Gulfport residents waiting on permits to rebuild more than 3 months after Hurricane Helene

Gulfport residents still struggling to get permits

FOX 13's Genevieve Curtis reports on Gulfport residents still in limbo, awaiting permits to rebuild their homes after back-to-back hurricanes struck the community at the end of 2024.

GULFPORT, Fla. - It's been more than 100 days since Hurricane Helene forced hundreds of Gulfport residents from their homes. Most who experienced flooding have not been able to return.

Many of them still don't have a permit to even start the rebuilding process.

What they're saying: Residents directed waves of frustration at city leaders this week.

"Take action and do something to help people. Get these damn permits issued," said one resident to council Tuesday night.

Gulfport residents voiced frustration over long waiting periods for permits.

Homeowners once rooted in the community are now adrift, turning the calendar on yet another month of living out of suitcases.

"We are moving rental to rental, we are spending a fortune. We don't know where we are going to live," said resident Karen Goldberg.

As ‘for sale’ signs go up all over their community, many say they are not sure how much longer they will be able to hang on.

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Homeowners said they completed mitigation in September and applied for permits, but there’s been no movement for the last three months.

Residents also said they feel like the goal posts keep getting moved, as they watch other coastal communities already rebuilding their homes.

Hundreds of Gulfport homeowners have not been able to begin repairs months after recent hurricanes.

At the meeting, the mayor said the city's hands are tied.

"The longer this process takes, the more neighbors will continue to lose their homes," said one resident.

By the numbers: On Wednesday, the city manager told FOX 13 that residents applied for more than 600 permits. City Manager Jim O’Reilly said they have issued 427 permits with 235 permits still under review.

He said there are only two city employees who can review and issue permits.

What's next: O’Reilly said they are trying to get additional help to review and issue permits, but there are limited professionals who can do that work, and they are competing with other costal communities.

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