On November 7, 2024, Sheriff Bob Gualtieri and Chief Eric Gandy held a press conference to discuss the ongoing efforts of arresting unlicensed contractors on the beaches in the aftermath of Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Detectives from the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office and the Clearwater Police Department completed a two-day joint operation, “Flood of Fraud 2”, that led to the arrest of over 40 suspects, with over 50 charges. The operation ran from Tuesday, November 6, 2024, through Thursday, November 7, 2024, on Clearwater Beach. Sheriff Gualtieri stated, “As we announced two weeks ago in Madeira Beach, our current focus is protecting our residents and businesses who are desperate to rebuild and get on with their lives from being exploited and ripped off by people offering to do work on their property. But in some cases, have absolutely no intention of doing the work, in other cases are unqualified to do the work, and in all cases are unlicensed to do the work. These people are simply scammers and thieves and really no different than people who are running around in neighborhoods at 3:00 in the morning breaking into homes.” Chief Gandy stated, “We haven’t seen this kind of storm damage in Clearwater previously, and in some cases it was catastrophic. Houses were completely destroyed and infiltrated with water. We’re just here to make sure our citizens don’t take another hit from an unlicensed contractor.” Report unlicensed contractor activity by calling the Pinellas County Tipline at (727) 582-6767. Remember: Most building repairs in Pinellas County require permits. Ignoring the substantial damage assessment process and working without a permit can bring big consequences. Storm-related permit fees are waived; however, residents should be wary of contractors asking homeowners to obtain owner/builder permits. The risks to owners can be severe unless you are doing your own repair work. Reputable contractors apply for their own permits. A comprehensive list of licensed and insured contractors can be found online at https://contractorsearch.pcclb.com/. State-certified contractor licenses can be verified at www.myfloridalicense.com. Learn more at www.pinellas.gov/sdsi.