Pinellas County staff outline post-disaster recovery programs; commissioners press for faster permitting and clearer appeals

Pinellas County staff briefed the Board of County Commissioners on an array of post-disaster recovery programs and preliminary funding allocations, and commissioners used the workshop to press for faster permitting, clearer appeal routes and help for residents stranded by insurance and permitting delays.

Lourdes Benedict, assistant county administrator, told commissioners the situation remains fluid and urged residents to register with FEMA even after the published deadline. “Please still go in and apply,” Benedict said, adding that FEMA has indicated it will offer a 30-day grace period for late registrants but applicants will have to document why they missed the deadline.

What county staff described

- FEMA and temporary housing: Benedict said FEMA provides up to $42,500 per household for eligible home repairs and temporary housing assistance not covered by insurance. The county presented daily-updated figures: staff said about 2,600 households in Pinellas County meet the criteria for FEMA temporary housing and that roughly 953 households had expressed they needed FEMA temporary housing and were working through the process. For FEMA- or state-leased travel trailers, staff reported 366 FEMA travel trailers approved with three placed and six in process; state travel trailer activity included 52 applications, 34 pending and seven placed. Benedict noted trailer placement is tightly regulated and trailers must be moved for incoming storms.

- Hoteling: County and state hotel programs were reported to be supporting thousands of households. Benedict said 3,338 households were in FEMA-provided hotels and another 309 households were in the state hoteling program, for a total the county estimated at about 3,600 households in temporary hotel…