Storm Updates for Employees
Updated Oct. 3 at 12:30 p.m.
City employees are working hard to help our coastal residents who have been significantly impacted by Hurricane Helene.
We hope you, your family and your home fared well during this terrible storm. If you have experienced significant damage or loss, please contact Human Resources and your supervisor as soon as possible. Once again, the health and well-being of you and your family is what matters most. Normal operations continue, and it's going to be a long road to getting our coastal community back to being as bright and beautiful as it had been. See below for resources to ensure you are taking care of yourselves. If we don't take care of ourselves, our restoration efforts for others will suffer.
Employees to Report Disaster Relief Needs
Donations Are Being Accepted for Employees Helping Employees
Many of your city coworkers have been devastated by Hurricane Helene. Here is a list of items that are urgently needed:
- Food (gift cards to grocery stores)
- Pet Food (dogs and cats)
- Clothing (Men's, Women's, Children's)
- Toys
- Gift Cards
If you would like to help, complete the form below and someone from the Human Resources Department will contact you to coordinate.
Donation Form
Flyer for Posting(PDF, 3MB)
Employee Leave Sell Back and Donation
Classified Non-SAMP and SAMP employees impacted by Hurricane Helene in need of disaster relief can request a one-time sellback of vacation or floating holiday leave by using the attached forms. Additionally, we are establishing an Emergency Leave Pool and are accepting donations of vacation and floating holiday hours. The policy for distributing the emergency leave will be available soon. Currently emergency leave sell back and donation is being offered to non-bargaining employees. This is a new process, please be advised these forms are subject to change.
The Legal Department is expediting the necessary measures to offer similar leave sell back and donation pool options to bargaining employees. More details will be forthcoming soon. Any questions should be sent to Human Resources. This is a new process, please be advised these forms are subject to change.
Emergency Compensation Hours
If you worked any hours during the time Hurricane Helene emergency pay was in effect, don't forget to to fill out the Emergency Compensation Hours form and turn it into your payroll preparer.
Hurricane Helene Insurance Village
The State of Florida is hosting multiple insurance providers at an “Insurance Village” resource center in Clearwater. The goal is to help hurricane-impacted residents expedite the filing of insurance claims.
The insurance resource center is open to disaster victims who live in Pinellas and Hillsborough counties. The resource center will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day starting Friday, Oct. 4 through Sunday, Oct. 6., at the Long Center, 1501 N. Belcher Road in Clearwater.
- Policyholders should bring as much documentation as they can:
- A driver’s license or other form of identification, such as a passport or state-issued ID
- Insurance cards and insurance policy information/documentation
- Pictures or documentation of the property being claimed as a loss resulting from Hurricane Helene
- Repair estimates
- Any additional insurance-related information that is readily accessible
Attendees are also invited to bring electronics for charging in the waiting areas. Parking is available at the Long Center, and an overflow parking lot is available next door at the Salvation Army, just north of the Long Center on Belcher Road in Clearwater.
Employee Health Center Power Has Been Restored
Power has been restored to the Employee Health Center and phones are working. Staff will return to the clinic for normal hours on Thursday, Oct. 3.
Learn More
Events
- The City Council will meet as the Pension Trustees for a special meeting on Thursday, Oct. 3 at 5:30 p.m. The regularly scheduled City Council meeting will take place on Thursday, Oct. 3 at 6 p.m.
Free Latin Dance Class for Employees, Oct. 4
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In celebration of Hispanic Heritage month the Diversity Leadership Council presents a free Latin dance class on Friday, Oct. 4, noon to 12:45 p.m. at the Long Center,1501 N. Belcher Road in the Aging Well Center breezeway. Registration is not required.
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Recreational or social activities are not compensable unless such recreational or social activities are an expressly required incident of employment and produce a substantial direct benefit to the employer beyond improvement in employee health and morale that is common to all kinds of recreation and social life.
United Way Event at Abe's Place Tap & Grill Has Been Postponed
- The Clearwater Police Department's United Way Suncoast fundraising event scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 25 at Abe’s Place Tap & Grill was postponed. Stay tuned for a later date.
Pickleball on Wednesdays Resumes
- Employee pickleball resumes starting Wednesday, Oct. 2, and thereafter at the Long Center at the usual time.
Resources for Stressed or Struggling Employees and Teams
This is a difficult time for a lot of our employees who have been impacted by the storm. It also is a challenge for employees who are working hard in the recovery process and are helping our community recover.
Please be taking care of yourselves at this time. That includes drinking enough water, eating healthy foods that help your brain and body perform, and get the rest we need to recharge.
See below for these important resources from Cigna for your or your teams.
EAP Wellness Webcasts
Employee Assistance Program
- You as a city employee and anyone living in your home has access to five free sessions of counseling and support services through our Cigna Behavioral Health network of providers in our Employee Assistance Program. This program provides dedicated support, lifestyle coaching, online tools, in-person and virtual therapy sessions, personalized learning, and behavioral care. Call (877) 622-4327 to get started.
Collection Sites Are Accepting Donations for Those Impacted by Hurricane Helene
Collection sites around Pinellas County are accepting donations for those impacted by Hurricane Helene. These locations are for donation drop-offs only, unless otherwise specified by the location’s agency. The locations in Clearwater are:
Habitat for Humanity Administration
- 14010 Roosevelt Blvd, Suite 704, Clearwater
- Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
North Greenwood Recreation Center
- 900 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., Clearwater
- Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Accepted Items
- Canned or non-perishable food
- Sports drinks
- Personal care items
- Disposable baby diapers
- Baby food/ formula
- Can openers (manual)
- Plastic ware
- Paper products
- Disposable adult diapers
- Cleaning supplies, including mops and brooms
- Dust masks
- Work gloves, Heavy rubber kitchen gloves and non-sterile gloves
- Flashlights and fresh batteries
- Hand tools
Items Not Accepted
Items not accepted at this time include used clothing, bottled water, furniture, appliances and other large items.
Interested in Volunteering?
Individuals interested in volunteering can sign up via Volunteer Connect, a statewide online portal to match volunteers with organizations that are looking for help.
Sign Up To Volunteer
Stay Updated With the City's Storm Website
Visit the city's latest storm information website, and sign up at the bottom of the page to get notified when changes are made.
MyClearwater.com/Helene