After over two and a half months of continuous operation, the County Information Center (CIC) is concluding its services today at 5 p.m., a necessary institution for the residents affected by hurricanes Helene and Milton. The CIC, staffed with both County employees and volunteers, has been the go-to source for more than 35,000 calls and 11,000 live chat inquiries, providing crucial information during the crisis, according to a report by Pinellas County.
Upon its activation, the CIC stayed operational for over 80 days, managing to distribute information on preparedness, response, and recovery with the efforts of more than 100 employees and volunteers working in various shifts. Looking to the future, the County points residents with inquiries to its respective departments, the list of which being available at pinellas.gov/county-government-a-to-z. Residents straining to hear or those who are deaf can continue their conversations online with County employees at www.bit.ly/PinellasChat.
While the physical doors of the CIC are shuttering, the digital avenues for aid and information remain steadfastly open. Residents can follow ongoing recovery efforts for hurricanes Debby, Helene, and Milton on the dedicated portal at disaster.pinellas.gov, as well as stay updated via Pinellas County's Facebook (@PinellasGov) and Twitter (@PinellasGov) accounts.
For those seeking the latest news on financial assistance programs and deadlines tailored for Pinellas County citizens, a convenient text update service has been set up. By texting "RECOVER" to 888777, individuals can tap directly into a stream of timely assistance, the Pinellas County has said. This line of communication acts to continue the support that the CIC began, adapting to new normalities faced by the community.
