ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The city of St. Petersburg is extending a moratorium giving families impacted by Hurricane Idalia more time to rebuild.
The new six-month extension means people will have a whole year to have travel trailers, storage units and dumpsters in their front yards.
It doesn't matter where you are in Shore Acres, you will probably run into a storage unit in someone’s driveway. It’s a familiar site outside many homes like Gary Grudzinskas' who said Idalia left a huge mess.
“It was muddy, it was smelly,” Grudzinskas said.
Grudzinskas unfortunately said most of it was unsalvageable.
“Everything that salt water touched is gone,” he added.
Without this moratorium, someone would be fined $100 for the first violation, and they would have to have the storage unit or camper removed within 24 hours.
“It's one thing I don't have to worry about,” Grudzinskas said.
As Grudzinskas rebuilds, he's now adding waterproof finishes like ceramic floors and not using drywall.
He's not sure how much longer rebuilding will take, but he's working hard to make sure his home can withstand another storm.
“I think it's going to be two months, but it's been two months for six months. I think for some people it might take years,” Grudzinskas said.