St. Pete residents struggle to rebuild ahead of hurricane season as HUD funding plans take shape
St. Petersburg has earmarked $5 million to buy homes in high-risk flood zones.
It comes as many residents are still picking up the pieces after Hurricanes Idalia and Helene.
Residents can still provide input on how HUD funds should be spent.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - As hurricane season nears, many St. Petersburg residents are still picking up the pieces after Hurricanes Idalia and Helene. In flood-prone neighborhoods like Shore Acres and Riviera Bay, the rebuilding process remains a daily challenge.
Local perspective
Tammy Marshall has been living in a camper outside her home for nine months, trying to restore what the storm damaged.
Follow FOX 13 on YouTube
"I just want to put my house back together," she said. "It feels like no one is on my side."
Marshall attended public meetings to weigh in on how the city should spend $180 million in federal HUD recovery funds. She's exhausted her savings and is now turning to the city for help.
But, Marshall doesn't want to leave.
RELATED:St. Pete unveils $159.8M 'Sunrise' plan for hurricane recovery and resilience
"I like my little paradise… If the city makes it so hard to rebuild, it doesn't show appreciation," she said.
Big picture view
St. Petersburg has earmarked $5 million to buy homes in high-risk flood zones. The buyouts would be voluntary, capped at $400,000, and the land must remain open space.
What they're saying
Kevin Batdorf, the president of the Shore Acres Civic Association, said the buyout plan isn't practical for his neighborhood, which was among the hardest hit.
"We'd have pockets of vacant lots. Who's going to maintain that? The city?" he asked.
READ: Hurricane Season 2025: Pinellas officials urge boaters to be prepared
Batdorf hopes more residents will qualify for the city's $47 million fund to elevate and rehab homes, but he's worried the income restrictions tied to HUD funding will exclude many.
"This is a working-class neighborhood," he said. "I suspect most won't qualify."
For both Marshall and Batdorf, fixing the root of the problem — the city's storm and sewage infrastructure — is the top priority.
"Stop the flooding, and you stop making people homeless," Batdorf said. "2,200 families were instantly displaced."
Marshall agrees, and she said the city's backed-up sewage plant caused the flooding in her home.
MORE:Memorial Day weekend proves Pinellas beaches have bounced back after Hurricanes Helene, Milton
"I voted that as my number one priority," she said.
What's next
Residents can still provide input on how HUD funds should be spent. Feedback is being accepted online and at the upcoming City Council meeting on June 12.
The Source
The information in this story was gathered by FOX 13's Genevieve Curtis.
WATCH FOX 13 NEWS:
STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA:
Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV
Download FOX Local mobile app:Apple |Android
Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines
Download the SkyTower Radar app
Sign up for FOX 13's daily newsletter
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Wall Street Journal
8 minutes ago
- Wall Street Journal
Bondi Aides Corrupted Antitrust Enforcement, Ousted DOJ Official Says
An antitrust lawyer who was dismissed last month from the Justice Department is accusing senior officials of cutting deals with favored lobbyists and undermining the independence of antitrust enforcement. Roger Alford, formerly the antitrust division's second-in-command, in prepared remarks Monday said two senior aides to Attorney General Pam Bondi had corrupted the department's typical law-enforcement process for dealing with antitrust lawsuits. The two senior officials were heavily involved in negotiating a proposed settlement in June that allowed Hewlett Packard Enterprise to acquire a competitor, Juniper Networks.
Associated Press
8 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Back in the Oval Office, Zelenskyy wears a blazer and Trump doesn't shout
WASHINGTON (AP) — It was only a few months ago that U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy last met in the Oval Office, but Monday's face-to-face between the two leaders looked markedly different. For much of their February exchange, during which Trump and Vice President JD Vance blasted Zelenskyy as 'disrespectful' and warned about future American support for his country, Zelenskyy crossed his arms and looked askance at the U.S. leaders. The presidents often spoke over each other, also gesturing disagreement. A conservative reporter, Brian Glenn, even asked Zelenskyy why he wasn't wearing a suit. Monday's meeting was rounded out with more smiles and pleasantries between Trump and Zelenskyy, as well as agreement on some points regarding Russia's ongoing war against Ukraine. Both men largely sat with their hands clasped in their laps, affably fielding questions from reporters. And Glenn, when called upon by the Republican U.S. president to speak, complimented Zelensky, saying, 'You look fabulous in that suit.' Trump chimed in right after: 'I said the same thing!'
New York Times
8 minutes ago
- New York Times
The Unseen Dangers of Floodwaters
Climate change is intensifying both hurricanes and everyday storms, making flooding events both more common and more severe. When heavy rain falls, it can overwhelm streams and streets with little to no warning, both along the coast and inland. All it takes is six inches of fast-moving water to knock over an adult, according to the National Weather Service, and most cars can be swept away in as little as a foot of water. Beyond the risk of drowning, floodwaters are often full of sewage, medical waste, industrial chemicals and more. And even after the storm is over, many hazards can remain. What's in the water? Floodwaters are 'a toxic brew of pesticides, toxins, petroleum, anything and everything that you can imagine,' said Dr. Robert Glatter, an emergency physician at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. Hundreds of types of bacteria and viruses can contaminate the waters, he added, making them dangerous to play in or simply walk through. This is especially true in the first 24 hours of a storm, when heavy rains wash out waste and trigger the 'first rush of pathogens,' said Natalie Exum, an environmental health scientist at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Potential consequences include gastrointestinal illnesses such as E. coli, respiratory illnesses like Legionnaires' disease and skin infections including necrotizing fasciitis, known as flesh-eating disease. Experts strongly advise avoiding floodwaters if you can. Keeping your mouth closed might not be enough to protect you, as you can also get sick if water gets into your eyes or ears. And any open wound, even an insect bite or a nick from shaving, can let bacteria into the bloodstream. Wading through floodwaters can also lead to injuries, said Dell Saulnier, an assistant professor at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden who studies global disasters and health. Debris can be hidden, and dirty waters can conceal power lines, too, making electrocution another serious concern. Preparation is key, including heeding evacuation orders and having at least five days of supplies in your home so you can avoid venturing out. What protection works? If you have no choice but to go through a flood, wear pants, long sleeves and waterproof boots, Dr. Exum said. Goggles and gloves can also help. Cover any open wounds, even minor ones, with waterproof bandages. If a wound gets wet, quickly disinfect it with soap and clean water. If that's not possible, use hand sanitizer and wet wipes so that pathogens don't fester. Afterward, clean any clothes contaminated with floodwaters on the hottest water setting and with a disinfectant like bleach, said Dr. Peggy Duggan, the chief medical officer of Tampa General Hospital. 'I wouldn't say you have to throw them away, although I personally would,' she added. What happens after the water recedes? Even after floodwaters drain away, trees, homes and debris will remain drenched, said Dr. Mark Morocco, a professor of emergency medicine who practices at Ronald Reagan U.C.L.A. Medical Center. 'Imagine that somebody had sprayed your entire neighborhood with raw sewage,' he said. Mold can grow quickly under carpets, in cabinets and on drywall and fabric furniture. The spores can be drawn deep inside the lungs, posing a particular threat to older adults, immunocompromised people and those with respiratory conditions like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Dr. Jamie Garfield, a pulmonologist at the Temple Lung Center and a spokesperson for the American Lung Association, advises patients with these conditions to watch out for worsening symptoms, and to hire cleaning professionals if possible — or ask friends for help. 'If you spend an hour cleaning off an area of your home and you start to notice some chest tightness or coughing, that's an indication to lay off,' Dr. Garfield said. Pathogens and chemicals can also seep into drinking water. So, stick to bottled water or boiled tap water when you drink; brush your teeth; or wash your hands, dishes and produce. After local officials give the all-clear, it's a good idea to let the water run for a while to flush the pipes of any residual gunk, Dr. Exum added. While mosquitoes often get whisked away by the initial flooding, they tend to return after a week or two, said Dr. Stephen Liang, an infectious diseases physician at WashU Medicine in St. Louis. Pockets of standing water can quickly become breeding grounds for them, so try to clear puddles, empty buckets and unclog drains. And when outside, protect yourself with long sleeves and insect repellent.
