LARGO, Fla. — Pinellas County opened a one-stop disaster recovery center in Largo Monday to assist people impacted by the last two major storms.

The disaster recovery center is located at the Florida Botanical Gardens’ Magnolia Room located at 12520 Ulmerton Road.

What You Need To Know

  • A disaster recover center has been opened in Largo at the Florida Botanical Gardens’ Magnolia Room located at 12520 Ulmerton Road

  • The center will be open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. 

  • Residents will need to bring ID, proof of residence, insurance information and documentation of damage

  • The center will also offer help with FEMA applications as well as housing and recovery resources  

  • FEMA Disaster Recovery Center in Largo

Officials say the center will be a central location for people looking for storm-related help, including information on disaster assistance and help applying for FEMA grants.

Kevin Guthrie, director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management, said if residents were impacted by more than one hurricane this year, they must submit separate FEMA applications.

"If you’ve been impacted by two or more disasters — let’s say you were impacted by Debby, Helene and Milton, make sure when you file your paperwork, make sure when you file your application, you talk about Debby, and Debby only," Guthrie said. "You talk about Helene, and Helene only. You talk about Milton, and Milton only. If you start to transfer them over and you talk about one application that references another storm, it’ll be automatically kicked out. Those are bureaucrats — you can’t help them. You can help yourself by keeping it simple. Just talk about one storm at a time, reference only that storm. That’s going help you a long ways.”

The Pinellas County disaster recovery center will also have multiple state agencies and social service organizations on hand to help with temporary housing, legal concerns and counseling.

In addition to FEMA, the VA will be on site as well at the Florida Department of Commerce, Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, Florida Department of Elder Affairs, Florida Department of Insurance Regulation and Florida Department of Children and Families with Hope Florida Navigators.

To help the process go as smoothly as possible, county officials urge people visiting the center bring their ID, proof of residence, insurance information and any documentation of storm-related losses.

The center will operate from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday.