Where do you start with insurance, damage, and recovery after Helene? Pinellas County has some guidance.Photo by Cathy Salustri
As you comb through the waterlogged aftermath of Hurricane Helene, Pinellas County’s director of Emergency Management Cathie Perkins, offered some guidance on filing insurance claims, damage reporting, and recovery.
Document the Damage
Before you do anything, including removing any debris, document the damage. Take photos and video, and use a ruler or tape measure to show how high the water marks are both inside and outside your property. Do not, Perkins said, wash off the water marks outside. Teams will come through to inspect the damage.
Safety First!
“We want to make sure we’re doing everything we can to make sure we’re safe out there,” Perkins said.
Floodwaters could have contained chemicals, sewage, and viruses, she said. Use proper protective equipment. Be aware of black mold, and use gloves and, where there’s water, waders. Don’t, she reminded people, mix bleach and ammonia.
Keep generators at least 20 feet from the building. Do not refuel hot generators, and keep them away from windows.
File an Insurance Claim, but Also Tell Pinellas County
Report the damage to your insurance, of course — but also tell Pinellas County. Perkins said the more damage the County reports, the more help the area will get. Report damage at disaster.pinellas.gov.
What To Do with Debris?
Separate yard debris from household items or building debris to help collection go faster. Pinellas County has debris haulers and is attempting to coordinate debris removal for all impacted areas. Do not block roadways, gutters, or storm drains with anything. If you have only minor amounts of downed limbs and vegetative debris, treat it as regular yard waste. And please, she asked, don’t ask the debris crews to assist with cleanup on your property.
A house on Madeira Beach had a fire that looks like it started with an electric vehicle.Photo by Cathy Salustri
Move Electric Vehicles, But Don’t Drive
If you have a vehicle with a lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery, beware — don’t charge them or drive them.
If there’s any chance the vehicle came into contact with saltwater, it could catch fire. And some have. Move them 50 feet away from any structure; if you can’t move it yourself, call for a tow.
Li-ion batteries that get saltwater on them can corrode and then catch fire. This appears to have happened on Madeira Beach, as pictured. This doesn’t mean only Teslas; it refers to golf carts, low-speed vehicles, e-bikes, and anything with a Li-ion battery.
Is This All Too Much?
If you can’t handle the cleanup on your own, call the crisis cleanup hotline 844-965-1386. The hotline will help find a volunteer agency to help you.
Don’t Get Scammed
Repairs
Call the Pinellas County Licensing Board to make sure anyone who wants to work on your property has a valid license. Out-of-state contractors must have a Florida contractor’s license. Call 727-582-2100, then press 2. If you have internet (and if you’re reading this, you probably do), you can check online at My Florida License.
Donations
Before you donate money, make sure the organization is a true charity or verify the donation with the intended organization. Check a charity’s status at guidestar.org.
Cooling stations
Throughout Pinellas, local governments have opened cooling stations. Here’s a list of where to go for air conditioning, drinking water, showers, and other relief. The Gabber Newspaper updates this list as things change. If you’re in our print coverage area along the beaches (Madeira Beach south), tomorrow we’ll deliver copies of the paper there as well.
We’re the calm during — and after — the storms. No hype, only help!
Bookmark The Gabber Newspaper’s storm coverage page for quick access to relevant tropical storm updates. No hype, no guessing, just updates on shelters, sandbags, and closures. And sign up for text alerts to get real-time guidance and prep advice when there’s a named storm heading our way. Also, check out our downtown Gulfport, marina, and beach web cams.
Team Gabber brought back the print version of the newspaper, and we’ve redesigned our website to make it easier for you to get the news. We’re not out of the woods yet, and every little bit helps pay our reporters, printer, and other expenses. Support local news and families — donate now to keep The Gabber Newspaper serving the community it loves!
