Hurricane Helene Relief Resources

St. Petersburg College: Mental Health First Aid Training

St. Petersburg College offers FREE Mental Health First Aid in partnership with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and Community Foundation Tampa Bay (CFTB). This training is provided for FREE to public service professionals.

Mental Health First Aid, or the CPR of mental health, is a national certification through the National Council for Mental Wellbeing.

Link: https://www.spcollege.edu/friends-partners/community-resources/mental-health-first-aid-training

This evidence-based training course is designed to:

  • Address common mental health concerns that are encountered.
  • Reduce stigma.
  • Teach strategies to recognize the signs and symptoms of mental health or substance use challenges and offer support.
  • Offer self-help strategies for staying mentally well.

We Are St. Pete Fund

The City of St. Petersburg has partnered with the Pinellas Community Foundation to launch the We Are St. Pete Fund, the first of its kind for the City. The fund will assist in fundraising for disaster relief for residents, small businesses, and City of St. Petersburg employees recovering from Hurricane Helene. Donors may designate their gifts. 100% of the donations received will directly support those impacted.

Link: https://pinellascf.org/wearestpete/ 

We Are St. Pete Local Recovery Support

Fare-Free Bus Service

To assist residents affected by Hurricane Helene, the City of St. Petersburg and PSTA are offering a two-week period of fare-free bus service within St. Pete city limits, starting Monday, September 30 through Sunday, October 13.

  • Applies to: Regular bus trips that begin and end within St. Pete city limits
  • Exclusions: Does not apply to Access, MOD, or other mobility services
  • SunRunner Update: SunRunner is turning around at Pasadena due to westbound access limitations
  • Fares Resume: Monday, Oct. 14, 2024

For more information on routes and schedules, visit psta.net.  

Comfort Stations

Impacted residents can stop in to cool off, charge electronic devices, and pick up recovery kits (cleaning supplies, fans, tarps).

  • Azalea Recreation Center (1600 72nd St. N) – 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
  • Enoch D. Davis Center (1111 18th Ave. S) – 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
  • Robert Recreation Center (1246 50th Ave. N) – 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
  • USF St. Pete – University Student Center (200 6th Ave. S) – 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Residents can also visit a local St. Pete library branch to cool off, charge electronic devices, or use the internet.

  • Childs Park Community Library: 691 43rd St. S
  • James Weldon Johnson Community Library: 1059 18th Ave. S
  • Mirror Lake Community Library: 280 5th St. N
  • North Community Library: 861 70th Ave. N
  • South Community Library: 2300 Roy Hanna Dr. S
  • West Community Library: 6700 8th Ave. N

Laundry Stations

Free laundry services are available for residents without power at the following locations:

  • Parking lot across from Allendale United Methodist Church (3803 Haines Rd. N): 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.
  • Clothesline Laundromat (840 49th St. N): 12 – 8 p.m. Monday – Friday
  • St. Pete Laundry Company (8461 4th St. N):  8 a.m. – 10 p.m. (last wash at 8:30 p.m.) 

Mobile Restroom Units

The City of St. Petersburg has set up mobile restroom locations for residents that Helene has impacted.

  • Shore Acres Recreation Center: 4230 Shore Acres Blvd. NE
  • Riveria Bay Park: 8131 Macoma Dr. NE
  • Bartlett Park: 2000 7th St. S
  • Coquina Key Park: 3595 Locust St. SE
  • Sunset Park: Park St. N. and Central Ave.

Nonprofits

Tampa Bay Resiliency Fund

In the wake of Hurricane Helene, residents in our community have been left vulnerable, facing challenges they never anticipated. The Tampa Bay Resiliency Fund is stepping up to provide critical support, empowering nonprofits to deliver essential assistance to those who need it most.

Link: https://pinellascf.org/tbrf/ 

Share Your Input: Are you a nonprofit in the Tampa Bay area affected by the hurricane? Your insights are crucial to ensuring the fund’s effectiveness. Fill out the survey to help us understand your needs and shape the support provided.

Link: https://forms.monday.com/forms/4958cbb40237f94fe9e2625e6a18d706?r=use1 

Small Business Administration: Business Physical Disaster Loans

Loans to businesses to repair or replace disaster-damaged property owned by the business, including real estate, inventories, supplies, machinery and equipment. Businesses of any size are eligible. Private, non-profit organizations such as charities, churches, private universities, etc., are also eligible.

Link: https://lending.sba.gov/search-disaster/?disaster=FL-20012

Fact Sheet Link (PDF): https://lending.sba.gov/api/disasters/v1/declarations/0e6de1f9-1bed-4a81-9048-e9429a319532/documents/a77556b2-17af-4451-a603-84df8f3abed9/download 

Small Business Administration: Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL)

Working capital loans to help small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture, and most private, non-profit organizations of all sizes meet their ordinary and necessary financial obligations that cannot be met as a direct result of the disaster. These loans are intended to assist through the disaster recovery period.

Link: https://lending.sba.gov/search-disaster/?disaster=FL-20012

Fact Sheet Link (PDF): https://lending.sba.gov/api/disasters/v1/declarations/0e6de1f9-1bed-4a81-9048-e9429a319532/documents/a77556b2-17af-4451-a603-84df8f3abed9/download 

Community Foundation of Tampa Bay: Critical Nonprofit Needs

A critical need is defined as unbudgeted, unforeseen, and time-sensitive, and one that significantly interferes with a nonprofit’s ability to provide crucial services or presents an imminent threat to the organization’s continued operations.

This is not a competitive grant process. It is an innovative way to share specific needs with us, our fundholders as well as other philanthropists in the Tampa Bay community. Examples of requests for need might include:

  • Emergency repairs of building structure or mechanical systems (heating/cooling, water service, etc.) where a sudden and unexpected failure interferes with the provision of services.
  • Replacement of essential equipment and technology where a sudden and unexpected failure interferes with the provision of services.
  • Addressing circumstances external to the organization that interfere with the provision of mission-critical services. Examples may include:
    • The increase in gas costs for transportation-centric programming (i.e. – mobile services, client transportation, etc.)
    • Updated security measures for organizations, such as churches or synagogues, that are experiencing increased safety concerns due to current events
    • The local community is receiving an influx of refugees as a result of international conflict and your organization needs to purchase bedding to shelter families

Link: https://cftampabay.org/criticalneedslist/

Residents

Pinellas County Government: Report Damages

Report damages to homes, infrastructure, and other needs here: https://disaster.pinellas.gov 

Small Business Administration: Home Disaster Loans

Loans to homeowners or renters to repair or replace disaster-damaged real estate and personal property, including automobiles.

Link: https://lending.sba.gov/search-disaster/?disaster=FL-20012

Fact Sheet Link (PDF): https://lending.sba.gov/api/disasters/v1/declarations/0e6de1f9-1bed-4a81-9048-e9429a319532/documents/a77556b2-17af-4451-a603-84df8f3abed9/download 

FloridaCommerce: Disaster Unemployment Assistance

Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) 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. Eligible Floridians whose employment or self-employment was lost or interrupted as a direct result of Hurricane Helene are encouraged to submit a claim.

Link: https://www.floridajobs.org/Reemployment-Assistance-Service-Center/reemployment-assistance/claimants/disaster-unemployment-assistance. 

FEMA Disaster Assistance:

To apply and get answers to your questions, contact FEMA using the resources below.

Call: 1-800-621-3362 | 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS): 1-800-621-3362

Online Registration: https://www.DisasterAssistance.gov 

Please have the following information available:

  • Your address with zip code
  • Condition of your damaged home
  • Insurance information, if available
  • Social Security Number
  • Phone Number where you can be reached
  • Address where you can get mail or email address to receive electronic notifications

Direct Deposit: Disaster assistance funds can be sent directly to your bank account. Please provide your bank account type, account number, and bank routing number. 

Stay in touch with FEMA: When you apply, you will receive a FEMA registration number. SAVE IT. You will need the number whenever you contact FEMA.

Be aware of Scammers! FEMA will only contact you if you have registered for assistance or called FEMA first. FEMA representatives will have your nine-digit FEMA application number. They will never charge you for help with applications, inspections, or disaster assistance.

City of St. Petersburg: Food Assistance

If you are in need of food due to the aftermath of the hurricane, there are several resources available:

City of St. Petersburg: Insurance Resources

Insurance during a storm is a complicated process. Two key numbers for residents to save in case they’re needed:

  • Insurance Consumer Helpline:  1-877-MY-FL-CFO (693-5236)
  • Insurance Fraud Hotline:  1-800-378-0445

Businesses

Pinellas County Economic Development: Disaster Assistance for Businesses

Complete the Business Damage Assessment Survey offered by FloridaCommerce. Survey responses will allow the state to expedite the storm recovery efforts by gathering and assessing the needs of affected businesses.

Report Your Business Damages: Complete the survey online and select the named storm from the drop down menu. No need to know the exact dollar value of your costs, an estimate is fine. 

Link: https://floridajobs.org/floridadisaster.biz

Make an Appointment: Consultants from the Florida SBDC Network at Pinellas County can help your business recover from a disaster and provide information about emergency loan programs to help businesses recover quickly from a disaster. Submit requests for consulting online.

Link: https://floridasbdc.org/request-for-consulting/

Call: 727-453-7200

Email: businesshelp@pinellas.gov

FloridaCommerce: Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan

The Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan program provides short-term, zero-interest working capital loans that are intended to “bridge the gap” between the time a disaster impacts a business and when a business has secured longer term recovery funding such as federally or commercially available loans, insurance claims or other resources.

Link: https://floridacommerce.my.site.com/RebuildFloridaBusinessLoanFund/s/ 

Loans are available up to $50,000 per eligible applicant.

Small Business Administration: Business Physical Disaster Loans

Loans to businesses to repair or replace disaster-damaged property owned by the business, including real estate, inventories, supplies, machinery and equipment. Businesses of any size are eligible. Private, non-profit organizations such as charities, churches, private universities, etc., are also eligible.

Link: https://lending.sba.gov/search-disaster/?disaster=FL-20012

Fact Sheet Link (PDF): https://lending.sba.gov/api/disasters/v1/declarations/0e6de1f9-1bed-4a81-9048-e9429a319532/documents/a77556b2-17af-4451-a603-84df8f3abed9/download 

Small Business Administration: Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL)

Working capital loans to help small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture, and most private, non-profit organizations of all sizes meet their ordinary and necessary financial obligations that cannot be met as a direct result of the disaster. These loans are intended to assist through the disaster recovery period.

Link: https://lending.sba.gov/search-disaster/?disaster=FL-20012

Fact Sheet Link (PDF): https://lending.sba.gov/api/disasters/v1/declarations/0e6de1f9-1bed-4a81-9048-e9429a319532/documents/a77556b2-17af-4451-a603-84df8f3abed9/download 

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