Flooding prompts emergency declaration; Florida Realtors opens DRF
Florida Realtors opened its Disaster Relief Fund to assist eligible members with home or office damage after heavy rain and flooding prompted a state of emergency in seven counties.
When floodwater reaches your home or office, the to-do list changes fast. Florida Realtors® has opened its Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) to help eligible members facing damage as heavy rain disrupts communities across parts of Florida.
Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency Nov. 2 in Brevard, DeSoto, Hardee, Highlands, Indian River, Martin and St. Lucie counties. The order mobilizes state resources for response and recovery as flooding threatens roads, schools and other essential infrastructure.
Heavy rain that began over the weekend flooded roads and homes across the seven-county area, prompting Monday’s emergency declaration.
Flooding left roads impassable in Brevard County, while parts of Indian River, Martin and St. Lucie counties received 6 to 14 inches of rain. Inland, totals of 5 to 13 inches across parts of DeSoto, Hardee and Highlands counties left numerous roads closed.
For members dealing with damage at home or work, the DRF offers a place to turn.
Help starts with the paperwork
The DRF 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.
Before starting an 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.
Brokers whose homes and offices were damaged at separate locations need separate applications. Have documents ready before beginning: The individual application cannot be saved partway through and finished later. Loss of income and some types of property damage do not qualify under the fund’s guidelines
Make the next call count
For agents with customers in impacted areas, start with a simple check-in: Are you safe, and what do you need?
Then work through the immediate business questions. Before anyone heads to a showing, inspection or walk-through, check local emergency updates and confirm the property is safely accessible. Ask sellers about new damage and coordinate with the parties involved if access or repairs threaten scheduled appointments.
For pending sales, flag concerns early with the broker, lender and closing agent. Bring questions about contract obligations or deadlines to the Florida Realtors Legal Hotline at 407-438-1409. The association also offers technology troubleshooting through its Tech Helpline at 407-587-1450.
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