For storm-related information, call the Charlotte County Call Center from 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday at 941-833-4000 or 941-743-1320 Charlotte County Human Services:  www.charlottecountyfl.gov
Follow Charlotte County Emergency Management’s recovery information at www.charlottecountyfl.gov/em, www.facebook.com/oemcharlottecounty, and www.twitter.com/ccoem.

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-----American Red Cross:  1-800-733-2762

-----Commercial or private property, apply for debris removal from your property at www.IanDebrisCleanup.com or call 850-961-2002

-----Donate:  www.FloridaDisasterFund.org

-----Hurricane Disaster Relief through Realtors Relief Foundation. And these funds aren't just for members of the Realtor family — any Florida resident who suffered damage to their primary residence can apply for assistance from the RRF. For full details, Click Here.

-----DEP to Launch Hurricane Restoration Reimbursement Grant Program for Impacted Coastal Homeowners ~Applications will be accepted beginning Feb. 1, 2023~ TALLAHASSEE, Fla.  – The Florida Department of Environmental (DEP) is launching the Hurricane Restoration Reimbursement Grant Program this week to help Floridians in the hardest hit counties offset costs associated with addressing coastal beach erosion from Hurricane Ian or Hurricane Nicole. The online grant application portal will accept applications beginning at 9 a.m. on Feb. 1, 2023.
Funding assistance is available for eligible homeowners who apply and qualify for this program in Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Collier, Duval, Flagler, Indian River, Lee, Manatee, Martin, Nassau, Palm Beach, St. Johns, St. Lucie, Sarasota and Volusia counties. Projects may include construction projects for sand placement and temporary or permanent coastal armoring.
“We are grateful we are able to help support recovery for these communities,” said DEP Secretary Shawn Hamilton. “DEP has been in these communities since the storms hit, and we look forward to continuing our efforts through this new program to help expedite recovery for affected areas.”
During the December 2022 special legislative session, Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Legislature created the Hurricane Restoration Reimbursement Grant Program and allocated $50 million to help coastal homeowners address the damages from coastal erosion during the storms. DEP developed emergency rules for this new program in accordance with Chapter 2022-272 Laws of Florida.
To be eligible for this grant, the owner must be an eligible applicant of an eligible residential property with an eligible project and eligible costs. Additionally, applicants must provide required submittals for reimbursement. The application is designed to help Floridians understand their eligibility. All projects must be permitted prior to implementation and reimbursement, and DEP may reimburse 50% of eligible project costs, up to a maximum of $150,000 per parcel.
Applicants will be able to complete and submit their projects through this portal as well as upload any required documents for their projects, including invoices and payable receipts. DEP has developed tutorials and a Frequently Asked Questions document to help applicants navigate the application portal and understand the provisions of the emergency rules. Although the department encourages online submittal, a paper application is also available.
Applications will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis, and priority will be given to low- and moderate-income homeowners.
Please visit FloridaDEP.gov/hurricane for more information about the Hurricane Restoration Reimbursement Grant Program, emergency permitting, and the storm recovery assistance resources available seaward of a coastal construction control line.

-----FEMA Extends Individual Assistance Registration Deadline to Jan. 12:  Apply for assistance www.fema.org  or 1-800-621-3362 Disaster survivors who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability and use TTY may call 800-462-7585. Disaster survivors who use 711 or VRS (Video Relay Service) may call 800-621-3362.  The Federal Emergency Management Agency has extended the deadline to apply for individual assistance until Jan. 12, 2023.  Apply for FEMA disaster assistance:

• online at DisasterAssistance.gov
• using the FEMA App for mobile devices
• call FEMA toll-free 800-621-3362, 7 a.m.-11 p.m. Help is available in many languages.

The FEMA Disaster Recovery Center at Tringali Park recreation center in Englewood Regular operating hours are 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Mon-Sat; closed Sunday. Agencies available at this location include:

• FEMA
• Florida Dept. of Veterans Affairs
• UNITE Florida
• Florida Dept. of Children and Families
• Department of Financial Services
• Florida Dept. of Business and Professional Regulation
• Agency for Persons with Disabilities

-----The FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency has opened a disaster recovery center at the former Cultural Center of Charlotte County site, 2280 Aaron St., Port Charlotte. The center is open 8 a.m.-7 p.m., Monday-Saturday.

• FEMA
• SBA - personal and business disaster loan application and follow-up
• SBDC - disaster loan assistance

-----The Florida SBDC at FGCU reminds you that The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is today, January 12, 2023.  Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloanassistance.sba.gov/ela/s/ and should apply under SBA declaration # 17644.  The deadline to return economic injury applications is June 29, 2023.

-----Florida Insurance Consumer Advocate (850) 413-5923 MyFloridaCFO.com/division/ica/

-----County Partners With State for Private and Commercial Debris Removal - CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Fla. (Nov. 1, 2022) — The Charlotte County Commission has reached an agreement with the Florida Division of Emergency Management to collect Hurricane Ian debris on private and commercial property. FDEM is now accepting applications from private and commercial property owners who would like assistance with the assessment and removal of qualifying debris, including vehicles.  To apply, visit www.IanDebrisCleanup.com or call 850-961-2002. For information, call the Hurricane Ian Debris hotline 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on weekends or email IanDebrisCleanup@em.myflorida.com.  For Hurricane Ian information, call the Charlotte County Call Center from 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday at 941-833-4000 or 941-743-1320.

-----Our new Business Recovery Center is now open and located in Port Charlotte at 2280 Aaron St., Port Charlotte (the Cultural Center Location)  Our disaster specialists are working alongside SBA representatives at Business Recovery Centers to provide on-site support with loans and other post-disaster challenges. ·    The Florida SBDC Network stands ready to help your small business recover. For information about disaster assistance available and how the Florida SBDC Network can help you, please visit www.FloridaSBDC.org/disaster.     PTAC - Florida Hurricane and Disaster Recovery Resources      Emergency Bridge Loan Information   Disaster Loan Fact Sheet
Deadline for SBA Physical Disaster Loan is November 28th.  Deadline for the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan is December 2nd.  

-----Fraud:  Anyone who believes a representative or work crew is fraudulent and misrepresenting the government should contact local law enforcement.  To report scams, fraud, and identity-theft contact FEMA’s toll-free Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721.  You may also call the Florida Office of the Attorney General Consumer Protection Division Fraud Hotline at 1-866-966-7226 or contact local law enforcement agencies.

-----Verify the license of any prospective contractor by visiting MyFloridaLicense.com, or downloading the DBPR mobile app on iTunes and GooglePlay

-----Volunteer:  www.VolunteerFlorida.org/volunteerconnect  Contractors or Professionals willing to volunteer please register at www.VolunteerFlorida.org/volunteerconnect

-----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.
• 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.  Also Florida Small Business Development Center:  Small Business Emergency Bridge Loans, U.S. SBA Business Physical Disaster Loans, U.S. Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) Need Assistance? - Florida SBDC Network
• 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.

-----SHIP -State Housing Initiative Partnership - may have recovery assistance available to help with temporary relocation, rental assistance, debris removal and/or home repairs.  FloridaHousing.org  Charlotte County SHIP Colleen Turner 941-733-6500