Pinellas County Economic Development

Pinellas County has issued mandatory evacuation orders for residents and businesses in evacuation zones A, B and C and all mobile homes ahead of Hurricane Milton. All residents and businesses should heed all evacuation orders and instructions issued by Pinellas County due to the dangerous nature of this storm. Businesses are encouraged to provide employees time to comply with evacuation orders. Eight shelters are now available in Pinellas County (Anyone can go to a pet-friendly shelter, but only special needs residents can go to a special needs shelter). A complete list of open shelters can be found at disaster.pinellas.gov. Additional shelter openings will be announced if needed. #PCMilton - Largo High School (general population and pet friendly), 410 Missouri Ave. N., Largo - Gibbs High School (general population and pet friendly), 850 34th St. S. St. Petersburg - Palm Harbor University High School (general population and pet friendly),1900 Omaha St, Palm Harbor - Palm Harbor University High School Bldg. 19 (special needs), 1900 Omaha St, Palm Harbor - Dunedin Highland Middle School (special needs), 70 Patricia Ave., Dunedin - Oak Grove Middle School (special needs), 1370 S. Belcher Road, Clearwater -Lealman Innovation Academy (4900 28th St. N., St. Petersburg) -Clearwater Fundamental Middle School (1660 Palmetto St., Clearwater). Sign up for Alert Pinellas to stay up-to-date.?https://lnkd.in/dBB9WdNE?#PCMilton

Pinellas County Economic Development, FloridaCommerce and CareerSource Pinellas (Hillsborough Pinellas) are ready and available to assist businesses and employees impacted by Hurricane Helene, today, at CareerSource Hillsborough Pinellas offices at 2312 Gulf to Bay Blvd, Clearwater, FL. No appointments are needed and all walk-ups are welcome. Stop by for assistance on the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan, Disaster Unemployment Assistance, & other business and employee resources. This event is open today from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. today.

?? NOTICE: The Pinellas Mobile Assistance Center Event has been postponed due to preparation for Tropical Storm Milton. Was your Pinellas County small business impacted by Hurricane Helene? The Florida Small Business Development Center Mobile Assistance Center (MAC) will be on-site in Pinellas County to assist businesses with: ? SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans ? SBA Physical Disaster Loans ? Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loans Visit the MAC at The Tradewinds Resort, 5500 Gulf Blvd, St Pete Beach, FL 33706, Oct. 7 to Oct. 11, 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

#PinellasCounty-based Raymond James Financial is providing $5 million in relief funds for the thousands of employees it has in Tampa Bay and numerous other areas impacted by #HurricaneHelene. Read the full story at https://lnkd.in/e7s6r8kh

FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency will open a Disaster Recovery Center at Largo Public Library, 120 Central Park Dr to assist residents affected by #HurricaneHelene. The DRC will open at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 2 and will thereafter be open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. DRCs serve as centralized locations where people can access various services and information related to disaster recovery, including: - Information and Guidance - Application Assistance - Translation and Accessibility Services - Status Updates - Access to Disaster-related Resources - Access to Computers and Phones Bring identification, proof of residence, insurance information, and any documentation related to your disaster-related losses to facilitate the application process and ensure you receive the appropriate assistance. Residents can register for FEMA assistance online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, via the FEMA app or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362).

Oct. 5 - 6 in #PinellasCounty: FloridaCommerce is partnering with Florida SBDC Network and CareerSource Florida to bring One-Stop Business Resource Sites to businesses and employees impacted by Hurricane Helene in 17 counties. In-person help is available for Emergency Bridge Loans and Disaster Unemployment Assistance. Online resources >> www.FloridaDisaster.biz

Today, FloridaCommerce announced that Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) is available to businesses and residents whose employment or self-employment was lost or interrupted as a direct result of #HurricaneHelene and are not eligible for regular state or federal Reemployment Assistance benefits. Eligible Floridians are encouraged to submit a claim at www.FloridaJobs.org. In-person assistance with applications is available through CareerSource Hillsborough Pinellas at Pinellas locations – visit https://lnkd.in/eZ87V4HA for addresses and hours. Additionally, work search reporting, waiting week, and Employ Florida registration requirements for Reemployment Assistance claims have been temporarily waived for Floridians impacted by Hurricane Helene in FEMA disaster-declared counties. By waiving these requirements, eligible Floridians will be able to quickly apply and receive Reemployment Assistance and Disaster Unemployment Assistance benefits. DUA is available for weeks of unemployment beginning September 29, 2024, through March 29, 2025 ,?as long as the individual’s unemployment continues to be a result of the disaster in the designated-disaster areas.?The deadline to submit a claim for DUA benefits is?no later than December 2, 2024.

To support businesses who experienced physical or economic injury from #HurricaneHelene, the U.S. Small Business Administration has activated the Physical Disaster Loans and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL). Application Deadlines: ?? Physical Damage: November 27, 2024 ?? Economic Injury: June 30, 2025 ? Learn more about the eligible counties and how to apply at https://lnkd.in/e4uVkQpz Additionally, FloridaCommerce activated the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program, making $15 Million available for businesses impacted by Hurricane Helene. Businesses in Pinellas County, including sole proprietors, are eligible to apply. ? Visit FloridaJobs.org/EBL to complete an application by the November 24, 2024, deadline. ?? For assistance, call 833-832-4494 Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time. FloridaCommerce also announced that Disaster Unemployment Assistance is available to businesses and residents whose employment or self-employment was lost or interrupted as a direct result of Hurricane Helene and are not eligible for regular state or federal Reemployment Assistance benefits. ? Submit a claim at FloridaJob.org.

What residents and businesses can do with beach sand... If you have beach sand deposited on your property from Hurricane Helene, here is what you can do: Clean sand can be returned to the beach above the high tide line (mean high water line). The sand must not have stains, odors or include debris, and you must not place it over dune plants, turtle nests, storm debris or construction debris. If the sand does not meet the criteria above, you must request permission from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (840-245-2094 or email [email protected]). Once you have permission, the same placement restrictions apply. Failure to follow these rules may result in civil penalties. If you are using heavy equipment, be cautious of buried water lines and other infrastructure. Important restrictions: - Do not put sand in your trash. - Do not place sand in any right-of-way or push it onto the road. - Do not attempt to clear public roads. Our Public Works department is working on an authorization from Florida Department of Environmental Protection to screen clean sand to remove debris and return it to the beach. Sea wall damage If the seaward side of a property's seawall is exposed, residents should consult a structural engineer or licensed marine contractor before covering the wall with sand. Placing sand on a damaged seawall could cause further and costly damage. Whenever using a contractor, make sure they are licensed. Unlicensed or fraudulent contractors often target desperate home and business owners in the aftermath of hurricanes. Learn more at https://lnkd.in/eXSTm-ts. Verify that contractors are licensed at contractorsearch.pcclb.com. #PCHelene #PCEM

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) assistance is now available to Pinellas County residents who experienced damages/losses due to Hurricane #Helene. Disaster assistance may include financial help for temporary lodging, basic home repairs and other disaster-caused expenses. Eligible residents can apply online at DisasterAssistance.gov, using the FEMA app or by phone at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). #PCHelene