Hurricane Ian Information
Posted by Denise Stewart on Friday, October 21st, 2022 at 7:49am.
Information to Help You in the Aftermath of Hurricane Ian
The following are resources and info to help you recover and rebuild — including FEMA help, small-business loans, unemployment assistance and more.
Latest disaster updates
FAQs about rental properties: In the wake of Hurricane Ian destruction, many landlords, tenants and property managers aren’t sure how to proceed. Click here for Florida Realtors legal team answers to the most-asked questions or here to download a PDF version.
Florida emergency bridge loans activated: Gov. Ron DeSantis activated the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program to help companies deal with temporary operational gaps after Hurricane Ian. The maximum loan per business is $50,000 at zero interest, and owners have one year to pay the money back. Small businesses in the most impacted counties — Charlotte, Collier, Lee, and Sarasota — will be escalated and prioritized as they are received. Click here to learn more.
Office relocation fees waived: Department of Business and Professional Regulation Secretary Melanie Griffin signed an Executive Order waiving application fees associated with relocating and reopening businesses and branch offices in specified areas impacted by Hurricane Ian. The waiver applies to additional locations for pre-existing brokerages and schools.
Disaster recovery centers opened in Southwest Florida: Residents of Ian’s hardest-hit regions can get direct, in-person help at the following locations:
- Port Charlotte: Town Center (parking lot), 1441 Tamiami Trail
- Fort Myers: Lakes Regional Library (parking lot), 15290 Bass Road & Joseph P.D Alessandro Office Complex, 2295 Victoria Ave.
- North Port: Shannon Staub Library, 4675 Career Lane, North Port
License renewal extended: DeSantis approved an extension of the September license renewal through October 31, 2022.
Corporate income tax deadlines extended: The Department of Revenue announced extended due dates for corporate income tax filers impacted by Hurricane Ian following the recent declaration from the Internal Revenue Service. Eligible taxpayers that file Florida corporate income tax returns, as well as Florida corporate income tax installment payments, with original due dates or extended due dates falling on or after September 23, 2022, and before March 2, 2023 will now have a due date of March 2, 2023. This tax relief is applicable to affected businesses anywhere in Florida. Taxpayers needing assistance with corporate income tax filing may contact DOR’s Taxpayer Assistance at (850) 488-6800 or GTAHurricaneHelp@floridarevenue.com
HUD announces waivers: The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development calls its list of waivers to speed Hurricane Ian recovery, “One of the largest collections of regulatory and administrative waivers issued by HUD at one time.” HUD announced a package of 29 regulatory and administrative waivers on programs including Community Development Block Grants, HOME Investment Partnerships and others. Click here to learn more.
FEMA assistance
Federal disaster assistance is available to affected individuals in Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Flagler, Hardee, Highlands, Hillsborough, Lake, Lee, Manatee, Orange, Osceola, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns and Volusia counties following the impact of Hurricane Ian. Survivors can apply for disaster assistance at disasterassistance.gov, by calling 800-621-3362 from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern Time, or by using the FEMA mobile app. Click here to learn more.
Insurance information
Insurance company contact info: Click here for phone numbers, websites and email addresses for property insurance companies serving Florida. Unless they need emergency repairs, policyholders are urged to first contact their insurers with damage claims before signing over their benefits rights to repair contractors. Most of the companies listed enable policyholders to initiate claims at their websites.
Extensions, grace periods, nonrenewal, etc.: The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation issued Emergency Order 300997-22-EO in response to Hurricane Ian regarding the extension of grace periods, limitations on cancellations and nonrenewal, deemers and limitations on “use and file” filings. This Emergency Order is issued to protect the public health, safety and welfare of all Florida policyholders.
Citizens Property response center opens: Citizens Property Insurance Corporation – the Florida-owned “insurer of last resort – has opened Catastrophe Response Centers in the same Port Charlotte and Fort Myers locations to process claims and assist customers recovering from Hurricane Ian. Click here to learn more.
Housing help
Florida Housing: This free state resource for renters and property managers in Florida features dynamic search options can help you find available rental housing that fits your needs and income.
HurricaneHomes.org: Local Realtor associations are building a safe platform for the community to access rentals for temporary housing in Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Naples, Bonita Springs, and Marco Island. The website, HurricaneHomes.org, will be available in the coming days and provides listings for housing whose properties have been vetted as reliable, safe, and clean. The listings are given by Realtors in the area.
Operation Blue Roof: Operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Operation Blue Roof provides homeowners and permanently occupied rental properties in disaster areas with fiber-reinforced sheeting to cover their damaged roofs until arrangements can be made for permanent repairs. This service is free to homeowners, and the initial sign-up period is open through October 23. Five counties are currently eligible: Lee, Charlotte, Sarasota, Collier, DeSoto.
Mortgage relief
Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae and Federal Housing Administration loans (FHA) back the majority of U.S. mortgages – and each has some kind of program to help homeowners struggling to pay their monthly mortgage payment after a disaster. In all cases, however, a homeowner must initiate the process. Disaster relief options are offered to homeowners in declared major disaster areas. However, even homeowners outside those areas may have options if their home incurred a disaster-related loss that impacts their ability to make a mortgage payment. Foreclosure and other legal proceedings are also suspended while homeowners are on a forbearance plan. Click here to learn more.
Legal questions
Click here for an overview of key bad weather provisions in the Florida Realtors/Florida Bar “AS IS” Residential Contract for Sale and Purchase revised in October of 2021, along with one reference to the casualty provision contained in the Florida Residential Landlord and Tenant Act.
FAQs about rental properties: In the wake of Hurricane Ian destruction, many landlords, tenants and property managers aren’t sure how to proceed. Click here for Florida Realtors legal team answers to the most-asked questions or here to download a PDF version
Unemployment benefits
Disaster unemployment assistance (DUA) is available to Florida businesses and residents whose employment or self-employment was lost or interrupted as a direct result of Hurricane Ian. Individuals affected in the designated-disaster areas must file DUA applications by December 30, 2022. Applications filed after the deadline will be considered untimely, and DUA benefits may be denied unless the individual provides good cause. Click here to learn more and apply.
Small-business assistance loans
U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster loans are now available to businesses and residents in Florida following the Hurricane Ian disaster declaration. Applicants may apply at disasterloanassistance.sba.gov under declaration #17644. For help, call 800-659-2955 or email DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov.
Eligible counties include Charlotte, Collier, Desoto, Hardee, Hillsborough, Lee, Manatee, Pinellas, Sarasota, Orange, Osceola, Polk, Seminole, Flagler, Putnam, St. Johns, Volusia, Highlands, Lake, as well as the contiguous counties of Glades, Hendry, Highlands, Broward, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Pasco, Brevard, Lake, Volusia, Indian River, Okeechobee and Sumter.
The Florida SBDC Network can also help your business recover from a disaster. In addition, the SBDC and the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity partner on the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program, an interest-free, short-term loan program to help businesses recover quickly after a disaster.
Additional resources
FloridaDisaster.biz: Find the most recent information from the state on businesses offering services and assistance, including accommodation and lodging partners, major retailers offering assistance, state partnerships, including updates from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) and Florida Housing Finance Corporation (Florida Housing),
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: The Section 203(h) program allows the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) to insure mortgages made by qualified lenders to victims of a major disaster who have lost their homes and are in the process of rebuilding or buying another home. It helps victims in presidentially designated disaster areas recover by making it easier for them to get mortgages and become homeowners or re-establish themselves as homeowners.
Florida Disaster Contractors Network: Florida’s Disaster Contractors Network (DCN) has been activated to provide support to homeowners in need of post-Hurricane Ian home repairs. This is a free service founded in part by the state agency that regulates Florida’s construction industry, the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation. Its mission is simple – connect homeowners needing emergency repairs with licensed contractors and construction suppliers.
State Emergency Response Team: Information includes road and bridge updates, shelter openings and statuses, power outages and boil-water notices.
Private businesses offering assistance: See what companies are working to ensure Floridians have the supplies they need to begin Hurricane Ian recovery efforts and support the state’s economic resiliency post-storm.
Thank you Florida Realtors.org