Pinellas County Secures $813 Million for Hurricane Recovery, Seeks Public Input

Pinellas County is mobilizing community input on the allocation of $813 million in federal hurricane recovery funds awarded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to aid recovery from Hurricanes Idalia, Helene, and Milton. The county plans to prioritize assistance for low-to-moderate income households and will host public meetings and an online survey to gather feedback on the best use of the funds, which can support rebuilding homes, providing rental assistance, and restoring infrastructure. All cities in Pinellas County, except St. Petersburg, are eligible for funding, and public engagement sessions will be held in April and May to finalize a draft action plan. This draft will be available for public comment for 30 days before submission to HUD, with recovery programs expected to commence by fall 2025. The county has established a website, recover.pinellas.gov, as a resource for residents to access information and participate in the recovery process. Meetings will begin April 7 and include both in-person and virtual options for community participation.