CLEARWATER, Fla. — It was Pinellas County’s largest water rescue on record as last year’s storms caused flooding at The Standard Apartment Complex.

Now, with a new storm season underway, some people continue to call it home as repairs continue.


What You Need To Know

  • A manager at The Standard Apartments said they’re already renting apartments on the second level, but most of the first-floor apartments are still being repaired

  • 565 people were rescued from their homes after Hurricane Milton, with water reaching almost to the second floor in some cases

  • Two retaining walls that buckled underneath and sent feet of water inside units are still in the process of being repaired

Spectrum News went to find out what’s being done to prevent this from happening again. A manager at The Standard Apartments said they’re already renting apartments on the second level, but most of the first-floor apartments are still being repaired.

County records show that after Hurricane Milton, 565 people were rescued from their homes in the complex, with water reaching almost to the second floor in some cases.

Isabella Chamara, with the Mattie Williams Neighborhood Family Center, says it's tough checking in with the organization's clients, knowing the damage floodwaters caused at The Standard Apartments.

“We’re telling them to take it day-by-day," she said. "Come to these organizations. Come to these hurricane expos that we’re hosting. Be informed."

A manager at The Standard Apartments said they have made repairs to their pumps on the property. However, the manager said the two retaining walls that buckled and sent feet of water into the apartments are still in the process of being repaired.

The manager said they’re still waiting on permits and an engineer to complete the job.

David Hale, the executive director for the Mattie Williams Neighborhood Family Center, came out to look at some of the progress on the property.

According to city records, there are still several open permits at The Standard Apartments, including the mostly gutted first-floor units. The manager there said there is no mold, and the second floor is safe to rent.

Hale says his organization is having to step in to help vulnerable renters trying to find affordable housing. He said that can leave them with fewer options.

“The reports to us are that some of the apartments they rented there are too damaged, or just not right for their family, or maybe too small,” Hale said.

“It’s not a surprise to us that families would have a hard time finding affordable housing around here," he added. "Unfortunately, you do see situations where families are taken advantage of and because of the lack of options, get put in some difficult situations.”

As for their organization, Hale said they’re taking the lessons learned here to help prepare those vulnerable communities in the event that a strong storm hits the area again.