Today:
All city facilities are back to regularly scheduled business hours; trash and recycling collection have resumed normal hours.
- 20 City teams were first deployed in these priority neighborhoods to share water damage and flooding resources: Coquina Key, Riviera Bay, and Shore Acres.
- Due to high salt content in the reclaimed water system from the storm, reclaimed water service is temporarily unavailable. Reclaimed water service is anticipated to be restored sometime next week.
- 42 downed trees were reported through SeeClickFix. Only 19 trees are left to be cleared and efforts will be completed by Friday.
- City Emergency Management and Pinellas County are currently working with the FEMA to assess damage in St. Pete. Next steps will be communicated as we have more information.
What Impacted Residents Need to Know:
Electrical Safety — St. Pete Fire Rescue has responded to several electrical fires in low-lying neighborhoods impacted by extreme flooding. Please do not enter your home until you contact your local utility company that it’s safe to do so, and do not touch wet electrical equipment. More information on what to do at www.stpete.org/flooding.
Water Damage Assessments — Minor water intrusion that requires the replacement of floor finishes (carpet, wood, tile, etc.) does not require a building permit. Water intrusion and flood/storm damage that affects walls, fixtures, built-in cabinetry, windows, doors, roof, electrical, mechanical, or plumbing, etc., does require a permit for repair or replacement.
Note: The permitting process can be expedited after storm events. Email permits@stpete.org or call 727-893-7231 for any permitting-related questions. More information at www.stpete.org/floo
What To Do With Sandbags — Please keep unused sandbags for the remainder of hurricane season unless they have come in contact with flood water. For sandbags that have come into contact with floodwaters, empty the sand into low spots, then rinse with a hose to dilute any salt. The bags are then safe for disposal into trash cans.
Debris Clean Up:
- Vegetative debris can be broken down and placed in the regular trash bin (black bin) for pickup. If items are too large for the bin, please place at the curb, but do not block roadways or sidewalks.
- All brush site locations are open, and residents are welcome to bring brush debris to those facilities if desired.
- Please contact the Sanitation Department at 727-893-7398 or use SeeClickFix to schedule a pickup.
