Hillsborough and Pinellas after Helene and Milton: the record and the license rules

Helene, September 2024: record water around the bay

Helene made landfall far to the north, in the Big Bend, yet NHC analyzed maximum storm surge inundation of 5 to 7 ft above ground within Tampa Bay. Tide gauges read 7.2 ft above mean higher high water at East Bay and 6.83 ft at Old Port Tampa. At St. Petersburg, the bay's longest-running station with records back to 1947, the 6.31 ft reading beat the previous record of 3.97 ft set during Hurricane Elena in 1985. The Clearwater gauge reached 6.67 ft, beating its previous record from the March 1993 Superstorm.

On the Pinellas barrier islands, USGS sensors measured 7.23 ft at Fred Howard Park, 6.75 ft on Clearwater Beach and 7.26 ft at Madeira Beach, with significant waves on top. NHC's damage section records that 12 people drowned in the surge in Pinellas County and two surge-related deaths occurred in Hillsborough County. It also counts at least 419 homes destroyed in the two counties combined, at least 18,512 structures with major damage and at least 13,909 more with minor or moderate damage.

Milton, October 2024: wind instead of water

Milton brought hurricane conditions from Clearwater Beach and Tampa southward after coming ashore on Siesta Key. Because the winds north of the center blew offshore, Tampa Bay saw only 1 to 2 ft of inundation, and NHC notes that a track less than 30 n mi farther north would have driven significant surge into the bay.

The wind record is what matters for roofs. NOAA's Storm Events Database logs a 101 mph gust at Albert Whitted Airport in St. Petersburg and complete removal of the roof at Tropicana Field. Across the bay, it records a 93 mph gust near Tampa International Airport with 10 to 15 inches of rain over most of Hillsborough County, and surge flooding on Bayshore Boulevard near MacDill Air Force Base.

Idalia, Irma and Hermine

Idalia passed well offshore in 2023, yet the Clearwater pier gauge reached 3.86 ft above MHHW and the East Bay gauge 4.56 ft; the City of Tampa reported flooded, impassable streets, and survey crews found surge water up to 1 ft deep inside homes. Irma in 2017 did the opposite, pulling the bay out: the water at St. Petersburg fell about 5 ft below normal, and Old Port Tampa's gauge went unreadable for hours. Hermine in 2016 produced storm tides of 3.0 ft above MHHW at Clearwater Beach and Old Port Tampa, and its rain reached 22.11 inches near Baskin in Pinellas County.

Tornadoes and hail

NOAA's Storm Events Database records 19 tornadoes in Pinellas County and 8 in Hillsborough County from 2016 through 2025, plus 8 Hillsborough hail events of 1 inch or larger. In December 2020 an EF2 tornado near Pinellas Park stripped roof decking from industrial buildings and destroyed two of them, and in April 2023 broadcast media relayed a photo of 3-inch hail north of Plant City.

Federal disaster declarations

Hillsborough and Pinellas were both included in FEMA's major disaster declarations for Hermine (DR-4280), Irma (DR-4337), Ian (DR-4673), Idalia (DR-4734), Helene (DR-4828) and Milton (DR-4834).

License checks for a Tampa or St. Pete job

A state-certified roofer (CC) can take work in either county. A registered roofer (RC) is different: Florida law says a registration lets the holder contract only in the counties, municipalities or development districts where it has met local licensing requirements, and only for the type of work the registration covers. Before signing, look the company up on DBPR's licensee search and make sure the record fits the city or county where your house stands. Our license check guide walks through the screens.

Roofers are listed on the National Roofing Directory for Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Brandon and Largo. Listings for those cities:

Frequently asked questions

How high did Helene's storm surge get in Tampa Bay?

NHC puts maximum inundation within the bay at 5 to 7 ft above ground, with barrier-island sensors in Pinellas County above 7 ft and a record reading on the Clearwater tide gauge.

Why didn't Milton flood Tampa Bay the way Helene did?

Milton's winds north of its Siesta Key landfall blew offshore, holding Tampa Bay to 1 to 2 ft of inundation. NHC says a track less than 30 n mi farther north would have pushed significant surge into the bay.

Does a roofer registered in Hillsborough County automatically cover a Pinellas job?

Not automatically. A registration applies only where the contractor met local licensing requirements, so check the DBPR record for your jurisdiction, or hire a certified roofer licensed statewide. The National Roofing Directory's Florida licensing page has the overview.

Which FEMA declarations followed the 2024 hurricanes here?

Helene brought DR-4828 and Milton brought DR-4834; both covered Hillsborough and Pinellas counties.