St. Pete Beach enews. The Official Electronic Newsletter of St. Pete Beach. May 24, 2018

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1 St. Pete Beach enews The Official Electronic Newsletter of St. Pete Beach May 24, 2018 POOL INFORMATION Water temp. always 82! POOL HOURS April 2nd August 12th ADULT LAP SWIM Mon-Fri: 7a-11a Tues-Thurs: 7a-11a (limited lanes) Mon-Thu: 11a-4p (limited lanes) Fri: 11a-6p (limited lanes) PUBLIC SWIM Mon & Thurs: 11a-4p Friday: 11a-6p Sat: 10a-3p Sun: 12p-3p COMMUNITY CENTER HOURS Mon-Fri: 7a-8:30p Sat: 9a-1pm Sun: Closed UPCOMING MEETINGS Held at City Hall Board of Adjustment (Cancelled) May 2p Executive Session May 4p Historic Preservation June Special Magistrate June 10a City Commission June 6p Planning Board June 4p Library Advisory June 2p City Commission June 6p Commission meetings replay on Ch. 642 on a continuous loop CITY OFFICES WILL BE CLOSED MONDAY MAY 28TH IN OBSERVANCE OF MEMORI- AL DAY LIBRARY NEWS & EVENTS (May 25-June 1)--Friday, May 25, Start of Summer Reading (theme: Libraries Rock), bring kids in for a bag of fun activities and a free book; Monday, LIBRARY CLOSED (Memorial Day). The following events are scheduled at the Library as part of the Children's Summer Reading Program, the theme of which is "Libraries Rock." All programs start at 11 a.m. on Fridays: June 1, Make Your Own Straw Flute. June 8, Rock Painting. June 15, Make Your Own Maracas. June 22, Aladdin Sing Along. * July 6, Make Your Own Click Clack. July 13, Karaoke. * July 20, Make Your Own Coffee Can Drum. July 27, Frozen Sing Along. * * These programs include prizes DIVE-IN MOVIES Summer Dive-in Movies are back at the St. Pete Beach Aquatic Center, 7701 Boca Ciega Drive. Bring your noodles, floats and chairs to lounge by the pool while watching a movie on our inflatable screen out under the stars. Snacks, drinks and glow jewelry will be sold. No outside coolers or food allowed. Tickets on sale at 7pm; Doors open at 8:00pm. Admission is $5.00 per person. This event will be canceled in inclement weather. For more information, visit our website at or call the Aquatic Center at June 1st Moana June 15: Deep Under Pressure June 29: Nutty by Nature 2 July 13: Coco July 27: Lego Batman Aug 10: Finding Dory ROBOTICS SPECIALTY CAMP AT ST. PETE BEACH RECREATION The St. Pete Beach Robotics camp teaches students to build and program fully autonomous robots using the EV3 Lego Mindstorms kit. The student-build robots will then compete in competitions such as sumobot wrestling, roboparade and exhibitions. For more information call the community center at or visit our website at MESSAGE FROM THE SHERIFF S OFFICE Please lock your car doors and stow valuables out of sight. Check out the Sheriff s website for access to programs and services to learn how to protect yourself, your family and your possessions. To contact our Community Policing Officers call

2 St. Pete Beach enews The Official Electronic Newsletter of St. Pete Beach May 24, 2018 POOL INFORMATION Water temp. always 82! POOL HOURS April 2nd May 27th ADULT LAP SWIM Mon-Fri: 7a-11a Tues-Thurs: 7a-11a (limited lanes) Mon-Fri: 11a-6p (limited lanes) MESSAGE FROM PINELLAS COUNTY Coyotes they are here to stay in Pinellas County. Sightings of Coyotes Pinellas County Animal Services does not trap or remove coyotes or other wildlife. However, Coyote reporting is informational and Pinellas County Animal Services gathers this data for confirmation of coyote locations. To report a coyote sighting in your area visit Living with coyotes in your neighborhood Urban-Coyotes.pdf. PUBLIC SWIM Mon & Thurs: 11a-4p Friday: 11a-6pm Sat: 10a-3p Sun: 12p-3p COMMUNITY CENTER HOURS Mon-Fri: 7a-8:30p Sat: 9a-1pm Sun: Closed UPCOMING MEETINGS Held at City Hall Board of Adjustment (Cancelled) May 2p Executive Session May 4p Historic Preservation June Special Magistrate June 10a City Commission June 6p Planning Board June 4p Library Advisory June 2p City Commission June 6p MESSAGE FROM FDOT Quinn Construction, INC., has been hired by FDOT to perform repairs on the Corey Causeway bridge. Onsite construction is to begin April 2, 2018 and continue through September They anticipate full bridge closures in order to perform the roadway grating replacement as well the painting of the bridge. Full bridge closures will be done at night and the bridge will be opened at 6am each morning. They will close side of the bridge at a time allowing 2-way traffic over the bridge. They are expecting lane closures throughout the project and will maintain the open lane per FDOT standard MOT specifications. They do not anticipate any delay in the traffic flow during lane closure. For more Information, during rehabilitation of the bridge, Quinn Construction contacts are as follows: Office After Hours Emergency COMMUNITY EVENTS Sunday Market on Corey Avenue from 10am-2pm United States Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 78 Pass-a-Grille is proud to help promote National Safe Boating Week, May 19-25, the official launch of the 2018 Safe Boating Campaign. This yearlong campaign promotes the value of voluntary, consistent life jacket wear by recreational boaters. For information on boating safety classes contact Jim ; for information on vessel safety checks contact Phil Recycle Today - Pinellas County s guide to Resource Management Commission meetings replay on Ch. 642 on a continuous loop

3 St. Pete Beach enews The Official Electronic Newsletter of St. Pete Beach May 24, 2018 POOL INFORMATION Water temp. always 82! POOL HOURS April 2nd May 27th ADULT LAP SWIM Mon-Fri: 7a-11a Tues-Thurs: 7a-11a (limited lanes) Mon-Fri: 11a-6p (limited lanes) PUBLIC SWIM Mon & Thurs: 11a-4p Friday: 11a-6pm Sat: 10a-3p Sun: 12p-3p COMMUNITY CENTER HOURS Mon-Fri: 7a-8:30p Sat: 9a-1pm Sun: Closed UPCOMING MEETINGS Held at City Hall Board of Adjustment (Cancelled) May 2p Executive Session May 4p Historic Preservation June Special Magistrate June 10a City Commission June 6p Planning Board June 4p Library Advisory June 2p City Commission June 6p SEA TURTLE NESTING SEASON BEGINS Beach residents and visitors reminded to take precautions to protect nests until Oct. 31 Sea turtle nesting season is underway, and in order to practice superior environmental stewardship, Pinellas County reminds beach residents and visitors to keep conditions safe for sea turtles to thrive. Females generally nest from early May through August, with turtle eggs typically taking about 60 days to hatch. Citizens are asked to not pick up hatchlings heading toward the water, shine lights or use flash photography. Hatchlings use starlight and moonlight reflecting off the water to find their way to the sea, and if they become misled by artificial light, they can become disoriented and die. Marine Turtle Permit holders monitor about 26 miles of coastline and report on sea turtle nesting activity. They engage in early morning patrols to locate and mark new nesting sites to prevent human disturbance. Most Pinellas County beach communities have ordinances prohibiting lighting that casts glare onto the beach during the May 1 to Oct. 31 turtle nesting season. During nesting season, residents and beach visitors should do the following: Turn off outside lights, draw drapes and avoid using flashlights or fishing lamps on the beach. Remove obstacles such as sand castles or sand pits that may impede hatchlings making their way to the shoreline. Keep the beach clean. Eliminate trash items that may entangle hatchlings and adult turtles. Do not approach or harass adult turtles as they make their way back to sea. As a threatened species, loggerhead turtles are protected under federal and state law; disturbing them, their nest or hatchlings, or causing disorientation from artificial lights, is illegal. To report the disturbance of turtles, an unmarked nest, or turtles or hatchlings lost, stranded or wandering in the street, call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) at FWCC (3922). By obeying the law and following some simple guidelines, residents and visitors can greatly improve the chances of sea turtle survival. Commission meetings replay on Ch. 642 on a continuous loop

4 St. Pete Beach enews The Official Electronic Newsletter of St. Pete Beach May 24, 2018 POOL INFORMATION Water temp. always 82! POOL HOURS April 2nd May 27th ADULT LAP SWIM Mon-Fri: 7a-11a Tues-Thurs: 7a-11a (limited lanes) Mon-Fri: 11a-6p (limited lanes) PUBLIC SWIM Mon & Thurs: 11a-4p Friday: 11a-6pm Sat: 10a-3p Sun: 12p-3p COMMUNITY CENTER HOURS Mon-Fri: 7a-8:30p Sat: 9a-1pm Sun: Closed UPCOMING MEETINGS Held at City Hall Board of Adjustment (Cancelled) May 2p Executive Session May 4p Historic Preservation June Special Magistrate June 10a City Commission June 6p Planning Board June 4p Library Advisory June 2p City Commission June 6p MESSAGE FROM AUDUBON FLORIDA ON BLACK SKIMMERS St. Pete Beach is again home to a large colony of Black Skimmers, a state-threated seabird species that nests directly onto the sand in large numbers. This year, the colony is reaching close to 500 individuals that are laying their eggs in shallow "scrapes" they dig with their mate. Three to five well-camouflaged eggs are laid, and both the male and female take turns incubating for almost 4 weeks. Fluffy, sand-colored chicks then hatch, and they depend solely on their parents to bring them fish to eat. It will take another month or so for the chicks to become "flight-capable" and ready to move away from the colony. In order to have another year of success, the Black Skimmers need our help. Share the beach, and follow these steps to create a safe habitat for the skimmers and their chicks: Keep your distance. If the birds become upset, walk away and give them space. Respect posted areas and walk around large flocks. Adult skimmers that are disturbed can fly away, leaving their eggs and chicks vulnerable to the hot sun and predators. Avoid flushing the birds by staying out of a colony and avoiding running through groups of skimmers. Keep pets away from nesting areas. Even well-behaved pets, such as dogs, can look like a predator to the skimmers. Taking pets to designated beaches will help avoid a colony abandoning their nesting site. Keep the beach clean. Leaving trash on the beach can attract animals that are predators to the nesting skimmers, such as crows and gulls. Become a bird steward and help educate the public about the Black Skimmers! Contact Holley Short at hshort@audubon.org for more information about volunteering with Audubon Florida. Commission meetings replay on Ch. 642 on a continuous loop

5 St. Pete Beach enews The Official Electronic Newsletter of St. Pete Beach May 24, 2018 MESSAGE FROM COMMISSIONER TERRI FINNERTY ED. D., DISTRICT 1 Home Rule: The Florida constitution empowers citizens with the right of local self-government, or Home Rule. As the only form of voluntary government, Florida s municipalities are the embodiment of this right. A city is created by its citizens to provide additional functions and services for the particular benefit of the community. Local citizens develop a charter to specify the form, functions and power of their city government. The incorporation and city charter are approved by voters in a local referendum. Home Rule authorizes all governmental, corporate and propriety powers necessary to conduct municipal government, perform municipal functions, and render municipal services. Home Rule is why not two cities are alike. City residents take pride in this diversity and responsibility. Strong Home Rule powers ensure that government stays close to the people it serves. Intrusion on Home Rule from the state or federal government undermines the constitutional right of citizens to govern themselves. THE FLORIDA CONSTITUTION REVISION COMMISSION (CRC) (Information provided by Protect Florida Democracy at St. Pete Beach Library on April 30 th ) What is the CRC? Approximately 1 out of 10 Floridians can correctly identify this process. The Constitution Revision Commission (CRC) process was created when Florida overhauled its state constitution in 1968 and made it possible to submit proposed constitutional amendments directly to voters. Every 20 years the Florida Constitution requires the convening of the CRC to review the entire constitution and propose changes to the voters. How many people serve on the CRC? 37 people are appointed to review and recommend changes to the Constitution. 15 appointed by the Governor 9 appointed by the Senate President 9 appointed by the Florida House Speaker 3 appointed by the Florida Chief Justice 1 automatic member, Florida s Attorney General What is the amount of time the CRC meets? It is 1 year to: hold public hearings, review the constitution and propose amendments. How does this affect you as a resident of Florida?

6 St. Pete Beach enews The Official Electronic Newsletter of St. Pete Beach May 24, 2018 MESSAGE FROM COMMISSIONER TERRI FINNERTY ED. D., DISTRICT 1 The Florida Constitution is our contract with the government. It outlines our rights as Floridians and the responsibilities of our state government. Every right, such as access to courts, the right to work and the basics of the structure of government are included in the constitution. During the past two Constitution Revision Commissions, proposed amendments addressed were: Firearms purchases Education Basic rights Election processes And the one Florida is most famous for Protection for Pregnant Pigs. This amendment required that the pig be housed in a cage large enough to enable it to turn around. Fact: The United States Constitution has been amended 17 times, while since 1968, the Florida Constitution has been amended 127 times. What should Floridians assure when they vote on these proposed amendments this year? They should ensure that no amendment weakens the separation of powers among our branches of government. Somethings to remember: Separation of powers serves as a system of checks and balances designed to help make sure each branch of government executive, legislative and judicial can check the power of other branches. The judicial branch makes sure citizens rights are protected, so it s important to watch out for amendments that undermine the power of the judiciary. Any amendments that displace power from one branch to another are a threat to the democratic process and can throw off the balance of power. What is the timeline for the CRC? Fall 2017 Spring CRC met and considered proposals from the public, interest groups and commissioners, to amend Florida s Constitution. May 2018 Proposed amendments by CRC were filed with the Secretary of State which was no later than 180 days before the General Election. November 2018 Proposed documents will be placed on the General Election ballot for voters to decide. This year 782 proposals came from the public and 103 ultimately were decided on by the Commission at the end. Unlike legislative bills which have to deal with single issues, CRC amendments do not have to

7 St. Pete Beach enews The Official Electronic Newsletter of St. Pete Beach May 24, 2018 MESSAGE FROM COMMISSIONER TERRI FINNERTY ED. D., DISTRICT 1 be single issues. They can be stacked. Example: Amendment 6004 places an oil drilling ban in the state constitution and creates an indoor vaping ban. Therefore, you must vote for the entire issue they cannot be separated. This year at the CRC s first meeting with Floridians 200 people showed up, at the second 300 people and in St. Petersburg 1,200. This meeting lasted 10 hours. What is the role of voters in Florida? Learn visit the educational website ProtectFLDemocracy.org Participate submit a column or letter to your local newspaper and share information on social media Vote vote on the proposed amendments on November 6, 2018 WHAT ARE THE AMMENDMENTS THE CRC PROPOSED FOR THE VOTERS TO VOTE ON IN NOVEMBER? (Information provided by the Florida League of Cities) On April 18, 2018 the CRC Approved 8 proposals for the 2018 General Election Ballot. The Florida Constitution Revision Commission (CRC) has completed the year-long process of reviewing and recommending changes to the state constitution. This unique 37-member commission only meets once every 20 years. The CRC considered 103 proposals to amend Florida s Constitution. Ultimately, eight proposals were successfully passed by the CRC. These proposals will now go directly on the November 2018 General Election ballot. The constitutional amendments will need 60 percent voter approval to become law. Of the eight proposals passed by the CRC, six of the proposals grouped multiple standalone proposals together. The CRC does not have to adhere to single subject requirements. These constitutional revisions will now join a crowded ballot that includes the five proposed amendments already placed on the ballot by the Florida Legislature and the ballot initiative process. A list of the final revisions approved by the CRC is provided below. The full text of each revision is available on flcrc.gov. 6001: Spells out victims' rights in the state constitution, which currently includes rights only for those accused of a crime; increases retirement age for judges from 70 to 75; no longer allows courts to defer to the state administration's position when ruling on state laws or rules.

8 St. Pete Beach enews The Official Electronic Newsletter of St. Pete Beach May 24, 2018 MESSAGE FROM COMMISSIONER TERRI FINNERTY ED. D., DISTRICT : Requires that a public university that wants to raise a fee get nine votes from its board of trustees, and 12 votes from the state Board of Governors; recognizes the state college system in the constitution; offers death benefits and education benefits to certain first responders and military members who die while performing official duties. 6003: Limits school board terms to eight years; requires that the Legislature promote civic literacy in education; gives the Legislature authority to certify charter schools. 6004: Places an oil drilling ban in state constitution; creates an indoor vaping ban. 6005: Makes even-year legislative sessions begin in January; places the Office of Domestic Security in the state constitu tion; requires counties vote for all constitutional offices; places the Department of Veterans' Affairs in the constitution. 6006: Removes from the constitution obsolete language that made it more difficult for Asian- Americans to purchase land; deletes language tied to a repealed provision that mandates the state develop high-speed rail. 6007: Implements a series of ethics reforms; prohibits elected officials (including city elected officials) from paid lobbying while in office and for 6 years following their term of office. 6012: Places a ban on greyhound racing in the state constitution. Terri Finnerty, Ed.D. Commissioner District # tfinnerty@stpetebeach.org

9 May 20-26, 2018 Each year, EMS Week celebrates the contributions of EMTs, Paramedics, Dispatchers, and other EMS professionals to their communities. Thank you for your service! St. Pete Beach Fire Rescue

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11 May 22, 2018 FEMA-4337-DR FS 043 State News Desk: (850) FEMA News Desk: (850) Fact Sheet Connect with Local Officials Now, Hurricane Season Begins Soon Hurricane Season Begins June 1 Severe weather can happen anytime and anywhere, especially in Florida. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 40 percent of hurricane landfalls in the United States happen here. Hurricane season begins in a few days so Floridians should learn now how they re going to remain alert over the six month period. There are many easy ways Floridians can connect with local officials to receive up-to-date information about severe weather such as hurricanes. Go online to the Florida Division of Emergency Management at FloridaDisaster.org/AlertFlorida. From there Floridians can sign up for electronic severe weather alerts specific to their community. Buy a weather radio, preferably one that uses batteries and has crank-power capabilities. Radios provide continuous updates and weather-related safety information from a Floridian s closest National Weather Service office. Call the FDEM State Assistance and Information Line, or SAIL, at FDEM activates the toll-free hotline during emergencies. Connect with local emergency managers on social media. Every Florida county has an emergency management office and many are active on social media. Floridians may search for and follow their community s office on Twitter or Facebook to interact with them and get severe weather updates. Connect with FDEM on social media. Follow FDEM on and find them on Facebook at facebook.com/floridasert. Enable Wireless Emergency Alerts on mobile devices. Many cell phones are capable of receiving automatic WEAs that provide local emergency alerts. Floridians can receive WEAs at all times since cell network congestion does not affect messages and providers offer the service for free. Pay attention to local media. Local radio and television are great sources for continuous weather updates and advisories.

12 EVACUATION KIT WHAT TO TAKE If you are evacuating to a public shelter Pack your essentials, but pack light as space is limited. It is possible you may only have a space that measures 5 feet by 2 feet. Remember, a public shelter is not a cruise ship, it is a life boat with the mission to save lives. Suggested items for a Go Bag Medications and copies of prescriptions Nonperishable food Special dietary food that is nonperishable Several gallons of drinking water to keep in your vehicle. A minimum of one gallon per person. Bedding for a small space Infant or child necessities (wipes, diapers, bottles) Personal hygiene items Change of clothes Eyeglasses Quiet games, toys or reading materials Important papers and valid ID Cash and a phone list If you are evacuating to stay with friends or relatives or in a Host Home Take your Go Bag and ask in advance what kind of space you ll have for your possessions and vehicles. Prepare your home to leave Regardless of where you are evacuating, before you leave your home, be sure to do the following: Take your valuables and important papers with you Turn off all utilities (water, electricity, gas) at the main switch Lock windows and doors Fill your gas tank Advise friends or relatives of where you are going

13 DOCUMENT CHECKLIST Personal papers to take with you: Driver s license or ID card Important numbers and emergency contacts Credit cards and list of creditors Medical records and blood type Prescription information (list of medications, dosage, prescription numbers, etc.) Doctor s contact information Cash and bank account numbers List of savings and investments, including CDs, stocks, bonds and mutual funds Household inventory: paper copy, photos, video tape or computer disk List of insurance policies with name of company, type of policy and policy number Copy of wills, trust documents and living wills Titles for your house, car and other property Birth, marriage, divorce, death and adoption certificates, and passports List of family advisors, such as accountant, attorney and religious leader Educational and military records Other special papers that would be difficult or impossible to replace if lost

14 Plan Ahead For Your Pets Pinellas County pet owners have options when it comes to pet-friendly emergency shelters. The Pinellas County School Board and Pinellas County government have three pet-friendly shelter locations. Each of these facilities are substantially built, have large indoor gyms and separate air handlers to ensure the comfort and safety of allergic citizens who shelter there. Pet shelters accept only cats and dogs. Animal shelters, such as Pinellas County Animal Services, the Humane Society and the SPCA, cannot accept your pets. Don t assume that a boarding kennel or hotel/motel will accept your pet. Check ahead and look for kennels in non-evacuation zones. Things To Do: Take your pet when you evacuate. Do not leave your pets at home! Ask friends or family living outside of evacuation areas if they can keep your pet. Keep a pet carrier (portable kennel) for each pet one that allows your pet to stand and turn around. The carrier should be marked with your pet s identification. Make sure all your pet s vaccinations are current and have proof available of its current county-issued rabies vaccination. If you must use a kennel as a last resort, make sure it is not in an evacuation zone and reserve space as soon as possible. Kennels require proof of vaccinations. Pet Disaster Supply Kit: Proper identification Immunization and medical records County license rabies tag Food and water (2 wks. supply) Food/water bowls A carrier or portable kennel Medications Muzzle, collar and leash Manual can opener Current photo of pet Feeding and water bowls Favorite toys and blanket Cat litter/pan and scoop Grooming items Plastic bags to handle waste Disinfectant

15 SURVIVAL KIT FOR STAYING HOME If you are staying home during a hurricane Here s a list of items to consider for your survival kit. Keep items in airtight plastic bags or containers. Replace stored water every six months and double check battery expiration dates. Suggested items for a Stay Kit One-week supply of food that requires no cooking and fluids to drink Ready-to-eat canned meats, fruits and vegetables Nuts, beef jerky and trail mix Raisins, peanut butter and granola bars Formula or baby food Canned juices or sports drinks One gallon of water per person per day Non-electric can opener Utility knife Cups, plates and plastic utensils Cooler and ice Pet food First Aid Supplies Adhesive bandages, gauze pads and tape Soap and anti-bacterial hand gel Antiseptic Latex gloves, scissors and tweezers Thermometer Sunscreen Over-the-counter pain reliever Anti-diarrhea medicine and laxative Anti-itch cream Tools and Emergency Supplies Flashlight and lanterns Battery-operated radio Extra batteries Matches or lighter in a waterproof container Compass and local maps with shelter locations A shut-off wrench and other tools Paper and pencil Plastic sheeting and tarps

16 Snapshot FEMA-4337-DR-FL May 23, 2018 Key Messages: Connect with local officials now since hurricane season begins soon. Register for local electronic alerts on FDEM s website, follow your local emergency manager on social media and enable Wireless Emergency Alerts on your cellphone. Florida has had about twice as many hurricane landfalls in recorded history as any state, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. There are several easy steps homeowners can take to reduce the chances their property becomes a statistic: install storm shutters, identify somewhere to secure outdoor items and clean gutters and downspouts. Survivors Encouraged to Stay in Touch with FEMA Survivors who registered for disaster assistance following Hurricane Irma should stay in touch with FEMA. Missing or outdated information, such as phone numbers or addresses, can delay help. The easiest way for survivors to update an application, check the status or provide missing information is to create an account at DisasterAssistance.gov or call the FEMA Helpline ( ) for voice or 711 VRS, or for TTY. SBA, the Primary Source of Disaster Recovery Money for Floridians Next to insurance, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is the survivors primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. The deadline to return economic injury applications is June 11, Information on the disaster loan program may be obtained by calling SBA s Customer Service Center at (TTY ), disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visit Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA s secure website at What Substantial Damage Means to Florida Disaster Survivors Substantial damage is a specific term that applies to a damaged structure in a Special Flood Hazard Area or floodplain for which the total cost of repairs is 50 percent or more of the structure s market value before the disaster occurred. The decision about a structure being substantially damaged is made at a local government level, generally by a building official or floodplain manager.

17 Once a determination on the percentage of damage is made, local officials then share that information with the property owners if their structure is substantially damaged. If a building in a floodplain is determined to be substantially damaged, it must be brought into compliance with local floodplain management regulations. Before Making Major Repairs, Check with Your Local Building Department All property owners should check with local building officials to determine if permits for repair are required before beginning the work. Depending on local codes and ordinances, there can be consequences for not complying with the permitting process. Other Sources of Assistance Survivors with unmet needs may call Volunteering and Donations To donate or volunteer, go to or call 800-FL-Help-1. Legal Services Florida Bar Association Free legal assistance is available to low-income Florida disaster survivors. Call or visit Survivors Cautioned to Beware of Fraud and Scams Survivors can report suspicious activity or disaster fraud by contacting DHS OIG at , TTY Survivors can also report fraudulent activity to the state to the following hotlines: Attorney General s Price Gouging Hotline , Unlicensed Activity Hotline (DBPR): (inside Florida) or (outside Florida). FEMA Public Assistance Grant Program in Florida 1,207 Requests for Public Assistance have been submitted to FEMA; 1,036 deemed eligible in Grants Manager as of May 15. Approved federal share: $60 million as of May 15. More information about the Public Assistance Program is available at and