Mayor Ken Welch announced Monday that the city would open applications for the $159.8 million Sunrise St. Pete program Dec. 15. The government shutdown delayed the launch of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development-funded disaster recovery initiative.

U.S. Representative Greg Steube (R-Fla.) reintroduced today the Clean Up Disasters and Emergencies with Better Recovery and Immediate Support Act or Clean Up DEBRIS Act. This bill would allow common interest communities, condominiums, and other private housing cooperatives to receive debris removal assistance from the federal government after a natural disaster or emergency.

Notice: Beginning November 17th, new aid will be available for Tampa homeowners affected by hurricanes Helene and Milton. The program, Homeowner Hurricane Assistance (HHA) will prioritize homeowners in the hardest hit zip-codes, including Forest Hills/North Tampa, Palmetto Beach and South of Gandy/Port Tampa. 

Low-interest loans are now available for damaged homes, businesses and nonprofits in six Florida counties hit by the Oct. 26 storms.

After torrential rain and flash flooding damaged homes and businesses in Brevard and Lake counties, Florida Realtors opened its Disaster Relief Fund to aid recovery.

This article was updated to add more organizations to the list and to share that Hurricane Melissa made landfall.

In a recent Franchise Marketing Radio episode, executive Tim Fagan offered an inspiring look into what it takes to lead and grow franchise brands at the intersection of disaster recovery, technology, and human service.