A 71-year-old Pinellas County man who slept on an air mattress for nearly two years after Hurricane Milton destroyed his home moved into a brand-new manufactured house Thursday, marking the first completed mobile home replacement under the county's federal disaster recovery program.

Richard Brill's 1964 mobile home in Lealman shifted off its foundation when Milton's winds tore through in 2024, shattering windows and leaving the structure uninhabitable. He had lived there 16 years.

"I'm 71 years old, and this is the best thing that's ever happened to me in my whole entire life," Brill said at the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The Pinellas Recovers program demolished Brill's damaged home and replaced it with a two-bedroom, two-bathroom manufactured home rated Wind Zone 3, the highest wind-resistance classification for manufactured housing. That rating means the structure can withstand sustained winds up to 110 mph.

Erica Henry, disaster recovery program manager for Pinellas Recovers, said at the ceremony that the new home "will provide many years of stability."

Program has approved $49 million, with thousands still waiting

Countywide, Pinellas Recovers has approved more than $49 million in assistance to over 650 individuals and families affected by hurricanes Idalia, Helene and Milton, according to figures shared at the ceremony. More than 3,200 additional applications are under review.

The program serves all Pinellas County residents, including those in Palm Harbor and Dunedin, through five initiatives under the county's People First Hurricane Recovery umbrella. The funding comes from federal disaster recovery grants.

Two programs face a July 31 application deadline

Palm Harbor and Dunedin residents affected by the 2023 and 2024 storms have until July 31 to apply for two of the five programs: the Homebuyer Assistance Program and the Disaster Relief Reimbursement Program for Renters.

Three other programs remain open with no stated deadline: the Homeowner and Landlord Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Program, the Homeowner Reimbursement Program, and the Disaster Relief Reimbursement Program for Homeowners.

To qualify, applicants must own a primary residence in Pinellas County, meet income requirements and have lived in or owned the home at the time of the storm.

How to apply

Residents can apply online at recover.pinellas.gov or in person Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., at two locations: 2600 McCormick Drive, Suite 100, Clearwater, or 5000 Park Street, Suite 4, St. Petersburg.