After Irma: Tampa Bay Residents Consider Insurance Claims, Disaster Aid, Food Distribution, Ice Giveaway And More

TAMPA, FL - Six days after Hurricane Irma moved through the Tampa Bay area, most residents had assessed any damage from the storm and were ready to consider their options. Some were preparing to file their insurance claims or learning more about disaster aid. Other residents, perhaps still waiting for their power to return, were seeking free ice or food distribution sites.

In recognition of their difficult work during Irma, first responders have been given the opportunity to attend a free concert. Country music star Brad Paisley offered free tickets for his Saturday show at the MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre in Tampa. A post on Paisley’s Facebook page asks first responders to show proper I.D. at the box office to receive a pair of free tickets.

Some utility customers in Tampa Bay also are getting a break. Duke Energy announced that it is suspending late payment charges and estimated bills for its 1.8 million Florida customers as it continues to restore power in the state. The company continues its suspension of non-payment disconnections, which was implemented at the beginning of the storm.

"We are all-hands-on-deck with restoration, and stopping these actions gives customers one less thing to worry about. It allows Duke Energy to focus on what's important – getting the lights on and helping rebuild communities and lives," said Harry Sideris, Duke Energy Florida president.

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Duke Energy said their customers in Pinellas and Pasco counties would have their power restored by the end of Saturday. The company had announced earlier that it would have power restored by the end of Friday. That delay prompted an angry tweet from St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman on Friday night:

“I am extremely disappointed that Duke Energy's self-imposed midnight deadline will pass without power being restored to all of St. Pete. The information provided to me by Duke Energy's CEO and other executives throughout the week gave me the confidence to be patient, and as such, I had encouraged the same from our residents.

“While it was irresponsible for Duke Energy to set a deadline and give false hope to residents in need, I do recognize and appreciate the progress they've made and their renewed commitment to having power restored to all of St. Pete within the next 24 hours. I am also thankful for the men and women who have worked feverishly to get us to this point.”

The utility said power to 96 percent of its customers had been restored Friday night. About 200,000 outages remained late Friday.

Tampa Electric estimated it had returned power to about 95 percent of its customers Saturday morning. The utility said all customers affected by Irma will have their power restored by the end of Sunday night.

Winn-Dixie Offers Free Ice To Tampa Bay Residents On Saturday

Winn-Dixie will give away 40,000 pounds of ice and 1,500 cases of water at various stores on Friday and Saturday. Semi-trucks will be in the store’s parking lots handing out the ice and water for free while supplies last.

Finding ice has proven difficult for Tampa Bay residents who have no power. The supplies are being donated in partnership with Sanderson Farms, according to a press release.

Tampa
• Residents can pick up one 40-pound box of ice on Saturday at 10 a.m. at 805 E. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

St. Petersburg
• Residents can pick up one 40-pound box of ice on Saturday at 11 a.m. at 2139 34th N.

Thonotosassa
• Residents can pick up one 40-pound box of ice on Saturday at 10 a.m. at 9535 E. Fowler Ave.

Food Distribution Sites Open in Hillsborough County

Hillsborough County residents in need of food or wanting to donate some to help others following Hurricane Irma have places to turn.

The county on Thursday announced the opening of distribution sites in conjunction with Feeding Tampa Bay. Several collection sites have also been announced for those with supplies to donate.

According to the county, the following distribution site will be available Saturday for those in need: University Area Community Development Center, 14013 N. 22nd St., Tampa, from 9 to 10:30 a.m.

Feeding Tampa Bay is also coordinating efforts to collect supplies and food for those in need. Supplies request include canned, ready-to-eat items with pull tops; protein in pouches or pull-top cans, such as tuna, chili, chicken or stew; snacks; peanut butter; toiletries; paper goods; cleaning supplies and diapers.

Cash donations are also being accepted. A single $1 donation to Feeding Tampa Bay helps create “10 meals for people in need,” according to the county. To find out more about donating, visit Feeding Tampa Bay online.

Feds Offer Program Providing Temporary Roof Coverings

While Hurricane Irma-affected residents are waiting to have their roofs repaired, the federal government offers a program to help provide temporary roof coverings to avoid further home damage.

Hillsborough County is looking to get the word out to its residents that they may be eligible to have free temporary coverings installed on their homes through Operation Blue Roof.

Operation Blue Roof is a priority mission provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and managed by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers contractors. The program provides fiber-reinforced sheeting and installation to cover damaged roofs for homeowners in disaster areas until arrangements can be made for permanent repairs.

Hillsborough County residents can sign up for the free program at the Seffner-Mango Branch Library, 410 N. Kingsway Road, Seffner, from Sept. 18-22. The library is open Monday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday from noon to 8 p.m. and Wednesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The program is for primary residences or permanently occupied rental properties with less than 50 percent structural damage. Vacation rental properties are not eligible.

Some Insurance Advice for Tampa Bay Residents Filing Claims

The Tampa Bay area did not suffer widespread major damage as had been predicted. However, insurance agents advise that the sooner residents contact their agents concerning damage, the faster the claim can be processed. And as most Floridians know, home insurance can have high deductibles for hurricane damage.
Residents who have questions about policy coverages or need help filing a claim can call Florida’s free Insurance Consumer Helpline, run by the Department of Financial Services, at 1-877-693-5236.

Michal Brower, State Farm spokesperson for Florida, says residents should keep a record of time spent and all receipts for work done on your property so you can add the cost to your claim.

She shared these tips for handling damage around your home and property:

• Keep notes and use inventory lists to help adjusters assess the damages.
• Remove tree debris from the structure and place it on the ground.
• Secure replacement costs/estimates from local retailers, and obtain statements from vendors on items that cannot be repaired. Be careful before signing anything without fully reading the documents, and contact insurance company first.
• Do not dispose of any damaged contents until authorized by your agent or claim representative.

Insurance Commissioner David Altmaier offered some tips for residents whose property has been damaged as a result of Irma.

Before attempting any temporary repairs, take photos or shoot video footage. Insurance companies may ask for visual documentation of damages. A free smartphone app called “MyHome Scr.APP. book developed by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners can store a room-by-room log of photos.

Tampa Bay Residents Can Apply For Disaster Assistance

Tampa Bay residents whose employment or self-employment was lost or interrupted as a result of Hurricane Irma can apply for disaster assistance payments.

Disaster Unemployment Assistance is available to people who:

• Worked or were self-employed or were scheduled to begin work or self-employment
• Are not able to work or perform services because of physical damage or destruction to their place of employment as a direct result of Hurricane Irma
• Do not qualify for regular unemployment benefits from any state
• Cannot perform work or self-employment because of an injury as a direct result of Hurricane Irma
• Became the breadwinner or major supporter of a household because of the death of the head of household as a direct result of the disaster

DUA is available from weeks of unemployment beginning Sunday, Sept. 10 until Sunday, March 17, 2018, as long as the person’s unemployment continues to be a result of the disaster.

To file a DUA claim, visit www.floridajobs.org or call (800) 385-3920. Customer service representatives will be available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern.

For DUA claims information, call (800) 204-2418 and choose Option 2 to speak to a customer service representative.

Patch File Photo