\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/gettyimages-2177116670-594x594-1.jpg\")
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tA damaged mobile home park after Hurricane Milton in St. Petersburg, Florida, US, on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024. As skies began to clear across Florida Thursday, they offered a first glimpse of Hurricane\u00a0Milton’s\u00a0devastating toll millions without power, crops damaged, homes destroyed and at least 10 people dead. Photographer: Tristan Wheelock\/Bloomberg via Getty Images<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\tListen:<\/p>\n
St. Petersburg residents are one step closer to seeing 159 million dollars in federal funding come to support recovery for 2023\u2019s Hurricane Idalia and 2024\u2019s Hurricane Helene.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, or HUD, approved the aid this week.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The city expects that funds from Sunrise St. Pete will support about 350 households repair damage that occurred with Idalia and Helene,\u00a0 and 750 households receive reimbursement for losses during Helene, like booked hotel rooms and lost food.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Millions are also expected to go towards public infrastructure and community support services.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Aubrey Philips is the Director of Strategic Initiatives and Grants for St. Petersburg.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe know that this is not going to cover everything that was impacted by the storms, but we are \u2013 we feel like these, these programs are really a significant and substantial and strategic investment in long-term resiliency,\u201d Phillips told WMNF.<\/p>\n
She says she\u2019s excited about the funds, but recognizes it\u2019s just a drop in the bucket compared to the billions cost in impact of the storms.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, this grant program, we\u2019re incredibly grateful, for this investment in our community\u2019s recovery. But we also know that this is just a step along the path. That we\u2019re going to have a lot more steps to take to continue to grow more resilient as a community, Phillips said.<\/p>\n
Phillips says as storms grow more powerful, the city will need a mix of grant funding, local funding, and private sector investment to stay resilient.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The City is awaiting the final grant agreement from HUD, expected in September or October 2025. <\/p>\n
Once that\u2019s in place, the City will begin launching programs, estimated for launch in early 2026.<\/p>\n
This program isn\u2019t the cities only funding towards resiliency:<\/p>\n
St. Pete Agile Resilience Plan<\/a><\/p>\n General Sustainability & Resilience<\/a><\/p>\n