Important Post-Hurricane Updates
Housing Assistance for Displaced People
 Clearwater residents displaced by Hurricane Helene have several options for seeking short- and long-term housing.
FEMA Displacement Assistance
FEMA Displacement Assistance helps survivors who can’t return to their home following a disaster by giving them up-front money to help with immediate housing needs. The amount of money is based on 14 days of hotel costs based on a rate chosen by the state impacted by the disaster. The assistance is a one-time payment. FEMA may provide up to two weeks of funds for temporary lodging at a hotel, motel, or the home of friends or family, for displaced applicants who apply during the registration period.
Displaced residents can apply for this and other help by calling 1-800-621-3362, visiting DisasterAssistance.gov, or going in-person to the Disaster Recovery Center, at Largo Public Library, 120 Central Park Drive, Largo. For more info, see FEMA Displacement Assistance Fact Sheet.
FEMA Serious Needs Assistance is also available to pay for emergency supplies like water, food, first aid, breast-feeding supplies, infant formula, diapers, personal hygiene items, or fuel for transportation. You could qualify for both forms of assistance by applying to FEMA by phone or online.
Pinellas Housing Options Website
Pinellas County has posted a list of resources to help displaced people find short- and long-term housing options, including online search tools, real estate company information, short-term rental companies, and apartment listings. Realtors and property managers are responsible for updating their available listings on their websites, but the listings and resources allow residents to more easily locate potential housing options. See Pinellas.gov/hurricane housing.
Local Emergency Shelters
The County continues to provide emergency shelters for people who need a temporary safe place to stay while looking for a longer-term home. Call the County Information Center at (727) 464-4333 for more information on emergency sheltering, including locations that accept pets and have support for people with special medical needs. County staff is actively helping individuals and families who are at shelters find other housing options.
State of Florida “Insurance Village” Resource Center Opens in Clearwater Oct. 4-6
 The State of Florida announced that the Florida Department of Financial Services' Division of Consumer Services is hosting multiple insurance providers at an “Insurance Village” resource center in Clearwater. The goal is to help hurricane-impacted residents expedite the filing of insurance claims.
The insurance resource center is open to disaster victims who live in Pinellas and Hillsborough counties. The resource center will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day starting Friday, Oct. 4 through Sunday, Oct. 6., at the Long Center, 1501 N. Belcher Road in Clearwater.
Policyholders should bring as much documentation as they can, including:
- A driver’s license or other form of identification, such as a passport or state-issued ID
- Insurance cards and insurance policy information/documentation
- Pictures or documentation of the property being claimed as a loss resulting from Hurricane Helene
- Repair estimates
- Any additional insurance-related information that is readily accessible
Attendees are also invited to bring electronics for charging in the waiting areas. Parking is available at the Long Center, and an overflow parking lot is available next door at the Salvation Army, just north of the Long Center on Belcher Road in Clearwater.
FEMA Disaster Recovery Center Now Open
FEMA’s Disaster Recovery Center is now open at the Largo Public Library, 120 Central Park Drive in Largo. Residents can visit Monday to Friday (9 a.m. to 7 p.m.), Thursday to Friday (10 a.m. to 6 p.m.), and Saturday (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.).
Disaster recovery centers serve as centralized locations where people can access various services and information related to disaster recovery:
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Information and Guidance: Disaster recovery centers provide information on available disaster assistance programs and resources.
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Application Assistance: You can receive help with applying for federal disaster assistance programs, such as FEMA grants and low-interest loans from the Small Business Administration DRC staff can assist you in completing the necessary paperwork and explaining the application process.
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Translation and Accessibility Services: The disaster recovery center offers translation services for individuals with limited English proficiency. They also provide accommodations for people with disabilities to ensure equal access to assistance.
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Status Updates: If you have already applied for assistance, you can check the status of your application at a disaster recovery center.
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Access to Disaster-related Resources: The disaster recovery center will have informational materials, pamphlets, and brochures that can help you better understand the recovery process and available resources. Staff can refer you to other local, state and federal agencies or organizations providing additional assistance, such as housing, legal services, and counseling.
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Access to Computers and Phones: The disaster recovery center offers computer access and phone services, allowing you to complete online applications.
When visiting a disaster recovery center, it's a good idea to bring identification, proof of residence, insurance information, and any documentation related to your disaster-related losses to facilitate the application process and ensure you receive the appropriate assistance.
Residents can register for FEMA assistance online at DisasterAssistance.gov, via the FEMA app or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362).
How to Identify a FEMA Inspector
 If you applied for disaster assistance, a FEMA inspector may contact you to set up an in- person home inspection. It is important to respond when they try to contact you. Here are ways to identify if a home inspector is a FEMA inspector.
All FEMA personnel will display official identification. Always ask the inspector to show you their official badge, which shows their name and photo. Contract inspectors for FEMA may also carry a badge issued by their employer. It, too, will show their name, photo and possibly, an ID number. To learn more, visit https://myclearwater.info/identifyfema
Solid Waste Collection Updates
Solid Waste Collection Schedules
- Black barrels/solid waste: On Schedule
- Blue barrels/recycling: Suspended Citywide at This Time
- Yard waste: Behind Schedule
Please be patient with our crews as they make progress on their collection routes citywide.
Missing A Bin?
Every residential home in Clearwater should have a black barrel trash can and a blue recycling cart. If yours was damaged during the storm or is missing, request one online at https://myclearwater.info/requestabin or by calling us at (727) 562-4920. There has been an increase in requests after the storm, so please allow staff additional time to arrange a replacement.
Debris Disposal
 This graphic above is applicable to residential customers only, not commercial.
- The city’s disposal contractor started picking up demolition debris Oct. 1 on coastal communities, low-lying areas, areas along Stevenson Creek mobile-home parks. This will continue until debris is cleared.
- Make sure your debris is separated into piles.
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Residential Customers: Demolition debris includes carpet, drywall, furniture, mattresses, plumbing and other building materials. Different vendors are collecting different types of debris. If the debris is not sorted, it will hamper our pickup efforts and slow down the process to get back to normal.
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Commercial Customers: Contract with your private contractor to remove debris off your property/business.
- Place debris in the right-of-way not in the street, clear from power lines, utilities, mailboxes, cars, fire hydrants, trees, shrubs, etc. Not doing so could hinder solid waste from accessing your road and servicing debris.
- We understand that many of you would like to remove debris as quickly as possible. If a person approaches you with a trailer offering to take your debris, be wary. There's been an increase in unlicensed commercial debris contractors dumping piles of debris at random locations. Illegal dumping is a criminal offense under Florida State Statue 403.413.
- All residential recycling collections are suspended at this time.
Hazardous Waste & Lithium-Ion Battery
 Residents can take hazardous chemicals and items like lithium-ion batteries to Pinellas County Solid Waste for proper recycling and disposal. Dropping materials off at their two locations is free.
Residents can take hazardous chemicals and items to Pinellas County Solid Waste for proper recycling and disposal. Dropping materials off at these two locations is free:
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Household Hazardous Waste Center: Drop off materials from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays to Fridays and the first and third Saturday of each month, at 2855 109th Ave. N. in St. Petersburg.
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Household Chemical Collection Events: These events are held throughout Pinellas County on select Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Events are held Oct. 12, Oct. 26, Nov. 23 and Dec. 14, at 29582 U.S. 19 N., Clearwater.
Large lithium-ion batteries such as car batteries, lawnmower batteries, E-bike batteries affected by the storm must be disposed of by a private sector recycling company.
If hazardous items are left at the curb, Clearwater Solid Waste crews will not pick them up. Hazardous items have the potential to catch on fire, damage city equipment, and injure or kill our employees. Lithium-ion batteries pose a fire risk when exposed to saltwater or damaged. Please dispose of hazardous materials safely and properly.
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