ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The city of St. Petersburg just got $600,000 from the state to help residents recover from Hurricane Idalia.
Liane Jamason and hundreds of her Shore Acres neighbors had to make repairs.
“We had to rip out a foot and a half of plaster throughout the house," Jamason said. "We had to demo our entire kitchen."
The money can be used to buy supplies and waterproof homes or pay for rentals, utilities and insurance deductibles.
“If a thousand people get $600, it's not enough," Jamason said. "$600 doesn't even cover the deductible for most homeowners."
Jamason said most of her repairs are done.
“To me, it's just optics. They're trying to make it look good and it's too little too late."
Jamason wants the city to spend the money on improvements that will impact everyone in vulnerable coastal neighborhoods in St. Pete.
“Something is wrong with the infrastructure," she said. "The city continues to build everywhere with new condos, new homes but they're not putting the money into fixing the existing infrastructure."
In 2023, the city's planning and development department recommended both drainage improvements and elevating houses as measures to help reduce flood damage.
“We want to have that conversation, talk about how we can adapt and how we can mitigate," St. Pete Mayor Ken Welch said. "When you start talking about elevating homes, a number of houses, for example, you’re talking about substantial investments, and it will take a partnership to make that happen."
Applications are now being accepted for this funding. For more information on how to apply, click here.