🌱 City Gets 'All Clear' + Hurricane Aftermath Tips + Donation Scams

Hey, friends! I'm back in your inbox this morning with your fresh copy of the Dunedin Daily. Here are all the things you need to know about what's happening in town, including:

• Tips for handling the aftermath of Hurricane Ian
• Where to find open stores, gas stations, restaurants, and more
• How to report hurricane damage to your home and on the roads

But first, today's weather:

Mostly sunny and breezy. High: 79 Low: 67.

Here are the top stories today in Dunedin:

1. Mayor Julie Ward Bujalski has given Dunedin residents the "all clear" after city crews drove around the city to assess the damage. They thoroughly searched for downed power lines, blocked roads, and flooding and labeled the roads safe. Even though the shelter-in-place mandate has been lifted, residents should still be cautious while driving or walking outside. Winds can still cause damage to power lines, traffic lights, and trees. (Mayor Julie Ward Bujalski via Facebook)
2. Here are some tips from the City of Dunedin on how to handle damage caused by Hurricane Ian. Any traffic intersections with inoperable traffic lights should be treated like a four-way stop. You can report road and traffic issues as well as damage to your home at storm.pinellascounty.org. Always assume any downed power lines are live and stay away from them. Never drive, walk or swim through standing flood water. Keep generators in well-ventilated locations outside, away from all doors, windows, and vent openings. Turn off generators and let them cool down before refueling. (City of Dunedin via Facebook)
3. If you plan to donate money to Hurricane Ian relief funds, officials from Pinellas County Consumer Protection advise everyone to be cautious of scams. All charities soliciting in Florida are required to register and file financial information with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services which can be verified at Check-A-Charity. They also advise requesting a charity's financial reports that indicate how donations are spent, beware of pressure tactics to donate immediately, and never donate money in cash. You can find more tips in the full article. (ABC Action News Tampa Bay)
4. The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) will resume all fixed-route services on Saturday. Until then, PSTA will be assisting the Pinellas County Emergency Operations Center by providing evacuation services and essential medical transportation. The Jolley Trolley, Looper, and PSTA Access will also resume normal operations on Saturday. You can find the latest service updates by calling 727-540-1900 or by visiting PSTA's Facebook and Twitter pages. (Tampa Bay Newspapers)

Patch deal of the day:

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Dunedin Daily Pic of the Day:

Thank you, Becky Stein, for sharing this photo taken of the effects Hurricane Ian had on the Dunedin Marina!

Want to see your Dunedin photo here? Submit it to Dunedin@Patch.com for consideration! Please confirm in the email that you own the rights to the photo, and that Patch has permission to republish it.

Patch readers are strongly encouraged to use caution and follow safety protocol when choosing to attend an event in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian. These events are accurate as of the newsletter's writing, please check with the event organizer for the most recent status update.

Today in Dunedin:

• Brewery Spotlight: Tampa Bay Brewing Company at DHOB (5 p.m.)
• Live music with Jimmy Griswold at Pisces Sushi (6:30 p.m.)
• Free Open Mic Comedy at Soggy Bottom Brewery (8 p.m.)
• Live music with Clover's Revenge at Caledonia Brewing (8 p.m.)
• Live music with Flint Blade Band at Dunedin Brewery (9 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Looking for a place to grab dinner or groceries? Q105 has put together a list to help you find out what's open and serving the public right now. Click the link to see where you can get gas, a drink, tacos, and more. (My Q105)
• If your home or business has flooded, before you clean up, watch this video to understand how to document flood damage. Additionally, visit https://www.floodsmart.gov/start to learn how to start a flood insurance claim. (City of Dunedin via Facebook)
• Watch Mayor Julie Ward Bujalski give an update on Hurricane Ian's aftermath on Mornings with Maria Bartiromo which airs on the Fox Business Network! (Mornings With Maria via Facebook)
• If you have Hurricane Ian supplies that you no longer need and would like to donate, you can drop them off at Soggy Bottom Brewing Co. There is a current need for heavy-duty trash bags, work gloves, rope, tools, and cleaning supplies. (Soggy Bottom Brewing Co. via Facebook)

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Alrighty, you're all good for today. I'll see you soon!