EMPLOYEE UPDATES
HURRICANE IAN RECOVERY

If in need of food and water assistance, please visit the following page to locate a distribution location near you:  https://www.leegov.com/hurricane/storm/food-and-water

Fort Myers Beach Residents - one community resource center location is available for food (11AM-5PM), water, ice, restrooms, showers, laundry (bring detergent) and air compressor for filling tires (9AM-4PM).  Wristbands are now required, please remember to bring proof of residency.

Beach Baptist Church - 130 Connecticut St; representatives from various agencies are available from 9AM-5PM daily

Open Shelters

This page contains summary information for currently open general and special needs shelters within the State of Florida.

Boil Water Notices

This page represents the best information available at the time of publication. It has been compiled from multiple sources, including press reports, utility data, and information from local authorities. Note, your utility or county emergency contact will have the latest and most up-to-date information.

Food Assistance

This page contains information about how food replacement benefits are available to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance recipients who suffered food losses related to Hurricane Ian.

https://www.disasterassistance.gov/

Federal disaster assistance is available to affected individuals in Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Hardee, Hillsborough, Lee, Manatee, Orange, Osceola, Pinellas, Polk, Sarasota and Seminole counties following the impact of Hurricane Ian. Disaster assistance may include financial help with temporary lodging and home repairs, as well as other disaster-related expenses.

FEMA has activated the Direct Housing Assistance that provides for a temporary housing solution for Homeowners or renters whose home received major damage (significant structural damage that requires extensive repairs and is not safe and functional to live in) or has been destroyed (total loss or damaged to such an extent that repair is not feasible) as a result of the disaster (based on the FEMA inspection)

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.

When you apply for assistance, have the following information ready:

• 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

Survivors may be eligible to receive assistance for uninsured and underinsured damage and losses resulting from the Hurricane Ian.

If you have homeowners, renters or flood insurance, you should file a claim as soon as possible. FEMA cannot duplicate benefits for losses 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.

Until we are able to give you a report back to work date, it is strongly advised that you file for emergency temporary unemployment benefits to tide you over to help cover your basic expenses.  It will not provide as much as working with SunStream, but will help for the short term till we can return you to work.  When you file, tell them you have not been terminated, but work is temporarily not available due to the hurricane. Links and information for applying are below:

Governor Ron DeSantis announced that the work search reporting, waiting week, and Employ Florida registration requirements for Reemployment Assistance claims have been temporarily waived for Floridians impacted by Hurricane Ian in FEMA disaster-declared counties. By waiving these requirements, eligible Floridians will be able to quickly apply and receive reemployment assistance and disaster unemployment assistance benefits.

Additionally, Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) is available to Florida businesses and residents in FEMA disaster-declared counties whose employment or self-employment was lost or interrupted as a direct result of Hurricane Ian and are not eligible for regular state or Federal Reemployment Assistance benefits.

“Right now, Floridians impacted by Hurricane Ian are trying to meet their critical needs and what they don’t need are roadblocks interfering with their recovery,” said DEO Secretary Dane Eagle. "Governor DeSantis’ swift action to cut red tape and waive reporting requirements for reemployment assistance is the right choice to get families the help they need to get back on their feet faster, and DEO stands ready to distribute this vital assistance as quickly as possible.”

The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity is currently accepting applications for DUA from residents and businesses in Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Flagler, Hardee, Hillsborough, Lee, Manatee, Orange, Osceola, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, and Volusia counties.

Disaster Unemployment Assistance is available to those who are ineligible to receive federal or state Reemployment Assistance benefits and the individual meets one of the following requirements:

• Is unemployed as a direct result of the major disaster;
• Was scheduled to start employment but was unable to as a direct result of the major disaster;
• Is unable to reach their job or self-employment location because the individual has to travel through an affected area and is prevented from doing so as a direct result of the major disaster;
• Has become the primary breadwinner because the head of the household died as a direct result of the major disaster; or
• Is unable to work because of an injury that was a direct result of the major disaster.

To file a claim, go to http://www.floridajobs.org and select “File a Claim”, visit a local CareerSource Career Center, or call 1-800-385-3920. Customer service representatives are available Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time to assist claimants. For DUA claims information, call 1-833-FL-APPLY (1-833-352-7759) to speak with a representative.

Individuals must file for state Reemployment Assistance benefits before filing for DUA. During the application, claimants should indicate they have been impacted by the disaster. Claimants who are determined ineligible or who have exhausted Reemployment Assistance benefits will be automatically prompted to file a DUA application if they indicated on their Reemployment Assistance application that their employment was impacted by the disaster.

DUA website:

https://floridajobs.org/Reemployment-Assistance-Service-Center/reemployment-assistance/claimants/disaster-unemployment-assistance

Florida Department of Economic Opportunity

https://connect.myflorida.com

CONNECT’s regularly scheduled hours are from 8 a.m. to 7:59 p.m. Monday-Friday

United Way

Call 2-1-1 (United Way) | https://www.211.org/

Hurricane Ian - Red Cross Response in South Florida

Helps anyone in need after a disaster, and everyone is welcome in our shelters. All disaster assistance is free and we don’t require people to show any kind of identification to enter a shelter — just their name and where they were living before the disaster.

Ways to find a Red Cross shelter:

Call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767) - 24 hours a day

Visit our website to find an open shelter

Download our free Red Cross Emergency App

 Anyone who has been affected by the storm is welcome to stop by a shelter to get information, a hot meal, charge their phone, pick up relief supplies, and get health services. We also have disaster mental health workers available to help people cope during this challenging time.

 If you or loved ones need assistance:

 In Florida, call the state assistance information line at 1-800-342-3557 or visit floridadisaster.org.

In Florida, please report missing loved ones at Missing.FL.gov. And report yourself, or loved ones, as found and safe at Safe.FL.gov.

Fort Myers Beach Resources - please visit the following site for updates and current resources:

http://fortmyersbeachfl.gov/1251/Hurricane-Ian-Recovery-Resources

Fort Myers Beach - FREE WIFI

Starlink has activated two locations for free WiFi on Ft. Myers Beach:

Starlink at FMB Library - Password:  IANLEECO2022

Fire House Station 33 (just north of Santini Plaza)

Network:  FireStation33  /  Password: IANLEECO2022

 Debris Removal

For information on Storm Debris and solid waste removal, click here: https://www.leegov.com/hurricane/storm#solidwaste

Accommodations 

Airbnb has launched a special website to help Hurricane Ian Relocation efforts:  www.Airbnb.com/hurricaneianflorida . This page features open (vacant and available for rent) that are outside of the FEMA Disaster zones. As communities become fully restored with water and electricity, Aribnb will add more open properties.

Hope Healthcare is providing complimentary virtual and in-person support groups for those in need following Hurricane Ian, starting in November.  Advance registration is required, and services are provided at no charge.

Virtual Support Group - 1st and 3rd Tuesdays at 2PM  Contact Lorrie.McCann@hopehcs.org / 239.985.7716

In-Person Support Group - 2nd and 4th Tuesdays at 10AM.  2430 Deplomat Pkwy E, Cape Coral  Contact tricia.betters-black@hopehcs.or  / 239.322.4867