Article Courtesy of  Channel 8 WFLA Tampa

By Emi Darquea

Published May 31, 2026

PINELLAS COUNTY — Florida homeowners are taking their safety to new heights after the 2024 storms, but some are still left waiting for a government-funded program to help them lift their properties.

 

After the hurricane, it was going to be hard to get rid of the house,” Dr. Susanti Chowdhury said. “So, we decided that the smart move would be to lift the house up.” Construction is well underway to lift Dr. Chowdhury’s house by 12 feet, he’s owned the property since the turn of the century. After hurricanes Helene and Milton hit, he says lifting his home was a way to preserve the memories his family made there and keep them safe. “Our kids all grew up here. We love the house,” Chowdhury said. He opted to pay for the home improvements instead of applying to the state’s Elevate Florida program, which received $400 million from FEMA to help residents fix up their properties after the storms.

Questions continue to linger as some residents don’t receive ‘Elevate Florida’ benefits

“We heard about what a nightmare it can be, and I don’t think anybody to this day has been approved for that,” Chowdhury said.

Residents who need financial help from the state’s program are still waiting for answers, a year after the application window closed in April of 2025.

“We still have too many people who have not been able to move back in their homes, and they continue to just wait on answers that have not been coming,” St. Petersburg City Councilwoman and mayoral candidate Brandi Gabbard told 8 On Your Side.

The Councilwoman Gabbard wrote to state senators asking them for transparency and collaboration for the frustrated residents.

8 On Your Side reached out to Elevate Florida and Pinellas County. The county sent data from February of this year. They said that 3,678 applications were submitted and 368 were moving forward.

In the chart shared with 8 On Your Side, there were zero applications where construction was in progress, and 0 applications where construction was complete.

8 On You side asked for updated numbers, but they have not been shared yet.

Those who professionally work to lift properties say more people are opting for this option after the 2024 storms because it helps them preserve the integrity of their homes.

“So everything you’ve ever worked for your whole life has been flooded, and then the healing process is what we start elevating, knowing you’re going to be safe for the next storm. We don’t want to tear down history,” Jeremy Patterson with Modern House and Building Movers said.

8 On Your Side reached out to the Florida Division of Emergency Management, which runs the Elevate Florida program, but an update has not been received yet.