There are many kind and generous people who will help you after a disaster. They are also unscrupulous people who see this as a change to swindle you.

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ST. PETE BEACH, Fla. — To those who live on the narrow spit of land that is the Pass-a-Grille neighborhood — the tail end of barrier islands extending from St. Pete Beach up to Clearwater known as “The Key West of Tampa Bay beaches” — it’s a slice of paradise developed at the turn of the century and historically sheltered from major storms.