Hurricane Ian Updates & Resources from DBPR

Hurricane Ian Updates and Resources

If you or your loved ones have been impacted by Hurricane Ian, our hearts are with you during this difficult time. Under the leadership of Governor DeSantis, the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation is here to help you get back on your feet as quickly as possible. We encourage you to read the information below and share it with colleagues, friends, and family who may need it.

DBPR UPDATES

Avoid the most common traps and threats created by unlicensed frauds:

• Utilize the Emergency Page on our DBPR website for Hurricane Ian information regarding DBPR Emergency Orders, rescheduled board meetings, temporary licensure, and resources for homeowners, contractors, and more.
• The DBPR Division of Hotels and Restaurants field staff is performing post-storm assessments to support public lodging and public food service establishments in storm-impacted counties. The Division’s goal is to see each impacted establishment re-open as soon as is safely possible.
• DBPR encourages Florida business owners and homeowners impacted by Hurricane Ian to be alert and reject fraudulent and illegal offers to perform work on their homes by using only properly state-licensed professionals.
  • Taking a deposit but not performing the work, or performing substandard work resulting in an extensive loss in home value, financial cost to the homeowners, and potential dangers to occupants and guests
  • A lack of proper permitting or proof of work performed resulting in difficulty or inability to sell the home
  • Non-compliance with building codes may leave defects, or the inability for the home to withstand future storms
  • A lack of necessary insurance, creating possible liability for the homeowner for injuries on their property or for shoddy work performed
  • Unknown criminal backgrounds allowing potentially dangerous people access to the home and near loved ones
  • A lack of education and/or qualifications endangering the safety of homeowners, their loved ones and their property
•  Verify the license of any prospective contractor by visiting MyFloridaLicense.com, or downloading the DBPR mobile app on iTunes and GooglePlay.
• Report unlicensed contractors and other unlicensed activity to 866-532-1440 or on the DBPR mobile app or MyFloridaLicense.com. For more information visit the DBPR Unlicensed Activity web page.

BUSINESS RESOURCES

• To scale up recovery efforts, recovery teams will be hiring many local individuals. Find more details at DisasterRecovery.EmployFlorida.com/
• The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) is updating FloridaDisaster.biz with real-time information for business owners, their families, and employees for Hurricane Ian.
• DEO and the Division of Emergency Management have activated the Business Damage Assessment Survey to gather information about how Hurricane Ian is impacting local businesses. This survey will assess and inform recovery resources needed in impacted communities. Take the Survey at FloridaDisaster.biz/BusinessDamageAssessments.
• The Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program has been activated to assist small businesses that have been impacted by Hurricane Ian with short-term, zero-interest loans to meet the businesses’ immediate financial needs and “bridge the gap” until longer term funding sources become available. Small businesses in the most impacted counties will be escalated and prioritized as they are received. Visit FloridaJobs.org/EBL to learn more.
• Enterprise Florida activated its Disaster Assistance page with a list of state and federal resources available for businesses to utilize in their mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery activities.
• CareerSource Florida is working with DEO to support recovery efforts and help connect affected residents with temporary employment and other recovery assistance. All career centers are open statewide except CareerSource Southwest Florida’s centers in Port Charlotte. To find your local career center, visit Find Your Local Team or Career Center Directory.
• The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has several Business Recovery Centers (BRCs) to assist Floridians applying for SBA disaster loan assistance for losses due to Hurricane Ian that began September 23, 2022.

All BRCs will operate as indicated below until further notice from the SBA:

SBA Business Recovery CenterCollier CountyThe Naples Players701 5th Avenue SouthNaples, FL 34102 Hours: Monday, 9 am – 4:30 pmTuesday – Sunday, 9 am. to 5 pm

SBA Mobile Business Recovery CenterCollier CountyMuseum of the Everglades105 Broadway Avenue WEverglades City, FL 34139 Hours: Saturday – Monday, Oct. 8 – 10, 9 am – 6 pm

SBA Business Recovery CenterHillsborough CountyChloe Coney Urban Enterprise Center1907 E. Hillsborough Ave.Tampa, FL 33610 Hours: Monday – Sunday, 9 am – 5 pm

SBA Business Recovery CenterLee CountyKiwanis Club of Cape Coral360 Santa Barbara Blvd. S.Cape Coral FL 33991 Hours: Monday – Thursday, 8 am – 4 pmClosed: Friday, Saturday and Sunday

SBA Business Recovery CenterLee CountyThe Hub at SWFL, Inc.25071 Chamber of Commerce Drive Bonita Springs, FL 34135 Hours: Monday – Sunday, 9 am – 5 pm

SBA Business Recovery CenterSeminole CountySanford Information Center230 E. First St.Sanford, FL 32771 Hours:    Monday – Sunday, 9 am – 6 pm

SBA Customer Service Representatives will be available as indicated above to answer questions about the disaster loan program and assist business owners in completing their applications. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the SBA has established protocols to help protect the health and safety of the public. All visitors to the BRCs are encouraged to wear a face mask.

Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure website at DisasterLoanAssistance.sba.gov/ela/s/  and should apply under SBA declaration # 17644.

To be considered for all forms of disaster assistance, applicants should register online at DisasterAssistance.gov or download the FEMA mobile app. 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.

DISASTER RECOVERY CENTERS

The state currently has 10 Disaster Recovery Centers (DRC) operated by DEO, in conjunction with DBPR and more than 10 other state and federal agencies, to provide a one-stop shop for individuals or businesses that need help recovering from the storm. Hours of operation are 9 am-6 pm daily, seven days a week. Lee County currently has extended hours from 7 am-7 pm, daily.

Disaster Recovery Centers are located at:

Charlotte County

Mobile DRC – Home Depot

12621 S. McCall Rd.

Port Charlotte, FL 33981

 Collier County

Veterans Community Park

1895 Veterans Drive

Naples, FL 34109

 Hardee County

Wauchula Civic Center

515 Civic Center Dr.

Wauchula, FL 33873

Lee County

Joseph P.D Alessandro Office Complex

2295 Victoria Ave.

Fort Myers, FL 33901

Lakes Regional Library

15290 Bass Road

Fort Myers, FL 33919

Orange County

Barnett Park

4801 W. Colonial Dr.

Orlando, FL 32808

Osceola County

Hart Memorial Central Library

211 E. Dakin Ave.

Kissimmee, FL 34741

Polk County

W.H. Stuart Center

1702 S. Holland Pkwy.

Bartow, FL 33830

Sarasota County

Shannon Staub Library

4675 Career Lane

North Port, FL 34289

Seminole County

Seminole State College Automotive Center

100 Welden Blvd.

Sanford, FL 32773

MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES

• All Floridians impacted by Hurricane Ian can find someone to talk to today through the Disaster Distress Helpline by calling 800-985-5990.

UTILITY & BRIDGE UPDATES

• There are currently 19,362 reported power outages. In Lee and Collier counties, there are only 1,000 accounts on the mainland that remain without power that can receive it. More than 42,000 linemen have already restored power to over 2.6 million accounts across the state, representing over 99% of accounts restored since the peak.
• Tuesday, October 11, Governor Ron DeSantis announced that temporary repairs to the Sanibel Causeway will allow a one-time convoy of power restoration equipment, supplies, and crews to access Sanibel Island and continue restoration efforts. Once crews are on the island, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) will resume repairs to restore access to the island for residents, which is expected to be complete by the end of this month.
• Last week, Governor DeSantis announced that bridge repairs were completed in record time to restore access to Pine Island.

WAYS YOU CAN HELP

• First Lady Casey DeSantis announced that the Florida Disaster Fund has raised nearly $40 million since activation. To read more info, click here. To contribute, please visit FloridaDisasterFund.org or text DISASTER to 20222.
• Find volunteer opportunities through Volunteer Florida’s Volunteer Connect at VolunteerFlorida.org.

If you have any questions about your license, please reach out to our Customer Contact Center at 850-487-1395. Together, we will come back stronger than ever.

Sincerely,

Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation