By Peter Roos
FEMA is on St. Pete Beach to “help residents recover from three storms” that may have impacted their lives, Debby, Helene and Milton. They held a meeting in the main lobby of the TradeWinds Resort on Oct. 28 that attracted quite an amazing crowd.
People were there mostly to learn about the 50% rule, which was threatening to delay, if not prevent, barrier island recovery. The 50% rule is intended to “limit reinvestment in properties that are in the flood plain.” If it is estimated to cost more than 49% of the market value of structure (dwelling) to bring it back to pre-storm condition, it is the owner’s responsibility to elevate the living level out of the flood plain.
Our local communities have the responsibility to administer the FEMA rules to keep FEMA support and FEMA flood insurance available to residents. Residents have a hard time understanding, when it has been over 100 years since our area was hit by stormslike these.
Was it a 100-year storm event, or, with global warming, is it a sign of what’s to come? The determination of whether we can rebuild requires some accurate estimating of the total repair cost for each dwelling. Even if the owner plans to do some or all of the work themselves, the 50% rule calculation has to include a market rate estimate of the labor the owner is contributing. It is not so much a decision whether the dwelling is worth fixing as it is whether the dwelling should be in the flood plain. If it is “substantially damaged,” it needs to be elevated out of the flood plain. Substantial damage is estimated to be in excess of 49% of the current market value of the dwelling. It is not easy to find, but the breakdown between land and dwelling value is on the Pinellas Tax Appraisers website, www.PCpao.gov. Search for your address on the site. Under the Tools section, there is an item called FEMA/WLM letter. For our address it says the following:
“Federal Emergency Management (FEMA) “50% Rule”
FEMA Substantial Improvement/Damage determinations require the use of “Just Value,” developed by the Property Appraiser’s office for Ad Valorem taxation purposes, be adjusted to approximate market value. This is accomplished in our office by dividing the Just Value of the structure by 0.85. This yields the following values: Structure(s): $245,247; Extra Features: $0; and Land: $725,038. This value allocation to the structure would allow
improvements not to exceed $122,623 based on the “50% Rule.” If you disagree with the property appraiser’s valuation of the structure, you may engage an independent real estate appraiser, state-certified by the State of Florida, to appraise the depreciated value of the structure (building). The Building Official within the property’s jurisdiction will review independent real estate appraisals, and if approved, the depreciated value of the structure (building) may be used in lieu of the Pinellas County Property Appraiser’s value estimate. Please visit www.pinellascounty.org/flooding/sd_si_50.htm for more information regarding the FEMA “50% Rule.”
Although Pass-A-Grille took a double whammy storm hit, The Wharf Restaurant & Bar re-opened after both Helene and Milton. Helene caused some damage, but was repaired, and Milton’s loss of power, potable water and sewage caused a delay in re-opening. On Friday, Oct. 18, the restaurant re-opened with a Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting. Next door, the marina was a shambles, but The Wharf stood strong serving an interim menu, cold/beer and wine and a full bar with a dose of good humor. The Wharf’s full menu was back by Oct. 28, new taps installed and live music Saturday evening in full swing, kicking off Nov. 2 with Rob Tyre. Stormy weather can’t keep The Wharf’s daily fun and football weekends down! Happy hour continues Monday-Friday 3:30-6pm (bar only) and you can come by boat or car!
Other St. Pete Beach restaurants that were open by Oct. 27 include, from north to south, Shrimpy’s, Nori Thai, Tiki Bagel, Buoy’s, Casa Del Pane, Shells, Waffle House, McDonalds, Branzini, Rick’s Reef, Basil Leaf, Odi’s Mediterranean Deli, Rumfish Grille, Coconut Charlies, Boulevard Burger and Taphouse, Skidders, Taverna By The Bay, Madfish Grille, Crabby Bills, Blue Fugu, Yaki-Mono and we heard that Grace on Eighth Ave. in Pass-a-Grille reopened, amazingly completing the Eighth Ave. restaurant recovery. With virtually no visitors in town, and most of the residents too shell shocked to celebrate, restauranteurs and wait staffs are happy to be back in business but there is hardly enough business to go around. If we missed anyone, we apologize.
Odi, owner of Odi’s Mediterranean Deli, says he is open 11am-5pm at present, since lunch is a little busier, and things get real quiet after 4pm. Many other restaurants that regularly serve two or three meals daily are only open for dinner.
Likely the brightest news to hit St. Pete Beach lately is the announcement that Tampa’s famous Malio’s Prime Steakhouse is opening their first Malio’s Beach Club in St. Pete Beach early in 2025. They are taking over the location most recently occupied by Primo
Cantina, just north of Dolphin Village Shopping Center. The original Malio’s Steakhouse was opened in 1969 by Malio Lavarone, whose parents had owned and operated their own restaurant since 1945. Malio Lavarone is happily retired in St. Pete Beach. His daughter-in-law Jennifer said everyone is excited about opening for the 2025 season in St. Pete Beach.
Both the Lavarone residence and the restaurant location weathered the storms without a problem.
Amtrak has announced a new “Floridian” route from Miami and Tampa all the way to Chicago! Whether you’re planning a trip up north or seeking an eco-friendly travel option, this new route opens up endless possibilities for Florida residents. This new route is set to begin November 10th!
Inspired by Salvador Dalí’s environmental and immersive artistic creations such as those for the 1939 World’s Fair, The Dalí Dome provides the community with new multisensory experiences celebrating art of all forms. New evening shows will be presented in this unique, 360-degree format, featuring the latest technology The Dalí Dome offers. This is an all-encompassing surround sound and visual treat that will transcend reality and take you way beyond the realms of 2D experience.
Now playing in The Dalí Dome is the immersive show, “Pink Floyd: The Dark Side of the Moon.” Over 50 years after the iconic album’s original release in 1973, celebrate and experience it while encompassed in 360 degrees of sight, sound and sensation. This experience offers, like Salvador Dalí’s art, a glimpse into creative worlds that are both remarkably insightful and fantastically unconventional. The immersive show is available select Thursday-Saturday nights through Dec. 21. Timed tickets are required; advanced tickets are highly recommended. Members $20Non-Member $25
FEMA Continues Recovery Efforts Following Hurricanes Helene and Milton, over $1.2 billion in direct assistance was made available to survivors on Oct. 29.
Federal, state and local partners remain throughout the Southeast to help survivors affected by recent storms.
The Biden-Harris Administration has approved more than $1.2 billion in direct assistance to Hurricanes Helene and Milton survivors. These funds help survivors with housing repairs, personal property replacement and other essential recovery efforts. Additionally, over $1.1 billion has been approved for debris removal and emergency protective measures, which are necessary to save lives, protect public health and prevent further damage to public and private property.
FEMA Deputy Administrator Erik Hooks was in North Carolina in a late October meeting with state and local officials and supporting federal response efforts. FEMA personnel remain on the ground in communities across the Southeast conducting damage assessments, coordinating with local officials, and helping individuals apply for disaster assistance programs. More than 1,400 FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance team members are in affected neighborhoods helping survivors apply for assistance and connecting them with additional state, local, federal and voluntary agency resources.
Applying for assistance is a critical first step towards recovery. Disaster survivors in certain areas of Georgia, Florida (Helene), Florida (Milton), North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia can begin their recovery process by applying for federal assistance through FEMA. Federal assistance for individuals may include upfront funds to help with essential items like food, water, baby formula, breastfeeding supplies and other emergency supplies.
Funds may also be available to repair storm-related damage to homes and personal property, as well as assistance to find a temporary place to stay. Applicants may be eligible for Transitional Sheltering Assistance, which provides survivors with a safe, temporary place to stay, like a hotel or motel, until they can find a short or longer-term housing solution. To date, more than 23,000 households have checked into FEMA-provided hotels.
Individuals affected by the hurricanes are encouraged to apply as soon as they are able to by visiting www.DisasterAssistance.gov, which is the fastest way to get an application started. Individuals can also apply using the FEMA App, calling 1-800-621-3362 or in person at a local Disaster Recovery Center.
Disaster Recovery Centers can provide survivors in-person help with their applications. FEMA has 75 Disaster Recovery Centers open throughout the hurricane-affected communities. Center locations can be found at www.FEMA.gov/DRC. FEMA also has
Disaster Survivor Assistance team members in the field supporting survivors and helping them with the application process.
Support for North Carolina
FEMA has approved over $185 million for over 116,000 households and other types of assistance. Additionally, FEMA has approved more than $189 million for debris removal and reimbursement of emergency protective measures for the state.
More than 6,300 households have checked into FEMA-funded hotels and lodging through FEMA’s Transitional Sheltering Assistance program.
There are 411 Disaster Survivor Assistance members in communities providing support. There are also 21 Disaster Recovery Centers now open in Asheville (Mobile), Bakersville, Boone, Brevard, Bryson City, Burnsville, Charlotte, Conover, Fairview, Hendersonville, Jefferson, Lake Lure, Lenoir, Marion, Marshall, Morganton, Newland, Old Fort, Sparta, Sylva, and Waynesville where survivors can speak directly with FEMA and state personnel for assistance with their recovery. To find the nearest center, visit FEMA.gov/DRC.
Support for Florida
In response to Helene, FEMA has approved over $413 million in housing and other types of assistance for more than 125,000 households. Additionally, FEMA has approved more than $335 million in public assistance for debris removal and emergency work. In response to Milton, FEMA has approved over $252 million in housing and other types of assistance for over 174,000 households. Additionally, FEMA has approved more than $631 million in Public Assistance for debris removal and emergency work.