Hurricane Recovery Resources
Hurricane Irma Recovery Resources
As Florida recovers from the impact of Hurricane Irma, here are some resources compiled by FAA staff. These resources will be updated as more information becomes available.
General Information
If you are without electricity: Review this food safety guide for when to discard your perishable food. http://www.foodsafety.gov/keep/charts/refridg_food.html
If you are without air conditioning: This can be the most uncomfortable side effect of losing power during a storm. Try to prevent as much light from entering and warming the house by covering up your windows on the inside. If you have back-up or battery operated fans, don't run them unless you are in the room. Fans create a difference in perceived temperature but do not cool the room; instead, they create a cooling effect by dispersing the heat off your skin. It is said they can actually add heat to a room just by running.
If you do not have running water: Use water stored in bathtub or washing machine ONLY for washing and flushing.
For more information, see http://www.stateofflorida.com/articles/hurricane-preparedness-guide.aspx
FAA Suppliers Can Help
For tree removal, cleanup, landscaping, mold remediation, roofing/ tarps, remodel/renovation and more, please see FAA's Supplier Directory at https://www.faahq.org/directory/. Click on "Filters" and select the appropriate area of expertise.
Returning home, cleaning up, and avoiding scams
https://www.fema.gov/hurricane-irma-rumor-control
Housing Availability Information
For finding available housing or to list apartments as available:
MRI Software: https://www.mrisoftware.com/irma/
Yardi: www.rentcafe.com/hurricaneirma
Florida Housing Finance Corporation (affordable housing): www.floridahousingsearch.org/
Entrata: https://www.entrata.com/irma/
FEMA: If you wish to collaborate with FEMA and provide available units, furniture, or other material resources please contact Courtney Barnard, FAA government affairs director at Courtney@faahq.org.
Emergency Assistance and Information
Sample hurricane weather warning notice
FEMA: https://www.fema.gov/states/florida
Florida Red Cross: https://www.redcross.org/ns/apology/disaster_homepage.html
Florida Division of Emergency Management: http://www.floridadisaster.org/index.asp
United Way of Florida: http://www.uwof.org/
National Hurricane Center: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/
Price Gouging
Florida Statute 501.160 states that during a state of emergency, it is unlawful to sell, lease, offer to sell, or offer for lease essential commodities, dwelling units, or self-storage facilities for an amount that grossly exceeds the average price for that commodity during the 30 days before the declaration of the state of emergency, unless the seller can justify the price by showing increases in its prices or market trends. Examples of necessary commodities are food, ice, gas, and lumber.
Florida Price Gouging Hotline: http://myfloridalegal.com/pages.nsf/Main/5D2710E379EAD6BC85256F03006AA2C5?OpenDocument
Late Rental Payments and Lease Termination Due to Disaster
Fl Statute 83.63 provides information on damage to unit and rental agreements: http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=0000-0099/0083/Sections/0083.63.html
83.63 Casualty damage.—If the premises are damaged or destroyed other than by the wrongful or negligent acts of the tenant so that the enjoyment of the premises is substantially impaired, the tenant may terminate the rental agreement and immediately vacate the premises. The tenant may vacate the part of the premises rendered unusable by the casualty, in which case the tenant’s liability for rent shall be reduced by the fair rental value of that part of the premises damaged or destroyed. If the rental agreement is terminated, the landlord shall comply with s. 83.49(3).
Insurance Resources
Insurance consumer helpline: 877-693-5236 http://www.myfloridacfo.com/
National Apartment Association Resources
NAA Emergency and Disaster Library
10 Things to Do When Dealing with a Hurricane, Units, 2008
Send an email to stormrecovery@naahq.org and tell NAA:
- How have you been impacted by Irma?
- Are you accessing federal recovery resources through FEMA, the Small Business Administration or other federal agencies? What has been your experience?
- What are the remaining obstacles to bringing your apartment community or rental housing property back to full operation?
Your information and specific examples will assist NAA in communicating with federal lawmakers and other authorities.
County Emergency Management Resources
Click here to view county by county list
Local Affiliate Resources, including links to regional agencies
Apartment Association of Greater Orlando
North Central Florida Apartment Association
South East Florida Apartment Association
South West Florida Apartment Association
How You Can Help
You can give online to the Red Cross here: https://www.redcross.org/donate/hurricane-irma-donations, by calling 1-800-Red-CROSS or, by texting IRMA to 90999 to donate $10.
The Florida Disaster Fund helps provide financial support to Florida’s communities in times of disaster. To make a contribution, please visit www.FloridaDisasterFund.org or text DISASTER to 20222 to make a one-time donation of $10.
You can give online to the Salvation Army here: www.salvationarmy.org/ihq/hurricanes2017
Hatching Hope is a multifamily focused charity that creates and distributes disaster relief kits. You can give online or via text message to Hatching Hope by texting HATCH to 41444 or by visiting their website: http://hatchinghopeofalabama.org/