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Cleanup of 'unprecedented' storm debris will take 'weeks if not months,' Pinellas officials say

By FOX 13 News Staff
Updated  October 4, 2024 11:17am EDT
Hurricane Helene
FOX 13 News

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    LARGO, Fla. - Pinellas County officials say it will take "weeks, if not months" to clean up what they call an "unprecedented" amount of storm debris in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.

    "Some people have asked ‘how does this relate to previous hurricanes or previous storms that we have been through?’ And it is astronomically different," Pinellas County Communications Director Barbra Hernandez said during a news conference Friday morning.

    Hernandez said debris removal has begun in unincorporated portions of the county, while all 24 cities countywide have either begun cleanup or will start removing debris in the coming days.

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    Pinellas County crews have been removing what officials call an "unprecedented" amount of storm debris in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.

    County leaders also said they're preparing for the likelihood of heavy rain over the next several days stemming from a tropical disturbance currently moving through the Gulf of Mexico. Hernandez said several trucks are going out to "hot spots" to ensure vegetative debris on storm drains and in flood-prone areas is removed.

    For more information on debris pickup and options for drop-off in Pinellas County, along with sand removal, click here.

    READ: Sand removal, restoration begins on Sunset Beach after Hurricane Helene

    Other resources for those impacted by Helene

    Housing

    On Friday, county officials launched a new web page addressing housing needs for displaced residents. For more information, click here.

    Comfort and supplies

    Two points of distribution remain open, offering free food, water and tarps while supplies last.

    • St. Pete Beach: 4700 Gulf Blvd.
    • Treasure Island: 10451 Gulf Blvd.

    Cooling stations are still open around the county for residents who are still without power or unable to return home. Click here for an updated list of locations.

    Insurance claims and FEMA assistance

    Anyone in need of help filing an insurance claim can visit the ‘insurance village' at the Long Center, located at 1501 N. Belcher Rd. in Clearwater. It is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday through Sunday.

    READ: 'Insurance village' open for Bay Area residents impacted by Hurricane Helene

    Those seeking FEMA assistance can visit the agency's Disaster Recovery Center at the Largo Public Library, located at 120 Central Park Drive in Largo. You can also apply online by clicking here.

    Unemployment

    Any residents or business owners in need of unemployment assistance can submit a Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) request by clicking here.

    Further assistance

    The County Information Center is open daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Call 727-464-4333, or you can chat online by clicking here.

    The Disaster Distress Hotline remains open 24/7 for anyone experiencing disaster-related emotional distress. You can call or text 1-800-985-5990.

    Volunteering to help

    Those wishing to volunteer can do so by registering through Volunteer Connect, a state online portal. For more information, click here.

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