Florida disaster assistance
USA.GOV Information
Hurricane Disaster Information
Get the latest https://www.fema.gov/disaster/declarations from FEMA. And learn how the U.S. government is responding to the hurricane with resources to help you recover from the storm.
Health and Safety
- Mental health - Call or text the Disaster Distress Helpline at 1-800-985-5990. The national hotline provides free 24/7, crisis counseling for people who are experiencing emotional distress related to any natural or human-caused disaster. Deaf and hard of hearing ASL callers can use a videophone or ASL Now.
Flood Insurance Claims
- If you have a flood insurance policy, learn how to file a flood insurance claim. You will also find information on applying for disaster assistance.
Disability Services
- Florida special needs registry - Register with your local emergency management agency to receive assistance during a disaster. Register if you need electricity to operate medical equipment, need transport services to evacuate, or need help getting medication. The statewide registry provides first responders with valuable information in disasters or other emergencies.
Military and Veterans
- If you are a veteran or are concerned about a veteran who is in distress, contact the Veterans Crisis Line, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Call 988, then Press 1; text message (838255); or chat online.
- If you receive care through the VA, you can get VA mental health services and/or engage with a mental health specialist at your local VA facility.
- For additional resources on coping when current events bring up past trauma, visit the VA Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention’s recent VAntage Point article.
- You can connect with other veterans at a community-based VA Vet Center.
- Find out how you can #LiveWholeHealth from home through VA’s ongoing self-care blog series from VA’s Whole Health Services. This series highlights resources—such as video sessions for yoga or meditation—that you can follow along at home to live healthier and happier.
Immigration
- During Hurricane Ian, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will not conduct immigration enforcement activities at protected areas including:
- Along evacuation routes
- Sites used for sheltering
- Distribution sites for emergency supplies, food, or water
- Registration sites for disaster-related assistance or reuniting families and loved ones
Weather and Imagery
- See storm forecasts, maps, and imagery from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). You will find the most current forecasted weather conditions for your area, evacuation and shelter information, and available resources to help keep you safe.
- Get hurricane forecasts from the National Weather Service, including detailed forecasts for the path of the hurricane, wind speeds, storm surge, rainfall predictions, and more.
Communications
- The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is monitoring the status of communication for areas impacted by Hurricane Ian, and offers tips for communicating during an emergency.
Business and Consumer Information
- Get consumer and banking information from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) if you have been impacted by the storm. You will also find articles on managing finances during a disaster and avoiding scams.
- The Census Bureau provides data tools for disasters, natural hazards, and weather events.
Federal Workforce
- The General Services Administration maintains a list of federal building closures due to storm impact. If you are an employee, contractor, or visitor, contact the individual agency to confirm whether a building is closed.
- The Forest Service offers programs and resources to help employees recover from a disaster.
- The Fish and Wildlife Service Endangered Species Act (ESA) emergency consultation recommends actions to minimize the impacts to any listed species or critical habitat in the area.
Last Updated: Oct 2024
Disaster Preparedness For Your Finances
From natural disasters like hurricanes and floods to public health and ecological crises, there are many circumstances for which you should be financially prepared.
The key to financial emergency preparedness is proper planning. You need to take stock of your income streams — such as an annuity, 401(k) or IRA plan, a salary or other source — budget appropriately and prepare for the unexpected.
Financial emergencies can happen to anyone, and without a plan, you may find it difficult to bounce back from damages. In turn, this could put your credit score at risk and even cause you to file for bankruptcy.
We hope disaster never strikes — but in today’s climate we also know nothing is guaranteed. So why not do a little legwork upfront to ensure you’re financially healthy no matter what? Here, we cover what to do with your finances before, during and after a disaster to ensure you’re protected.
Before a Disaster: How to Prepare
Multiple recent studies have shown that Americans are woefully underprepared for disasters and the sudden expenses that often come with them:
- Approximately 40% of Americans have no plan for handling an emergency.
- Only 16% of Americans have an emergency preparedness kit.
- About 55% of Americans worry about an unplanned financial emergency.
- Six in 10 Americans would be unable to cover an unexpected $500 expense.
- Six in 10 Americans would be unable to cover an unexpected $1,000 expense.
Read more here.
Recovery Resources From FEMA
Resources to Jumpstart Recovery
- Small Business Administration disaster loans are available to businesses, homeowners, renters and nonprofit organizations in Florida counties approved for individual assistance. Applicants may apply at disasterloanassistance.sba.gov under declaration #17644. For help, call 800-659-2955 or send an email to DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov.
- If you are one of the 1.6 million Floridians with flood insurance, report your loss immediately to your insurance agent or carrier. Be sure to ask them about advance payments. Need help finding your insurance agent or carrier? Call 877-336-2627. To learn more about how to start your flood insurance claim, visit Floodsmart.gov.
- Mental health resources are available. Survivors experiencing emotional distress can call or text the Disaster Distress Helpline at 1-800-985-5990. The national hotline provides free 24/7, crisis counseling for people who are experiencing emotional distress related to any natural or human-caused disaster. Deaf and Hard of Hearing ASL callers can use a videophone or ASL Now.
- Florida residents who did not evacuate but now need to leave their home can visit www.floridadisaster.org/shelter-status for open general and special needs shelters in Florida. If you do leave your home, do not leave pets or animals behind. You can also register other members of your household and your pets on Shelter in Place Survey (arcgis.com) to help local first responders locate you.
- Florida residents can call the Florida State Assistance Information Line at 800-342-3557 to receive up-to-date information regarding Hurricane Ian.
- Medically dependent residents of Florida who need electricity to operate medical equipment, transport services to evacuated due to a medical condition or need help getting medication during a disaster can register for assistance at FloridaDisaster.org/SNR.
- The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children has free reunification assistance for children and families impacted by disasters. If you or someone you know is missing a child related to a disaster or any other incident, please immediately call 911 and then 800-THE-LOST for assistance.
- If you need assistance locating a missing friend or relative call the Red Cross at 800-733-2767 and provide as much detail as you can to assist us in potentially locating your missing loved one.
IRS.GOV INFORMATION HURRICANE
- USA.gov — Lists all the government-wide information related to Hurricane Ian activities.
Tax Relief in Disaster Situations Resources
- Reconstructing Records After a Natural Disaster or Casualty Loss — Reconstructing records after a disaster may be essential for tax purposes, getting federal assistance or insurance reimbursement. Records that you need to prove your loss may have been damaged or destroyed.
- Disaster Assistance and Emergency Relief — IRS information for individuals and businesses.
- Disaster Relief Resources for Tax Professionals — Resources and assistance to members of the impacted payroll and practitioner community.
thrivent
Thrivent continues to monitor the state of emergency in your area and we are here to help.
🚨 Are you a homeowner in Greater Tampa Bay area, or do you know a homeowner, in need of volunteer demolition services due to financial constraints or lack of flood insurance?
If so, we encourage you to fill out this form completely, and a member of our team will reach out to help coordinate the assistance you need.