Unfortunately, while Helene and Milton have passed, their impacts linger in Tampa Bay.
We understand that disaster fatigue is affecting many of us, namely through the barrage of stories which emerge each day. To help reduce the constant reminders of both Milton and Helene, we’re here to provide the need-to-know info in one burst.
Standing floodwaters
Parts of Tampa Bay are still inundated with standing water almost two weeks after Milton made landfall. In Hillsborough County, some Seffner + Valrico residents are still dealing with feet of water in places.
The issue? “What we’ve got is a water traffic jam,” said Josh Bellotti, Hillsborough County Public Works engineering and operations director. Officials are working on pumping the water from impacted areas.
Similar issues are impacting counties to the north, including Pasco and Hernando, where the Withlacoochee River has risen to unprecedented levels.
Scrapyard fires
Despite the best efforts of local officials to remove all the debris post-Hurricane Helene, much of the waste was piled into scrapyards across Tampa Bay.
Last week, a fire broke out at a scrap metal yard in St. Pete, and a similar incident occurred in Tampa. Exact causes for the fires have not been revealed.
Collection efforts will continue for months across TBAY, but you don’t have to wait. You could take it to a waste site yourself to help speed the process up.
Speaking of debris, St. Petersburg just launched a live map to track the collection process of dozens of trucks around the city. That way, you can make a better guess as to when your neighborhood is up next.
Tampa water bills
The City of Tampa announced temporary changes to residents’ water bills. The reason? Staff members are unable to read water meters due to Milton-related damage.
Those impacted will be billed based on households’ average daily usage over the past 12 months. Amendments will be made once meters are readable again.
In the meantime, all late fees are being waived, and anyone with questions can contact the City of Tampa Utilities Call Center at 813-274-8811. Phone lines are open Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
New FEMA center opens
The Cigar City just opened a new assistance center for FEMA applicants. Tampa residents can head to Copeland Park in North Tampa for support from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. daily.
Make sure to bring the following information:
- Address of impacted property + damage descriptions
- Names of inhabitants + social security numbers
- Telephone numbers + email addresses
- Insurance information
- Bank account information
Another restaurant closes
There’s no sugarcoating the damage to small Tampa Bay businesses caused by Helene and Milton. One of the latest victims is the popular restaurant Vela in the Westshore Marina District.
The Italian spot opened just over a year before Milton, and owners wrote on social media, “the combination of recent hurricane damage and other challenges has made it impossible for us to continue serving you at Westshore Marina.”
If you want to help out, there are loads of ways to give back to victims of the storm, including fundraisers, volunteering events, and donation opportunities.
