St. Pete Standard

Mayor Kenneth T. Welch joined President Joe Biden on Marine One to survey the damage caused by Hurricanes Helene and Milton in St. Petersburg and Pinellas County beaches. Accompanying them were U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell, and U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor.

In discussions with local leaders including U.S. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, U.S. Senator Rick Scott, Pinellas County Commissioner Chair Kathleen Peters, Tampa Mayor Jane Castor, St. Pete Beach Mayor Adrian Petrila, and Florida Division of Emergency Management Executive Director Kevin Guthrie, President Biden expressed commitment to federal support for recovery efforts and enhancing the resilience of St. Petersburg.

Additional updates on Hurricane Milton recovery include the opening of a Multiagency Recovery Center (MARC) at the Enoch D. Davis Center from Monday, Oct. 14 onwards with various agencies providing disaster-related assistance.

St. Petersburg facilities will resume regular business hours on Monday, Oct. 14, with trash and recycling schedules also returning to normal operations that day.

Pinellas County Schools will remain closed on Monday due to ongoing recovery efforts.

A boil water notice remains in effect for St. Petersburg and surrounding areas until at least Monday, Oct. 14.

Comfort and charging stations are operational at several locations across St. Pete to aid residents as power restoration continues.

Residential debris collection has resumed with a reminder for residents to separate debris piles at the curb without using trash bags.

The Hometown Recovery Hauler Program is actively working with local haulers to expedite storm debris clearance in affected neighborhoods while supporting small businesses.

City brush sites are open daily for vegetative debris drop-off by residents; commercial businesses are directed to use temporary debris management sites due to congestion at brush sites.

The State of Florida's free Fuel Distribution Site will operate again on Monday from 7 a.m.-7 p.m., offering up to 10 gallons of gas per resident with expected delays.