PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — It’s a tough sight to see.
Jason Pickering’s once-beachy and blissful group close to Dunedin has modified drastically since Hurricane Helene.
“I believed I discovered heaven after I moved down right here,” he mentioned.
Solar Retreats Dunedin, a cell dwelling park, now appears to be like like hell in locations. The group flooded badly throughout Helene’s historic storm surge.
“There’s fairly a couple of sleepless nights or nights interrupted by ideas of despair,” Pickering mentioned.
Pickering and neighbors like Debby Weaver are nonetheless in limbo seven months later. They’re uncertain in the event that they’ll be capable to rebuild, uncertain in the event that they’ll get cash to raise, and uncertain in the event that they’ll have to maneuver away and discover a new dwelling elsewhere, possibly outdoors Pinellas County.
“I really feel like we deserve each alternative to remain right here and proceed to be productive residents of this county,” Weaver mentioned.
However for folks like Weaver and Pickering, assist is perhaps on the best way.
Pinellas County is drawing up a plan for the $813 million in federal funding it was lately awarded to assist meet unmet wants after the current hurricanes.
By all accounts, the unmet wants are nonetheless lots.
“There are folks in right here which have gone into debt taking out — maxed out their credit score simply attempting to purchase new automobiles and, you understand, issues that had been ruined in right here,” Weaver mentioned.
In an preliminary draft motion plan for the cash, revealed simply days in the past, Pinellas County proposes how it will spend the $813 million.
Of these funds, $490 million can be used to assist householders, reconstruct or rehabilitate their properties, elevate or exchange properties the place that’s required, or relocate cell properties the place they will’t get replaced or rebuilt.
Roughly $21 million might be spent to reimburse householders for prices they’ve already paid to demolish, rebuild, or rehab properties.
One other $10 million might be spent to relocate householders from sure susceptible cell dwelling communities.
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Pickering, Weaver and Debby don’t wish to be relocated. If potential, they wish to stay at Solar Retreats Dunedin.
“We simply wish to get again to our lives,” he mentioned.
Regardless, they know a lot of their neighbors will need assistance, they usually hope the county will ship ample assist.
“Please simply don’t overlook about us, you understand,” Pickering mentioned.
You may share your ideas with Pinellas County in regards to the plan for the funds by way of Could 23. Click on right here to take action.
