DeSantis expands flood emergency; DRF offers help
Seven additional counties are under Florida’s flooding emergency declaration. Florida Realtors’ Disaster Relief Fund is accepting applications from eligible members in the original seven counties.
Gov. Ron DeSantis expanded Florida’s state of emergency to include seven additional counties Wednesday, bringing the total to 14 as rising floodwaters threaten homes, businesses and roads.
The newly added counties are Glades, Hendry, Lake, Okeechobee, Palm Beach, Seminole and Volusia. They join Brevard, DeSoto, Hardee, Highlands, Indian River, Martin and St. Lucie, which were included in the governor’s Nov. 2 declaration.
Florida Realtors®’ Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) remains open to help eligible members in the 14 counties whose homes or real estate offices sustained serious damage.
The fund assists eligible Realtors®, their employees, local associations and association staff whose primary residences or real estate offices sustain serious physical or structural damage, including water intrusion. Applicants must have been part of the Realtor family before the disaster.
The expanded order cites more than 19 inches of rain within 12 hours in parts of Palm Beach County, including Riviera Beach. It also references National Weather Service forecasts calling for minor to moderate flooding along the St. Johns River that could last several weeks.
Help starts with the paperwork
Before starting a DRF application, gather:
- Color photos showing the damage.
- An insurance summary page showing coverage and deductibles.
- An insurer’s written damage assessment, repair estimates and qualifying repair receipts.
The individual application cannot be saved partway through and finished later. Brokers whose homes and offices were damaged at separate locations need separate applications. Loss of income and some types of property damage do not qualify under the fund’s guidelines.
More help for your business
Members who have questions about contract obligations or deadlines can call the Florida Realtors Legal Hotline at 407-438-1409. For help troubleshooting technology problems, the Florida Realtors Tech Helpline is ready to answer questions at 407-587-1450.
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