Pinellas County officials provide resources, assistance for residents following Hurricane Helene

LARGO, Fla. (WFLA) — Pinellas County officials will provide updates on county operations and information for residents about Hurricane Helene’s impact.

The Emergency Management and Safety team as well as Emergency Services encourage residents to report damages to FEMA for federal assistance, by calling 1-800-621-3362 or by visiting their website .

Damages can also be reported locally through Disaster.Pinellas.gov . Nearly 13,000 people have applied since yesterday, officials said.

If you have beach sand, clean sand can be returned to the beach above the high tide line. It must be free of stains, odors, and debris. If the sand does not meet this criteria, residents must request permission from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection by calling 840-245-2094 or emailing CCCL@FloridaDEP.gov.

The county asks for sand to not be put in your trash or to place any sand onto the roadways.

To find a pantry or event near you, visit FeedingTampaBay.org .

Deployment teams are handing out bottled water and flyers for residents on how to find a licensed contractor or plumber. The county warns of fraudulent contractors.

Cooling stations, shelters, and bus routes are also available throughout the county. Residents can call for additional information at 727-464-4333 or Disaster.Pinellas.gov .

Residents are asked to conserve water and limit usage, as crews continue working to restore these systems. For hazardous disposal question, call 727-464-7500.

For county-specific questions, residents can call 727-464-4000. For additional recovery resources and clean-up assistance in Florida, call 844-965-1386.

Volunteers can sign up to help through the statewide portal on Disaster.Pinellas.gov . The website also has a complete list of items for residents in need of donations.

You can watch the press conference in the video player above.

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