Knowing where to get assistance can sometimes make all the difference, regardless of how difficult recovering from a disaster can be. If you or someone you know has been impacted, St. Petersburg offers aid ranging from food and shelter to legal support when necessary. This is a list of nearby businesses and services that can help you in the wake of a hurricane.
Emergency Shelter Resources
An emergency shelter is a place where one may temporarily live while he or she is unable to stay at his or her previous residence due to natural disasters. A homeless shelter is similar, though an emergency shelter typically contains people who are fleeing a specific type of situation, such as a natural or man-made disaster.
- Pinellas County Emergency Shelter: There is a Pinellas County Emergency Shelter for people displaced by the hurricane. It offers temporary housing equipped with essential services that can help get you connected to longer-term solutions for housing as recovery goes on. Check out the Pinellas County Emergency Shelter or You can contact them at (727) 556-6397.
- Red Cross Shelters: As part of their operations, the American Red Cross manages several shelters across the St. Petersburg area during emergencies. In these shelters, most individuals can find a safe haven after having lost their homes. The American Red Cross offers food, water, and emotional support to people and their families so that they can bear trying situations.
- Homeless Leadership Alliance of Pinellas: The organization helps those homeless, especially after hurricanes, and provides immediate shelter services and possible assistance to cases for more permanent housing. Check out the Homeless Leadership Alliance of Pinellas
Food Relief
The next in line for food after a hurricane. Local groups are mobilizing to help:
- The St. Petersburg Free Clinic: This is for people who may have emergencies; the St. Petersburg Free Clinic has a food pantry where it distributes food to struggling families and individuals. If you are a victim of food insecurity, they provide the nutrition you need during recovery.
- Feeding Tampa Bay: As part of the broader network of food banks, Feeding Tampa Bay helps in providing meals to communities affected by natural disasters. They work hand-in-hand with local partners to provide fast and efficient food distribution to hurricane victims.
- Salvation Army: The Salvation Army has experience in delivering disaster relief, including food, water, and meals for those affected. They tend to be one of the first to report a disaster and to set up mobile kitchens and food distribution centers throughout the area.
Recovery Assistance Financial Aid
Rebuilding after a hurricane can be expensive too. Here are a few programs offered from local and state sources that can assist individuals with financial relief:
- FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency): Days after a hurricane, FEMA provides financial assistance in the form of temporary housing or home repairs and other costs associated with the disaster. Apply for this financial aid immediately and determine your eligibility for disaster assistance. Read more at FEMA
- Pinellas County Disaster Recovery Fund: Provide financial relief in Pinellas County to the residents who have been hit by hurricanes. This fund will help one in repair work or otherwise. Relief that you desperately needed, to boost recovery.
- State of Florida’s Emergency Loan Program: If your home is damaged, and household goods have been destroyed after a storm, you can borrow money under low interest rates from the state’s emergency loans. The loans are made to help individuals and businesses to recover.
Legal Aid
The legal issues that need to be navigated after the hurricane storm all seem especially bothersome, for example, property damages or attempts to file insurance claims. Fortunately, St. Petersburg has several legal resources to help victims.
- Florida Bar Disaster Relief: The Florida Bar Disaster Relief offers a disaster relief hotline linking the affected residents with volunteer lawyers who can help sort through their insurance claims, property disputes, and other legal concerns that will arise after the natural disaster.
- Legal Aid of Pinellas County: Legal Aid offers free or low-cost services through attorneys assigned to litigate cases and through community education clinics, which provide legal information and limited assistance. If you have problems with an insurance claim based on a hurricane loss, or a landlord-tenant case related to a hurricane, Legal Aid offers advice and representation.
- Consumer Help Group: Consumer Help Group may be helpful to you in the case of denial or underpayment of your claim. You may be contacting them for issues in processing insurance claims. They have experienced attorneys who specialize in hurricane insurance claims and can guide you in getting the compensation you deserve. Visit Consumer Help Group
