$709 Million and a Mop
If it feels like the last couple hurricane seasons have been a blur of wind, water, and “wait, is my roof still on?”—you’re not alone. (Shout out to Steadfast Roofing)
In the span of just over a year, Hillsborough County took a beating:
-
August 2023: Hurricane Idalia showed up uninvited and flash-flooded the place like it was auditioning for Waterworld.
-
August 2024: Hurricane Debby breezed through with her own brand of high winds and neighborhood soaking.
-
September 2024: Hurricane Helene didn’t stick around long, but her storm surge left a mess that sure did.
-
October 2024: And then came Milton, a Category 3 bully with 100+ mph winds and rain that overstayed its welcome. Many homes were flooded, roofs were wrecked, and a lot of people found themselves couch-surfing until repairs could catch up.
But here’s some good news, for once: Hillsborough County is getting a massive $709,324,000 in disaster recovery funds from HUD. That’s million with an “m,” and it’s aimed at helping local neighborhoods recover and prepare for whatever Mother Nature throws at us next.
The money comes through the Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) program. Translation: it’s the federal government’s way of saying, “Our bad, here’s some help.”
The County is still in the early planning stages, but the goal is to target the areas with the greatest unmet needs—and that includes everything from repairing flood-damaged homes to improving storm infrastructure and maybe, just maybe, figuring out how to keep our streets from turning into rivers.
How can you help? Glad you asked.
Hillsborough County is asking for resident input as it builds its official Action Plan. So if your home, business, or patience took a hit in any of the recent storms, now’s your chance to speak up. Your voice could help determine how and where these funds are spent.
Want to get involved or stay updated?
Check out the county’s official page here: hcfl.gov/disasterrecovery
Let’s make sure this money doesn’t just get swallowed up in bureaucracy. Because after four hurricanes in two years, Southshore’s earned more than just a pat on the back and a soggy insurance claim.