We’ve all been affected by Hurricane Ian — if you weren’t affected at home, but your commutes have been changed by closed, flooded roads, someone you know lives in those areas, and you’re worried about them. Or, your family lives in the harder-hit southwest coastal parts of the state.
Here’s a guide to how to get, or give, help in recovery.
FEMA Assistance: If you have flood damage from Hurricane Ian and you didn’t have flood insurance, or your private policy isn’t going to make you whole, you may, and should, be eligible for federal help up to $37,900.
Osceola County is part of the federal declaration for FEMA Individual Assistance.
Also, if the damage occurred at your business, the Small Business Association (SBA) has announced those in Osceola are eligible for both Physical and Economic Injury Disaster Loans. (For a page with instructions en Espanol, go to: https://bit. ly/3UXbVzl) According to FEMA, people can apply for disaster assistance by visiting disasterassistance.gov, call 800-621-3362 between 7-11 a.m., or download and use the FEMA mobile app.
Keep in mind, this will be a very busy, and competitive, process, as the government expects to receive tens of thousands of applications across the state of Florida, from the affected Gulf and Atlantic coasts and Central Florida, where rivers and creeks swollen far beyond their banks are swamping neighborhoods, like Good Samaritan Village, the Marsh Road area off Hoagland Boulevard, and areas around The Oaks.
Also keep in mind that FEMA will require property owners to exhaust their homeowners insurance policies first. Have information on your property, policies, and Social Security number ready for the application process.
The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is currently Nov. 28, 2022.
FEMA has heard about those posing as FEMA asking for an application fee or up-front money when making a claim. THIS IS A SCAM, as FEMA will never ask for up-front funds.
Heart of Florida United Way: HFUW has opened the application for one-time assistance for food and emergency supplies. online application can be completed at www.HFUW. org/HurricaneIan. Applicants must be over the age of 18, residents of Orange, Seminole or Osceola counties, and must attest they were adversely impacted by Hurricane Ian. Impacts include loss of income due to work closures, loss of food, or damage to property. One application per household can be submitted for the assistance which will come in the form of a $300 Wal-Mart e-gift card.
How to help: Let’s start locally and work our way out. OsceolaRedi.org is the county’s year-round emergency and disaster initiative, made up of government agencies, faith-based and non-profit organizations, businesses, and individuals who pool community resources respond and recover from events like Ian. Go to the website to make a cash donation so responders can purchase the specific supplies needed to help your neighbors.
Salvation Army donations: Donations of new items can be dropped off at The Salvation Army Osceola Service Center before 2 p.m. daily at 700 Union St. near downtown Kissimmee.
Among what’s needed: pre-packaged snacks, water, sports drinks, toiletries (shampoo, soap, toothpaste/brushes), adult diapers, baby formula, wipes and diapers, blankets, towels, socks, sleeping bags and stuffed animals.
For information on donations or volunteers, call Andrea Ruiz at 646-860-8855.
Osceola Council on Aging: the Council closed as the county’s special needs shelter on Sunday, but is now in the process of Recovery, Help, and Feed, and helping with minor home repairs, and providing non-perishable and Meals on Wheels for clients. Along with monetary donations, the Council’s accepting tarps, water, and nonperishable food items at 700 Generation Point in Kissimmee.
Volunteer hours: If you can activate a larger group of volunteers, email volunteer@osceola.org, and provide info such as, how many people do you have per shift and at what times; what kind of work your group can and can’t do; how much notice would be needed to get the group on-site locally; a contact person and their direct information.
Business impact survey: The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (FDEO) and the Florida Division of Emergency Management have activated a Business Damage Assessment Survey to learn more about how Hurricane Ian is impacting local Florida businesses. If your business has been impacted, please take the survey at www.floridadisaster. biz/BusinessDamageAssessments. It will help state officials with understanding the recovery resources needed in those communities.
Volunteer Florida: As Florida communities recover, many want to help and get their companies and employees involved in recovery efforts. Volunteer Florida is the official place to learn about Florida’s volunteer opportunities and has a variety of opportunities via its Volunteer Connect platform. Go to volunteer. volunteerflorida.org.
The Florida Disaster Fund is the State of Florida’s official private fund established to provide financial assistance to communities as they respond to and recover from times of emergency or disaster. In partnership with public, private, and other non-governmental organizations, the Florida Disaster Fund supports response and recovery activities. To contribute, visit www. FloridaDisasterFund.org or text DISASTER to 20222.
Donations to the Florida Disaster Fund are made to the Volunteer Florida Foundation, 501(c) (3) charitable organization, and are tax-deductible. _e state reported collecting over $31 million as of Wednesday.
