10/5/2022

State of Florida Promotes Key Recovery Programs Available to Homes and Businesses Impacted by Hurricane Ian

Today, Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) Director Kevin Guthrie announced the multiple recovery programs available to homes and businesses impacted by Hurricane Ian.

"We have been working closely with our federal, state and local partners to ensure that families and businesses have the resources they need to start their recovery from this devastating storm," said FDEM Director Kevin Guthrie. “The people of Florida are resilient, and each state agency stands with them every step of the way as they begin to rebuild their lives.”

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

Individual Assistance is available to individuals and households in need of financial and direct services who have uninsured or underinsured necessary expenses and serious needs. Impacted individuals with insurance and residents outside of declared counties are still encouraged to apply.

Individual Assistance is available in Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Flagler, Hardee, Highlands, Hillsborough, Lake, Lee, Manatee, Orange, Osceola, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, and Volusia counties. Individuals can apply in multiple ways:

• Apply for disaster assistance at DisasterAssistance.gov
• Download the FEMA mobile app
• Call 800-621-3362 from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern Time
• Visit Mobile Registration Intake Centers announced by local officials
• Visit Disaster Recovery Centers. A Disaster Recovery Center in Fort Myers is open daily from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. More centers may open as needed.

• Lakes Regional Library
  15290 Bass Road
  Fort Myers, FL 33919

Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program

On Tuesday, October 4, Governor Ron DeSantis activated the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program, making $50 million available — at least $10 million of which must go to small businesses that are agricultural producers impacted by Hurricane Ian — in Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Flagler, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Hillsborough, Lake, Lee, Manatee, Monroe, Orange, Osceola, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, and Volusia counties. Small businesses in the most impacted counties — Charlotte, Collier, Lee, and Sarasota — will be escalated and prioritized as they are received.

The program, administered by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO), provides short-term, zero-interest loans to small businesses that experienced economic injury or physical damage due to Hurricane Ian. Interested applicants can apply now through December 2, 2022, or until all available funds are expended. Ways to apply:

• Visit FloridaJobs.org/EBL to learn more about the program, view the lending guidelines and required documentation, and complete an application
• Call 833-832-4494, Monday – Friday, from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Eastern Time for more information on the program.

U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)

Yesterday, the SBA added additional counties to Florida’s Disaster Declaration for Hurricane Ian that began on September 23. The declaration is available to impacted individuals and businesses in Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Flagler, Hardee, Highlands, Hillsborough, Lake, Lee, Manatee, Orange, Osceola, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Saint Johns, Sarasota, Seminole, and Volusia counties for both Physical and Economic Injury Disaster Loans.

The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is Nov. 28, 2022. The deadline to return economic injury applications is June 29, 2023. Ways to apply include:

• Use the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure website at DisasterLoanAssistance.SBA.gov under SBA declaration #17644
• Call 800-659-2955 or send an email to DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov
• Visit Business Recovery Centers (BRC):

• Chloe Coney Urban Enterprise Center
  1907 E. Hillsborough Ave.
  Tampa, FL 33610
  Open Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., Open Saturday, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
• The Naples Players
  701 5th Ave. South
  Naples, FL 34102
  Opening Thursday, Oct. 6, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
  Open Monday, 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Open Tuesday – Sunday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
• The Hub at SWFL, Inc.
  25071 Chamber of Commerce Dr.
  Bonita Springs, FL 34135
  Opening Wednesday, Oct. 5, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
  Open Sunday – Saturday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

• Loan applications can also be downloaded from SBA.gov/disaster. Completed applications should be mailed to:

• S. Small Business Administration
  Processing and Disbursement Center
  14925 Kingsport Road
  Fort Worth, TX 76155

Crisis Cleanup Hotline

A Home Cleanup Hotline opened to support survivors of Hurricane Ian. With the collaboration of over 1,800 volunteer organizations, the Crisis Cleanup Hotline helps homes and businesses get on the path to recovery.

Crisis Cleanup may be able to help with:

• Fallen trees
• Drywall, flooring, and appliance removal to curb
• Tarping Roofs
• Debris removal to curb

Households in need of damage assistance can call 1-800-451-1954. The hotline will remain open through Friday, October 28, 2022.

Operation Blue Roof Program

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has been tasked by FEMA to assist eligible homeowners with temporary roof repairs. The Operation Blue Roof program began on Monday, October 3 to provide a temporary blue covering with fiber-reinforced sheeting to help reduce further damage to properties until permanent repairs can be made.

Operation Blue Roof is a free service to homeowners and is currently operating in Charlotte, Collier, Lee and Sarasota counties. The initial sign-up period is set for 21 days and will end on Sunday, October 23.

Residents impacted by Hurricane Ian can sign up at BlueRoof.us or call toll-free at 1-888-ROOF-BLU (1-888-766-3258) for more information. The call center will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Time.