www.preparednessguide.org is a great resource for you and your community. They work to spread awareness about disaster resources through their website and blog.
How to Drive Safely Before, During and After a Storm
Disaster Recovery: Getting the Most from Your Homeowners Insurance
Disaster Safety for Construction Sites
Organize and Prepare for Disasters
Emergency Preparedness for Seniors
Check your local government website and other social media links to find out what’s going on in your community: notices range from food and water distribution times and dates, to where to go to apply for FEMA assistance, to road closure updates.
The Florida Housing Coalition, with support from Fannie Mae, is providing weekly updates on Hurricane Irma Recovery efforts. Visit FHC Irma Updates to register for upcoming webinars or to view/listen to previous sessions.
Worried about making mortgage or other payments in a timely manner due to loss of wages? Contact the financial institutions or companies involved directly.
Charitable Contributions – beware of scams! Check to see if the organization asking for money is registered in Florida at http://dos.myflorida.com/sunbiz/search/
IRMA RECOVERY: RESOURCES AND LINKS
National Resources
– FEMA Florida Hurricane Irma Webpages
– Sources of Financial Help after a Disaster
– HUD: Disaster Assistance Available for Florida Storm Victims
– U.S. Small Business Administration has issued a disaster declaration for a number of counties affected by Hurricane Irma:
– Broward, Charlotte, Clay, Collier, Duval, Flagler, Hillsborough, Lee, Manatee, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Palm Beach, Pinellas, Putnam, Sarasota and Saint Johns are eligible for both Physical and Economic Injury Disaster Loans from the SBA.
– Small businesses and most private nonprofit organizations in the following adjacent counties are eligible to apply only for SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans: Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Desoto, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Marion, Martin, Nassau, Okeechobee, Pasco, Polk, and Volusia.
– Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via the SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.
– To be considered for all forms of disaster assistance, applicants should register online at https://www.disasterassistance.gov/ or by mobile device at m.fema.gov.
If online or mobile access is unavailable, applicants should call the FEMA toll-free helpline at 800-621-3362. Those who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services should call 800-621-3362.
– From the Florida Nonprofit Alliance – Community Foundations in SouthwestFlorida, TampaBay, Sarasota, Miami, Broward, Orlando, Gulf Coast, Collier County, Jacksonville and Palm Beach have opened funds to support their local areas with Irma recovery.
– The Center for Disaster Philanthropy offers these resources:
The CDP Hurricane Irma Recovery Fund– dedicated to supporting medium- and long-term needs of vulnerable communities affected by Irma.
Hurricane Irma profile is live and details what we know about the storm and response efforts thus far. They will be updating the profile frequently to include nonprofit response activities, grants awarded to meet the needs of the disaster, funder activity, and facts and stats as available.
The Disaster Philanthropy Playbook, Collaborating with FEMA, HUD, State and Local Governments guide, offers innovative practices and key takeaways on how to strengthen relationships with FEMA and state and local emergency management personnel.
– MYMONEY.GOV is a product of the Congressionally chartered Federal Financial Literacy & Education commission, which is made up of more than 20 Federal entities. For a list of financial recovery resources go to https://www.mymoney.gov/Pages/Hurricane.aspx
– The Center for Disaster Philanthropy offers these resources:
– The CDP Hurricane Irma Recovery Fund– dedicated to supporting medium- and long-term needs of vulnerable communities affected by Irma.
– Hurricane Irma profile is live and details what we know about the storm and response efforts thus far. They will be updating the profile frequently to include nonprofit response activities, grants awarded to meet the needs of the disaster, funder activity, and facts and stats as available.
– The Disaster Philanthropy Playbook, Collaborating with FEMA, HUD, State and Local Governments guide, offers innovative practices and key takeaways on how to strengthen relationships with FEMA and state and local emergency management personnel.
– SBP is a national nonprofit organization committed to helping residents and communities recover from disaster – http://sbpusa.org/start-here/
State Resources
– Florida Division of Emergency Management – FloridaDisaster.org
– Florida Housing Finance Corporation – Florida residents who have been displaced by Hurricane Irma can search for available rental housing using www.FloridaHousingSearch.org, the affordable rental housing locator.
– Florida Legal Services – http://flacp.org/?page_id=41
– FloridaBar
– From the Florida Nonprofit Alliance – Community Foundations in SouthwestFlorida, TampaBay, Sarasota, Miami, Broward, Orlando, Gulf Coast, Collier County, Jacksonville and Palm Beach have opened funds to support their local areas with Irma recovery.
– Jesse Ball DuPont Fund – Creating Order from Chaos at www.dupontfund.org in the Reports section is a guide for navigating disaster relief and recovery efforts.
Courtesy of Florida Prosperity Partnership: