St. Petersburg residents will see a significant boost to disaster recovery after a federal mapping error was corrected this week. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced that $173 million is now properly allocated to the city, addressing a two‑year shortfall caused by a geocoding mistake that mistakenly sent money to Pinellas County.
How the error occurred
When Hurricane Milton struck on Oct. 9, 2024, HUD’s disaster recovery system misidentified the city’s location. The error placed St. Petersburg’s share of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Disaster Recovery funding under the county’s umbrella, leaving the city without the resources it needed for housing assistance and storm‑mitigation work.
What the new funding provides
The correction splits the $173 million into two parts. $126 million will flow directly to Sunrise St. Pete, the city’s federally funded program that helps homeowners repair or rebuild homes damaged by Milton. The program also supports qualifying renters and displaced residents.
The remaining $47.6 million is earmarked for infrastructure and storm‑mitigation projects in partnership with Pinellas County. These funds will help strengthen roads, improve drainage, and fund other critical projects designed to reduce future flood risk.
Eligibility gap closed
St. Petersburg originally received nearly $160 million for damage from Hurricanes Idalia and Helene. However, homeowners whose properties were damaged solely by Milton were excluded from that grant. City officials urged those residents to apply while they worked to secure federal authorization for Milton‑related aid.
Now, applications that were previously denied because of the eligibility restriction will be reconsidered. Affected homeowners will not need to submit new paperwork, according to city officials, streamlining the process and getting assistance to families faster.
Local leaders celebrate the correction
Mayor Ken Welch, City Council Vice Chair Richie Floyd, and U.S. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna announced the funding on Friday, the second anniversary of Milton’s landfall. Floyd, whose own home flooded during the storm, highlighted the importance of swift rebuilding for the community.
Rep. Luna, along with Rep. Kathy Castor, had previously pressed federal officials to address the discrepancy. Their advocacy, combined with city‑level efforts, helped bring the error to HUD’s attention and secure the corrected allocation.
Next steps for residents
The city has not yet set a date for reopening applications for residents who have not previously sought assistance. Officials say they will provide updates as the Sunrise St. Pete program processes the newly eligible cases.
In the meantime, the infusion of federal dollars represents a tangible step toward rebuilding the neighborhoods still reeling from Milton’s wind‑gusts of up to 101 mph and rainfall totals exceeding 20 inches. The correction also underscores the importance of accurate federal data systems in delivering aid where it is most needed.
Looking ahead
St. Petersburg’s leaders plan to use the infrastructure portion of the funding to enhance flood‑control measures, improve road resilience, and partner with Pinellas County on joint mitigation projects. These investments aim to protect the city’s residents and businesses from future storms, reinforcing the community’s long‑term stability and growth.
Original reporting: St. Pete Catalyst — read the source article.
