INITIATIVEs
AMPLIFY HOPE
AMPLIFY HOPE
Hurricane Helene has left a lasting mark on our beloved Clearwater community. The storm brought not only fierce winds, heavy rain, and a massive water surge but also devastation that has impacted our neighbors, friends, and local businesses. From water damage to structural loss, the heart and soul of Clearwater—its residents and businesses—are facing significant challenges in the aftermath.
Local business owners, many of whom have dedicated years to building their dreams, now confront the daunting reality of starting over. Shops, restaurants, and service providers that contribute to our vibrant community are struggling to survive, and residents are also dealing with repairs and recovery.
But there is hope.
We are reactivating AMPLIFY Hope, a community-led initiative designed to provide direct monetary support to both local businesses and residents who need help to rebuild. Every donation—no matter how big or small—goes 100% into recovery grants that will be distributed directly to affected businesses and residents. These grants will provide critical financial aid to help cover repairs, restock inventory, and support families, giving our community the chance to stand tall once again.
Now more than ever, they need your help.
This is our opportunity to come together and ensure that the Clearwater we know and love doesn’t lose the small businesses and families that make it special. Every dollar you give makes a difference. Together, we can rebuild and restore our community, one business and home at a time.
Donate today and help us restore hope to Clearwater. Your generosity will directly impact the future of our local economy and help families and businesses rebuild after this tragic storm.
With your support, we can bring Clearwater’s community back stronger than ever.
Let’s rebuild, together.
RESOURCES
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Immediate Needs
- Business Damage Assessment Survey
- Florida Emergency Information Toll-Free Line: (800) 342-3557
- To report price gouging in Florida: (866) 966-7226
- NOAA
- National Weather Service
- Duke Energy Outages Map
- Florida Division of Emergency Management – (850) 815-4000 or Dial 711 (TDD/TTY)
- State of Florida Shelter Locator by County
Register now with FEMA to house Hurricane Helene victims on the barrier islands who can’t stay at home.
FEMA AND SBA RESOURCES
Navigating the FEMA process for both home and business assistance requires a slightly more detailed approach since FEMA offers different types of aid for individuals and businesses. Here’s a step-by-step guide for each:
Navigating the SBA (Small Business Administration) disaster loan process can be a critical step for businesses recovering from a disaster like a hurricane, flood, or fire. Here’s a guide to help businesses through the process:
If you need additional assistance, please reach out to our team to assist you at 727-461-0011.
FEMA Disaster Recovery Center Open in Largo
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will open a Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) at Largo Public Library, 120 Central Park Dr to assist residents affected by #HurricaneHelene. The DRC will open at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 2 and will thereafter be open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. DRCs serve as centralized locations where people can access various services and information related to disaster recovery, including:
- Information and Guidance
- Application Assistance
- Translation and Accessibility Services
- Status Updates
- Access to Disaster-related Resources
- Access to Computers and Phones
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 www.DisasterAssistance.gov, via the FEMA app, or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362).
FEMA Clean and Sanitize Assistance
If your home was damaged but you can live in it safely after Hurricane Helene, FEMA may be able to provide up to $300 in one-time financial assistance to help with cleanup. This assistance is for eligible homeowners and renters.
You may qualify for FEMA assistance if you meet the following criteria:
Your pre-disaster primary home must be in one of the counties designated for Individual Assistance for Hurricane Helene.
Based on a FEMA inspection, your home has disaster damage; or if you are a renter, the inspection noted clean-up actions are needed or have already been done.
If you have already cleaned up, save your receipts from any supplies, materials or paid help.
The damage is not covered by your insurance.
FEMA determines your disaster-damaged primary residence is safe to occupy.
How to Apply
Go online at www.disasterassistance.gov, use the FEMA App, or call 800-621-3362.
Lines are open every day and help is available in most languages. If you use a relay service, such as Video Relay Service (VRS), captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA your number for that service.
CORE
CORE: Children of Restaurant Employees is a national nonprofit providing financial grants to food & beverage service employees with children when the employee, their child, or their spouse/partner faces a life-altering medical crisis, death, injury, or natural disaster. CORE is here to give a hand-up to qualifying families during their time of need!
HOPE FLORIDA
Serving as the emergency response arm for the Hope Florida initiative, Activate Hope pulls together the private sector, nonprofits, and government resources to help Floridians get back on their feet following a natural disaster. Activate Hope helps connect Floridians with outside resources to provide food, household goods, home repairs, and more. Click the button below and fill out the form to request help today!
SMALL BUSINESS EMERGENCY BRIDGE LOAN PROGRAM
The Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan program provides short-term, zero-interest working capital loans that are intended to “bridge the gap” between the time a disaster impacts a business and when a business has secured longer term recovery funding such as federally or commercially available loans, insurance claims or other resources.
Loans are available up to $50,000 per eligible applicant.
HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS & RECOVERY
BUSINESS DAMAGE ASSESSMENT SURVEY
UPDATES FROM THE CITY
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MOST RECENT INFORMATION
The Clearwater Beach you know and love is not ready for visitors. While police checkpoints will have ended to allow traffic on and off the barrier island, now is not the time to come to Clearwater to sightsee. The roadways to the barrier island are open now so that contractors, cleanup crews and resources can get to and help our beach residents and business owners.
We want to remind people that our beach is not ready to host visitors. The public bathing beach is closed and is filled with dirty sand and debris, and dead marine life is causing it to smell. Parking lots are not available because they are staging locations for piles of sand and equipment, roadways are still full of sand, there is no power or restrooms, and sand conditions are not ideal. We also don’t want visitors clogging the streets and keeping crews who are hard at recovery efforts to get slowed down or even stopped.
The city of Clearwater asks you….please do not come to the beach to galivant and satisfy any sense of curiosity. If you do, this would be at the expense of our residents and businesses that have already lost so much.
BARRIER ISLAND ENTRY
WHAT TO DO WITH SAND
From Pinellas County: If clean sand from the beach ended up on your property you can return it to the beach and dune above the high tide line (mean high water). It must not have stains, odors or debris, and you must not place it over dune plants, turtle nests, hurricane generated debris or construction debris.
If the sand does not meet the criteria above, you must request permission from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (850-245-2094 or CCCL@FloridaDEP.gov). Once you have permission, the same placement restrictions apply.
Failure to follow these rules may result in civil penalties.
Don’t put sand in your trash or out in the road.
If you’re using heavy equipment, be cautious of buried water lines and other infrastructure. Call 311.
CRA GRANT PROGRAM
The Community Redevelopment Agency has streamlined our Downtown Clearwater Community Redevelopment Area Commercial Grant Program. Applicants can now apply for one grant program and select the best option that fits their business needs and project size. The grant opportunities offer varying levels of support and address both short—and long-term challenges that commercial stakeholders have experienced in Downtown Clearwater. This comprehensive business assistance program offers assistance for both exterior and interior business improvements.
Commercial Grant Program Downtown CRA
Eligible applicants must meet the program guidelines and be located within Downtown Clearwater Community Redevelopment Area boundaries. Interested parties should note that no projects will be funded retroactively, and applications must be approved prior to beginning work. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis and are subject to CRA approval and budget availability.
OFFERS FROM OUR MEMBERS
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WYNDHAM GRAND CLEARWATER BEACH OFFERING DISCOUNTED HOTEL STAYS
Understanding that many locals may be displaced for an extended time, Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach wants to assist. For the time being, while occupancy levels allow, Wyndham is offering rooms at a deeply discounted rate and waiving resort fees.
Residents with a valid ID with local address can book using the link below or by visiting their website https://www.wyndhamgrandclearwater.com and clicking on the link in the banner at the top of the home page.
HABITAT'S FILL THE TRUCK DRIVE
In the aftermath of the storm, Habitat is seeking community support in providing relief to our neighbors in need.
Habitat is accepting cleaning supplies and safety gear donations. Donations will be accepted at their Pinellas, West Pasco, and Hernando offices during regular business hours. All monetary donations will directly support disaster relief.
JW MARRIOTT CLEARWATER BEACH OFFERING DISCOUNTED HOTEL STAYS
We understand that Hurricane Helene has left many of our community displaced. JW Marriott Clearwater Beach Resort & Spa would like to offer the following for all displaced locals:
- $199/night
- Offer valid for: Guest room, 1 King, balcony or Guest room, 2 Queen, Balcony.
- Offer valid Wednesday, October 2, 2024, through Monday, October 14, 2024.
- Waived daily resort fee.
- 50% off valet parking
Residents with a valid ID with local address’ (Pinellas and Hillsborough) can book directly by calling: 727.946.0284.
Allow us to help you find comfort and a place to rest during this difficult time.
Also to support the locals, show your local ID to receive 20% off at Latitude 28 & The Deep End with complimentary valet parking till October 11, 2024.
