November 21, 2022

Hurricane Ian Response: Safety Net Policy Tracker

On September 28, 2022, Hurricane Ian made landfall on Cayo Costa, on the southwestern coast of Florida, as a strong Category 4 hurricane. As it barreled across the state, the hurricane left destruction along its path, with total losses currently estimated as high as $60 billion. The road to recovery will be long and arduous, and many Floridians will be dealing with the aftermath long after Ian leaves the news cycle.

As federal, state, and local governments respond to this disaster, it is critical that our public resources are utilized to ensure an equitable recovery — one that rebuilds what was lost and damaged, and one that also strengthens our communities and the environment to withstand future disasters. 

Below are resources that have been mobilized by federal, state, and local government agencies to provide relief to Floridians harmed by Hurricane Ian. As the impacts continue to be assessed and recovery efforts are implemented, agencies will respond by making changes to policies and programs, often on a daily or even hourly basis. FPI will continue to update this page to reflect the most up-to-date information. 

At the request of Governor DeSantis, President Biden has declared a major disaster for Individual Assistance purposes in the following counties to date due to Hurricane Ian:

  • Brevard County
  • Charlotte County
  • Collier County
  • DeSoto County
  • Flagler County
  • Glades County
  • Hardee County
  • Hendry County
  • Highlands County
  • Hillsborough County
  • Lake County
  • Lee County
  • Manatee County
  • Monroe County
  • Okeechobee County
  • Orange County
  • Osceola County
  • Palm Beach County
  • Pasco County
  • Pinellas County
  • Polk County
  • Putnam County
  • Sarasota County
  • Seminole County
  • St. Johns County
  • Volusia County

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

FEMA, part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, is the primary federal agency to provide assistance before, during, and after disasters. Florida is located within FEMA’s Region 4 office, headquartered in Atlanta, GA. Governors make requests for major disaster or emergency declarations through the regional FEMA office. Once a declaration is made, the state and residents can access an array of assistance and services. FEMA disaster assistance is provided under three broad categories: 1) individuals and households, for housing, business recovery, unemployment assistance, and other needs; 2) public entities, including certain nonprofit organizations, for repair and rebuilding public facilities and infrastructure; and 3) for hazard mitigation to gird against future disasters and potential losses. 

This tracker will focus on individuals and households.

Note on eligibility: For most assistance from FEMA (e.g., cash assistance, including Disaster Unemployment Assistance), applicants must be a U.S. Citizen, Non-Citizen National, or a Qualified Alien to qualify. Anyone can apply for and receive FEMA-funded  Crisis Counseling, Disaster Legal Services, and short-term, non-cash, emergency aid regardless of their immigration status if otherwise eligible. Ineligible immigrants can apply for FEMA assistance on behalf of their U.S. citizen child or another adult household member.

To apply for FEMA assistance, individuals can visit disasterassistance.gov, use the FEMA mobile app, or call 1-800-621-3362 or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY). Applications can also be made in person at Disaster Recovery Centers. On November 21, 2022, FEMA extended the date by which residents in counties covered by an IA declaration can apply for federal disaster assistance for damage to their property to January 12, 2013.

Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs)

DRCs are mobile or brick-and-mortar locations within affected communities where Ian survivors can apply for FEMA assistance or check on existing FEMA applications. In addition, DRCs are often staffed with other agencies and nonprofit organizations who can provide other kinds of assistance with disaster recovery. A list of DRC locations is here.

Housing Assistance

Homeowners and renters affected by Hurricane Ian in the designated counties eligible for financial and direct services may apply for FEMA disaster assistance at www.disasterassistance.gov, by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362), or by using the FEMA App

FEMA disaster assistance may include financial help with temporary lodging and home repairs, as well as other disaster-related expenses for damage and losses not covered by homeowners, renters, or flood insurance. This includes: temporary housing, damage repair not covered by insurance, funds to replace damaged homes, and grants for the construction of a new home (in very limited circumstances). The following information will be required when applying: 

  • A current phone number where you can be contacted
  • Your address at the time of the disaster and the address where you are now staying
  • Your Social Security number
  • A general list of damage and losses
  • Banking information if you choose direct deposit
  • If insured, the policy number or the agent and/or the company name

If you have homeowners, renters, or flood insurance, you should file a claim immediately. FEMA cannot duplicate benefits for losses already covered by insurance. If your policy does not cover all your disaster expenses, you may be eligible for federal assistance.Take photos to document damage and begin cleanup and repairs to prevent further damage. Remember to keep receipts from all purchases related to the cleanup and repair.

Information on filing a flood claim through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) can be found here. You must have a policy through the NFIP to file a claim.

Operation Blue Roof

Operation Blue Roof is a priority mission managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) for FEMA. The purpose of Operation Blue Roof is to provide 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 is a free service to homeowners.

  • Currently, USACE has received a mission assignment for the Blue Roof Mission in three counties: Lee, Charlotte, and Sarasota.
  • To determine your eligibility for the Blue Roof Program and apply, click here.
  • The initial sign up window will conclude on October 23.

Other FEMA Assistance

FEMA also provides financial help for necessary non-housing needs that are directly related to the disaster in the following areas:

  • Personal Property, such as clothing; household items; tools, clothing and equipment required for employment; computers, books, supplies, etc., required for school
  • Transportation, including repair or replacement of vehicles, and public transportation costs
  • Funeral expenses 
  • Moving and storage expenses 
  • Some medical and dental expenses
  • Child care
  • Clean up items

Disaster Legal Services Advice Hotline

The Disaster Legal Services Advice Hotline is a FEMA-funded free legal aid hotline for disaster-related problems for Ian survivors who cannot afford an attorney. The hotline number is 866-550-2929. Callers will be instructed to say that they are seeking storm-related legal assistance, indicate the county in which they are located, and state their legal problem(s). Among the many legal issues that callers may be able to get help with are FEMA benefits, home repairs contracts, insurance claims, wills, scams, landlord/tenant problems, and access to disaster assistance.

Florida Housing Finance Corporation 

The Florida Housing Finance Corporation has updated its Disaster Relief webpage to provide families with information on housing resources and assistance. This webpage will continue to be updated as more information becomes available.

  • Florida Housing has ensured that all listings are up to date in the event that your family has been displaced and you need to quickly relocate. To find an affordable rental property, click here. If you do not have Internet access, you may also call the following toll-free number for assistance in conducting a search: 1-877-428-8844.
  • If your home sustained damage as a result of the storm, your local State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) office may have recovery assistance available to help with temporary relocation, rental assistance, debris removal and/or home repairs. Please contact your local office directly for more information. You can find your local office by clicking here

Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO)

DEO is the lead state agency focused on economic development. DEO administers the state’s Unemployment Insurance program, among other programs aimed at business development, community development and planning, and workforce development and statistics.

Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA)

Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA)  provides unemployment assistance to people in  FEMA disaster-declared counties whose employment or self-employment has been impacted as a direct result of Hurricane Ian if they are not eligible for regular Unemployment Insurance (UI).

Although more may be added, the counties in which people may be eligible for DUA include:

  • Brevard
  • Charlotte
  • Collier
  • DeSoto
  • Flagler
  • Glades
  • Hardee
  • Hendry
  • Highlands
  • Hillsborough
  • Lake
  • Lee
  • Manatee
  • Monroe
  • Okeechobee
  • Orange
  • Osceola
  • Palm Beach
  • Pasco
  • Pinellas
  • Polk
  • Putnam
  • Sarasota
  • Seminole
  • St. Johns
  • Volusia

Eligible workers include but are not limited to people who are self-employed and gig and part-time workers as well as workers who have already exhausted their regular Reemployment Assistance (RA). Generally, citizens and immigrants who have work authorization can collect DUA. More detailed eligibility criteria is here.

Applicants must file for state Reemployment Assistance benefits first, before filing for DUA. During the application, claimants should note whether their work has been impacted by the disaster. If applicants are determined ineligible for Reemployment Assistance, DEO will automatically prompt them to file a DUA application if they said that their job was impacted by the disaster. DUA is available for weeks of unemployment beginning September 25, 2022, until April 1, 2023­­­­­­­­­­­.

Other information about DUA, including eligibility criteria and the link to apply, can be found here, or applicants can go to a local CareerSource Career Center. For help applying, call 1-800-385-3920 to speak with a representative.

DUA applications must be submitted by December 30, 2022.

Reemployment Assistance

DEO has temporarily waived the following Reemployment Assistance requirements in FEMA disaster-declared counties:

  • Work search reporting,
  • The wait week, and
  • Employ Florida registration requirements.

Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF)

DCF provides a range of social services to children, adults, and families in Florida. This includes programs to support household and family self-sufficiency through economic support, programs to address homelessness, services for refugees, and administering public benefits.

Safety Net Work Requirements

The Department of Children and Families (DCF) has temporarily waived Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) work requirements from September 24, 2022, through November 19, 2022, for good cause due to Hurricane Ian. Although participants will continue to be referred to the Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) — the agency that administers and tracks compliance with safety net work requirements —  during the waiver, DEO will not be requiring compliance with work activities. Counties covered by this temporary waiver are: 

  • Charlotte  
  • Collier 
  • DeSoto  
  • Flagler 
  • Hardee  
  • Highlands 
  • Hillsborough  
  • Lake 
  • Manatee  
  • Orange 
  • Osceola 
  • Palm Beach 
  • Pinellas  
  • Polk 
  • Putnam  
  • Sarasota 
  • Seminole  
  • St. Johns 
  • Volusia  


For SNAP, DCF encourages anyone who received notice that a sanction may be imposed in their case on or after September 24, 2022, to contact the department. Although participants will be re-engaged in December 2022, DCF says it will grant good cause for all work sanction requests on or after September 24, 2022. In addition, participants with an ongoing sanction in place that was imposed prior to September 24, 2022, may be able to have their assistance reinstated automatically or by submitting a new application, depending on the date of the sanction, if they contact DCF.  

For TANF, participants with an ongoing sanction in place that was imposed prior to September 24, 2022, may be able to have their assistance reinstated either automatically or through a new application, depending on the date of the sanction, if they contact their local Career Source office.

SNAP and TANF Interview Requirements   

DCF is waiving interviews for food and cash assistance households through November 30, 2022, to assist with Hurricane Ian recovery. The only exceptions to this waiver are cases in which information is questionable or the household has not provided mandatory verifications, such as income, citizenship, and social security numbers. Interviews are still required for households applying for D-SNAP 

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

SNAP is the most important safety net protecting Floridians from food insecurity. SNAP provides grocery assistance to households with low income who are struggling to put food on the table. In a hurricane, SNAP plays a pivotal role in making sure that disaster survivors can access food.

Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) 

D-SNAP provides food assistance to households with significant disaster-related expenses who  are not eligible for regular SNAP. D-SNAP does not look at citizenship status, impose a work requirement, or preclude college students from participating. 

DCF has been approved by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to administer D-SNAP in Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Flagler, Hardee, Highlands, Hillsborough, Lake, Lee, Manatee, Orange, Osceola, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, and Volusia counties. Roughly 743,000 households will likely be eligible for D-SNAP and be provided a total of about $513 million in food assistance. 

As described below, DCF began rolling out D-SNAP in phases by county beginning the week of October 10. Households who wish to apply for D-SNAP must pre-register either online or in-person at a to-be-announced D-SNAP site. After they pre-register, households will be required to have an interview either by telephone or in-person at locations to be posted here.

Applying for D-SNAP is a 2-part process:

First, the household must “pre-register” for D-SNAP, which means filling out a form about themselves and household members, including information about income, assets, and how the household was impacted by the disaster. Pre-registration will be open for a 7 day period in each county from Monday at 1:00 A.M. until Sunday at 11:00 P.M.

  • While DCF urges households to pre-register online, DCF will be opening up on-site D-SNAP locations in each county to serve households face-to-face who are unable to pre-register by computer. In addition to being able to pre-register in person at a D-SNAP site, applicants will also again be able to pre-register online on the days that the county has its on-site location open.
  • Although households will not be required to have any particular document to verify their identity (such as a Social Security Card, driver's license or a state ID card), DCF says that eligibility can be determined more quickly if an applicant has one of those particular forms of identification.

Second, after the house completes pre-registration, the household must have a short interview. 

  • Although this can be done by phone, DCF will be opening up on-site D-SNAP locations in each county to serve households who are unable to be interviewed by telephone.
  • DCF’s on-site D-SNAP locations will be located in accessible areas that are passable and safe to travel. In addition, these sites are also required to offer sufficient security, water, and restroom facilities, as well as provide reasonable accommodations for seniors and people with disabilities.

Online pre-registration opened first in Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Hardee, Lee, Sarasota, and Polk counties from Monday, October 10 through Sunday, October 16. After pre-registration, applicants were required to call to have a telephone interview on either October 13, 14, or 15, depending on the first letter of the applicant’s last name. There was a “last chance call” day on October 16 during which anyone who may have missed their appointed time could have called and been interviewed. In addition, except for in Hardee and Polk, people residing or working in one of these counties who missed their designated pre-registration or interview will be allowed to pre-register online during their county's on-site dates, go in-person to pre-register,  and/or have an in-person interview during their county's on-site dates.

On-site D-SNAP locations are currently open in DeSoto county on November 20-22. On-site D-SNAP locations were open in Charlotte and Sarasota counties from November 13 - 15. In Collier county, an on-site D-SNAP location was open November 6, 7, and 9. In Hardee and Polk counties, on-site D-SNAP locations were open from October 21 to October 23. Floridians should have already completed their D-SNAP pre-registration and interviews. DCF’s website will have updates on the dates and addresses of local on-site D-SNAP locations in other counties as soon as those locations are announced.

In Flagler, Highlands, Manatee, Orange, Pinellas, and St. Johns counties, online pre-registration was open from Monday, October 17 through Sunday, October 23. Telephone interviews were conducted from October 20 to October 23 depending on the first letter of the applicant’s last name. However, people residing or working in one of these counties who missed their designated pre-registration or interview will be allowed to pre-register online during their county's on-site dates, go in-person to pre-register, and/or have an in-person interview during their county's on-site dates. In Highlands County, an on-site D-SNAP location will be open on Saturday, October 29 through Monday, October 31.

In Highlands county, an on-site D-SNAP location was open from Saturday, October 29 through Monday, October 31, while Pinellas County’s on-site location was open November 3-5. In St. Johns and Flagler counties, on-site D-SNAP locations were open from Thursday, October 27 through Saturday, October 29. For other counties, DCF’s website will have updates on the dates and addresses of other local on-site D-SNAP locations as soon as those locations are finalized.

In Hillsborough, Lake, Osceola, Putnam, Seminole, and Volusia counties, online pre-registration was open through Sunday, October 30. Telephone interviews were conducted from October 27 through October 30, depending on the first letter of the applicant’s last name. In addition, people residing or working in one of these counties who miss their designated pre-registration or interview dates will be allowed to pre-register online during their county's on-site dates, go in-person to pre-register, and/or have an in-person interview during their county's D-SNAP on-site dates.

The on-site D-SNAP location for Lake County was open November 18-20; in Hillsborough county on November 17 -18; in Putnam County on November 13-15; in Osceola county on November 3, 4 and 6; in Volusia County from November 5 - 7; in Pinellas County from November 3 through November 5; and in Seminole County from November 4 through November 6. DCF’s website will have updates on the dates and addresses of local on-site D-SNAP locations in other counties as soon as those locations are announced.

DCF is supposed to provide D-SNAP benefits within 3 days (72 hours) of the date of application, as long as the household has complied with interview and verification requirements. Applicants whose identity or other eligibility factor cannot be adequately verified during their interview will be provided 7 days to submit verification to their local DCF office. 

Supplemental SNAP

Supplemental SNAP is extra SNAP for people who were receiving benefits when the disaster happened that were not at maximum amount for their household size. In those cases, DCF may issue supplemental benefits to bring SNAP allotments for affected households in the disaster area up to the maximum allotment for a household of their size. As noted above, DCF is awaiting approval of its request to administer D-SNAP, which should include approval for supplemental SNAP.

For Hurricane Ian, DCF automatically issued the maximum supplement to SNAP households in some counties; however, they are requiring SNAP households in other counties to submit an application.

For households participating in SNAP in Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Flagler, Hardee, Highlands, Hillsborough, Lee, Manatee, Orange, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, and Volusia counties, DCF automatically issued supplemental SNAP to their EBT cards. 

Households in Lake, Osceola, and St. Johns counties were or will be required to apply for their supplement online here on specific dates according to their county. Although the dates for participants in Lake County to apply have not been announced yet, SNAP participants in St Johns County were able to submit their requests during October, while participants in Osceola County were able to submit their requests on November 3, 4, or 6.Ordinarily, there is no interview required to receive the supplement. Instead, DCF says that benefits for eligible families will automatically be applied to EBT cards after DCF approves their applications.  

Replacement SNAP

Replacement SNAP allows households already participating in SNAP to get food replaced that has been destroyed in a disaster, such as Hurricane Ian. For Hurricane Ian, DCF automatically replaced SNAP benefits issued between September 15, 2022, and September 28, 2022, for households in the following counties: Charlotte, Collier, Desoto, Flagler, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Hillsborough, Lee, Manatee, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam,Sarasota, Seminole, and Volusia.Replacement benefits should have been issued to EBT cards on October 3, 2022. 

Households in counties that did not get automatic replacement of SNAP due to Hurricane Ian were able to apply individually for food replacement if they lost food bought with SNAP due to the storm by filling out this form. Except for SNAP participants living in Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Lake, Lee, Osceola, Sarasota, and St. Johns counties, individual requests for replacement benefits had to have been made within 10 days of the loss. Participants in Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Lake, Lee, Osceola, Sarasota, and St. Johns counties had until October 17, 2022, to request replacement benefits. 

DCF says that replacement issuances were made for the amount of the loss, up to the total amount of the benefit issued for the month.

Hot Foods

DCF obtained permission from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to allow households to purchase hot food with their SNAP assistance due to Ian. This waiver runs through November 30, 2022, unless extended.

SNAP Recertification Extended

DCF has obtained permission from FNS to extend the certification periods of all households in the state due to be recertified in November or December 2022 for six months.

Family Resource Centers

DCF has opened Family Resource Support Centers with staff on site, including Hope Navigators, behavioral health partners who specialize in disaster recovery response, and public benefit eligibility specialists to help individuals and families.

Click here for location information and hours.

U.S. Food and Nutrition Service (FNS)

FNS has granted the Florida Department of Health’s request to allow operators in the Child Care Food Program (CCFP) to provide meals in a non-congregate setting.

FNS has also granted the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ request to permit operators of Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) or National School Lunch (NSLP) to serve meals in a non-congregate setting, adjust meal time, allow parent pick up of food, and to serve meals at school sites. If school buildings are closed but classes are being held virtually, FNS will allow schools to serve NSLP and School Breakfast Program (SBP) meals in a non-congregate setting, adjust the time of meal service, and permit parent pick up, among other flexibilities.

U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)

The SBA provides capital and business development assistance to help grow and build small businesses. In response to disasters, the SBA provides low-interest loans to homeowners and business owners to pay for damages that are not covered by insurance. The SBA provides three types of disaster loans: 1) home disaster loans to repair or replace homes; 2) business physical disaster loans, to repair or replace business property; and 3) economic injury disaster loans, to provide assistance to small businesses and agricultural cooperatives to meet their expenses during the disaster period and until they resume normal business. 

Click here for information on applying for an SBA loan.

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)

CMS is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). CMS administers the Medicare program and works in partnership with state governments to administer Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance program (CHIP). 

State of Florida Waivers

Secretary Becerra used his authority in the Public Health Service Act to declare a Non-Covid Public Health Emergency (PHE) on September 26, 2022, giving CMS the flexibility to support beneficiaries in Florida, effective September 23, 2022. Blanket Waivers include the following:  

  • Durable Medical Equipment 
  • Replacement Prescription Fills 
  • Ensuring Correct Processing of Home Health Disaster Related Claims

CMS waivers are available to providers in the State of Florida who have been affected by Hurricane Ian. Health care providers who need additional flexibilities specific to the effects resulting from Hurricane Ian can submit a request to CMS here.

Medical Equipment and Supplies Replacements 

CMS will temporarily waive certain requirements to enable people with Medicare who have lost or sustained damage to their durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies as a result of the hurricane to receive replacements of such items and services. This will help to ensure beneficiaries can continue to access the needed medical equipment and supplies they rely on each day. Medicare beneficiaries can contact 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) for assistance.

Dialysis Care

CMS is helping people obtain and maintain access to critical life-saving services by activating the Kidney Community Emergency Response (KCER) program and working with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Network 7, which is responsible under a contract with CMS for assessing the status of dialysis facilities in potentially impacted areas of the State of Florida. The ESRD Network 7 (Florida) toll-free hotline is 800-826-3773. Additional information is available here on the KCER website.

Special Enrollment Periods for Hurricane Victims

Open enrollment in Florida begins on November 1, 2022. If a qualified individual is unable to enroll in a Qualified Health Insurance Plan due to Hurricane Ian during the 60-day enrollment period, the individual and their dependents will be eligible for an Exceptional Circumstances Special Enrollment Period that allows them to enroll in coverage after the deadline. To request an Exceptional Circumstances SEP, FEMA-emergency affected individuals must contact the Marketplace Call Center at 1-800-318-2596 or TTY at 1- 855-889-4325 and indicate they were eligible for another enrollment window, but were unable to complete their enrollment due to a FEMA-designated emergency or disaster.

Substance Abuse And Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) 

SAMHSA is the agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that leads public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation. 

SAMHSA Disaster Preparedness and Recovery

The Disaster Distress Helpline is a national hotline dedicated to providing year-round immediate crisis counseling for people who are experiencing emotional distress related to any natural or human-caused disaster. This toll-free, multilingual, and confidential crisis support service is available to all residents in the United States and its territories. Call 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746 to connect with a trained crisis counselor. 

Local Governmental Resources

Brevard County, FLFind information on recovery assistance, clean-up, the federal disaster declaration and hurricane preparation. Connect with the county’s social media on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Charlotte County: Find points of distribution, generator safety, report storm damage and find out about changes in the county government calendar. Connect with the county’s social media on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram.

Collier County: Find out about curfews, facilities and services updates, boil water notices, and hurricane debris collection. Connect with the county’s social media on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.

DeSoto County: Contact the county’s emergency management information hotline, information on non-emergency rescues, where to get gas, ice, food and water, curfew, and wellness checks for people searching for loved ones as well as information on boil water orders. Connect with the county on Facebook.

Flagler County: Sign up to get updates and find information on how to help, water boil notice orders, how to get assistance, help for businesses, and more. Get connected to the county on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Glades County: Find information on the emergency management department and sign up for resident alerts. Connect with the county on Facebook and Twitter.

Hardee County: Find contact information for the emergency operations center, flood warnings, power outages, rescues and direct aid, when county operations will resume as well as links to official social media for further information and updates. Connect with the county on Facebook.

Hendry County: Find out how to apply for assistance, report storm related damage, sign up for county emergency alerts, and make a family plan for future storms. Get connected to the county on Twitter and Facebook.

Highlands County: Get information on applying for assistance, find the disaster recovery center and get help with food and nutrition. Connect with the county on Facebook.

Hillsborough County: Get information on disaster assistance resources, clean up and yard waste disposal and staying safe after the storm. Connect with the county on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Lake County: Get information on the Disaster Recovery Center and other post-storm information. Connect with the county on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

Lee County: Get information on shelter operations, points of distribution of food and water, as well as information on infrastructure assessment and repairs. Connect with the county on Facebook

Manatee County: Get information on road closures, boil water notices, trash schedule, food resources, volunteer opportunities, and resources for businesses. Connect with the county on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Flickr.

Monroe County: Get information on applying for assistance, support for mental health issues from the storm, derelict boats, and debris removal. Get connected to the county on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Flickr.

Okeechobee County: Get emergency contact information, information on applying for assistance and post-storm updates. Connect with the County on Facebook.

Orange County: Get information on business recovery assistance, and storm preparedness and recovery information. Connect with the county on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, Flickr, NextDoor, and Instagram.

Osceola County: Find information on flooding, alerts on road closures, etc., FEMA Assistance, shelters, business assistance, as well as news and updates. Connect with Osceola County’s social media on Facebook, Twitter, and vimeo

Palm Beach County: Get information on applying for assistance. Stay connected to the county with Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn.

Pasco County: Get information on disaster preparedness and storm-related updates on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, NextDoor, and PascoTV.

Pinellas County: Connect to the Pinellas County emergency operations center, get the latest news and updates, information on closures and learn how to report damages to your home or business. Connect to Pinellas County social media on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, flickr and Instagram

Polk County: Get information on hurricane debris cleanup, changes in the county’s service hours, FEMA aid, and how to volunteer. Connect with the county on Facebook and Twitter.

Putnam County: Find out how to get information on how to get disaster assistance and stay updated. Stay connected on social media on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.

Sarasota County: Get information on recovery efforts including community recovery, utilities, how to help, how to get help, when you can return to your home and home waste collection and drop off sites.Connect with the county on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and 311 Connect.

Seminole County: Get information on county emergency management, resources after the storm, getting assistance, closures, utilities and how to stay informed. Stay connected to the county’s social media Facebook, Twitter, Next Door, YouTube and 311.

St. Johns County: Get information on disaster assistance, how to connect to the St. Johns County Emergency Management Citizen Information Line, get updates, and find assistance for businesses. Stay connected with the county’s emergency operations center on Facebook, NextDoor, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter.

Volusia County: Find out how to connect to the Citizens Information Center and how to get help after the storm, storm safety notices, food and water assistance, and debris removal. Get the app for the county’s emergency management, and connect with the county on Facebook, Twitter,  and YouTube.

Emergency Food and Water

Emergency food, water, and/or ice is available at distribution points in many affected counties for Ian survivors. A list of distribution points by county and address is here.

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