Hurricane Relief Resources in Central FL

Emergency Rental Assistance Program Supporting Orange County

• Orange County will continue to provide rental assistance to tenants and landlords with the opening of phase two on Saturday, Oct. 8, beginning at 8AM. Click here for more details.

Home and Vehicle Insurance Assistance

• Allstate: 800-255-7828
• Citizens: 866-411-2742
• Farmers: 888-327-6335
• GEICO: 800-841-3000
• Liberty Mutual: 800-225-2467
• Nationwide: 800-421-3535
• Progressive:  800-776-4737
• State Farm:  800-732-5246
• Travelers:  800-252-4633
• USAA: 800-531-8722

Federal Assistance

• American Red Cross:  800-733-2767
• Disaster Assistance Improvement Program (DAIP):  800-462-7585
• Florida SAIL (State Assistance Information Line): 800-342-3557

FEMA

• The fastest way to apply for FEMA disaster assistance is through DisasterAssistance.gov.
• You can also apply through the FEMA mobile app or by calling 1-800-621-3362.
• FEMA NFIP (National Flood Insurance Program): 877-336-2627
• Free legal helpline for Hurricane Ian survivors who cannot afford an attorney: 866-550-2929
  • Help offered includes assistance with home repair contracts, insurance, landlord/tenant issues, and more. Please leave a message if calling after hours.

Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF)

• The Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) provides food assistance for individuals and families impacted by Hurricane Ian and who are not receiving food assistance benefits through the regular Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). In partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, D-SNAP is implemented by the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF).
  • D-SNAP Pre-Registration
  • D-SNAP Information – English
  • D-SNAP Information – Espanol
  • D-SNAP Information – Kreyol

• Food Replacement benefits are available to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance recipients who suffered food losses related to Hurricane Ian.
  • Request Food Replacement – English
  • Request Food Replacement – Español
  • Request Food Replacement – Kreyòl
• DCF’s federal waiver request to release SNAP benefits early in preparation for Hurricane Ian was approved, and food assistance benefits were released on September 27, 2022  to Floridians that may be impacted by Hurricane Ian. More information here: ACCESS Florida – Florida Department of Children and Families (myflfamilies.com)

Florida Department of Elder Affairs (DOEA)

• DOEA service providers around the state are in progress or have completed check-in and informational calls to their senior clients.
• Area Agencies on Aging in the affected areas are coordinating with other agencies to answer local Elder Helpline calls during power outages (1-800-96-ELDER).

Florida Department of Veterans Affairs (FDVA)

• Veterans enrolled in VA Health Care in need of routine or urgent care services in the projected path of the storm can contact VA Health Connect, also known as the VISN 8 Clinical Contact Center, at 1-877-741-3400.

Florida Department of Education (DOE)

• Commissioner Manny Diaz, Jr. communicated to all Superintendents and College Presidents that the DOE stands ready to assist if needed before, during, and after the storm.
• The Florida Department of Education is consistently updating their website with school district closures, as well as State University System and Florida College System Closures.

Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO)

• DEO has activated the private sector hotline at 850-815-4925 from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
• DEO is working with its private-sector partners to provide updates on FloridaDisaster.biz/CurrentDisasterUpdates related to supply chain concerns, inventory storages of emergency supplies, and general concerns and priorities of the business community.
• Partners including Walmart and Publix have indicated that they are constantly bringing additional supplies into the state to restock inventory.
• VISIT Florida has activated Emergency Accommodations Portal at Expedia.com/Florida is being updated with the latest on available listings.
• Comcast has opened Xfinity WiFi hotspots in Central, North and Southwest Florida, and the Panhandle for Xfinity customers and non-customers to stay connected during and after the storm. Details are available at Florida.Comcast.com/2022/09/27/comcast-opens-free-xfinity-wifi-hotspot-network-as-hurricane-ian-approaches/.
• Lowe’s continues to have stores open in counties not directly impacted by Hurricane Ian to receive storm and recovery-related products, such as generators, plywood, and other materials. Additionally, 30 fuel trucks staged at Lowes store locations for re-entry after the storm.
• The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association is getting the word out to lodging establishments to relax their pet policies and to share that there are still available hotels and other lodging available from Tallahassee to Pensacola and Palm Beach, Broward and Dade.
• As families evacuate and create their emergency plans ahead of Hurricane Ian, U Haul is offering 30 days of free storage and U-Box container usage at 43 Florida locations. Find additional information at www.uhaul.com/about/ listed under “Top Stories.”
• Private-sector partner, Uber, is offering round-trip rides to and from Southwest Florida shelter locations in counties listed at www.FloridaDisaster.org/PlanPrepare/Shelters. Riders can enter promotional code IANRELIEF in the app to redeem a free round-trip up to $30 each way. Rides must be requested to or from any state-approved evacuation shelter in Florida.
• DEO is working with business, industry, and economic development partners to distribute informative flyers about disaster preparation, response, and recovery.
• DEO has alerted the statewide Community Action Agency (CAA) Network to initiate disaster preparedness activities following the Emergency Order.
• DEO’s Secretary Dane Eagle distributed a memo on Tuesday, September 27, 2022, releasing $1.4 million in Low-Income Home Energy Assistant Program (LIHEAP) set-aside emergency funding for use by LIHEAP providers across the state to support preparedness activities such as transportation and temporary housing to preserve health and safety.
• DEO has closed its offices in Jacksonville, Orlando, and Ft. Lauderdale pursuant to local county government closures. While this may impact wait times, the Department is supporting the call lines with additional staff to support Floridians. The Tallahassee contact center will support all calls starting Wednesday, September 28, 2022; Floridians in need of support will receive assistance.
• DEO’s Rebuild Florida team is mobilizing construction teams to secure construction sites on in-progress Hurricane Michael and Hurricane Irma construction projects.

VISIT FLORIDA

• VISIT FLORIDA has activated its Emergency Accommodations Module on Expedia to provide real-time hotel availability and lodging resources for impacted Floridians and visitors.

Florida Housing Finance Corporation (Florida Housing)

• Florida Housing has ensured that all current listings are up to date in the event that families need to quickly relocate at www.FloridaHousingSearch.org.
• Each SHIP office has an adopted disaster strategy that allows for assistance in the immediate aftermath of a declared disaster. Strategies may include temporary relocation and rental assistance, debris removal and short-term repairs to prevent further damage to the structure or to allow for occupancy until further repairs are made.

Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR)

• DBPR has published an emergency page at http://www.myfloridalicense.com/DBPR/emergency/ for the current status of DBPR office locations, executive orders, board meeting updates, and other resources related to Hurricane Ian.
• DBPR’s Division of Drugs, Devices and Cosmetics is coordinating with wholesale distributors of prescription drugs and medical gases to provide information and support relating to exceptions for the emergency distribution of these critical supplies where needed.

Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR)

• OIR is coordinating with its regulated entities, including property and casualty insurers, to collect information on Hurricane Ian preparedness efforts and to ensure companies have all necessary resources to assist policyholders.
• OIR has updated its list of resources to assist Florida policyholders with their hurricane preparedness and response efforts.

Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)

• Following the issuance of the Governor’s Executive Order, DEP issued an Emergency Final Order waiving permitting requirements for the storage and processing of solid waste, including storm debris.
• DEP has also issued an Emergency Final Order to expedite necessary repair, replacement and restoration of structures, equipment, surface water management systems, works and other systems damaged by the storm.
• Inspectors completed pre-storm beach surveys in all shoreline counties.
• Hazardous Area Response Teams are preparing for potential assessment and deployment to impacted areas.
• All significant Hazardous Waste facilities within the affected counties have been contacted to ensure all pre-storm landfall preparations are being made.
• Florida state park closures can be found at www.floridastateparks.org/StormUpdates.
• Visitors with existing camping and cabin reservations at impacted parks will be notified of their reservation status.
• WaterTracker is active, DEP’s online portal for wastewater and drinking water facilities to report their operational status.