Information to Help You in the Aftermath of Hurricane Idalia

Latest disaster updates

State emergency information center: Find information from the Florida Department of Emergency Management, including housing and food assistance, individual assistance, disaster recovery centers, business resources, unlicensed contracting and more. Click here to visit the state resource center.

Bridge loans

HUD disaster relief: Resources are available to assist state, tribal and local recovery efforts in areas affected by the hurricane. The fed disaster declaration covers 13 Florida counties. Click here to learn more.

Federal disaster relief area expanded: The fed disaster declaration now covers Columbia, Gilchrist, Hernando, Jefferson, Madison, Pasco, Citrus, Dixie, Hamilton, Lafayette, Levy, Suwannee and Taylor counties.

A message from the Florida Realtors® president: Click to watch video.

Federal disaster declaration: President Joe Biden approved a federal disaster declaration to help state and local recovery efforts after Category 3 Hurricane Idalia slammed into North Florida’s Big Bend region and caused widespread damage. The disaster declaration will make federal money available for people affected by the storm in Citrus, Dixie, Hamilton, Lafayette, Levy, Suwannee and Taylor counties. Idalia made landfall Wednesday morning in the Keaton Beach area of Taylor County before sweeping north into Georgia. Click here to read more.

How to speed up aid: Click here for strategies to help Hurricane Idalia survivors get federal aid faster.

Bridge loans

Florida: The Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program has been activated making $20 million available for businesses impacted by Hurricane Idalia. Florida small business owners in need of assistance are encouraged to click here to apply. Low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) are available to businesses and residents in Florida. Applicants may apply online by going here.

Federal: Low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) are available to businesses and residents in Florida. Applicants may apply online by clicking here.

Unemployment benefits

Disaster Unemployment Assistance is available for claimants impacted by Hurricane Idalia. DUA is available for weeks of unemployment beginning September 3, 2023, until March 2, 2024, as long as the individual’s unemployment continues to be a result of the disaster in a designated-disaster areas. The deadline to submit a claim for DUA benefits is no later than 11:59 p.m. on October 3, 2023, for businesses and residents in Citrus, Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Hernando, Jefferson, Lafayette, Levy, Madison, Pasco, Suwannee, and Taylor counties. For businesses and residents in Pinellas County, the deadline to submit a claim for DUA benefits is no later than 11:59 p.m. on October 5, 2023.

Insurance protections

The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation issued EO 315284-23 to protect policyholders impacted by Hurricane Idalia. The order applies to all insurers in the state and policyholders in Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Citrus, Columbia, Dixie, Franklin, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Hernando, Hillsborough, Jefferson, Lafayette, Leon, Levy, Madison, Manatee, Marion, Pasco, Pinellas, Sumter, Suwannee, Taylor, Union, and Wakulla counties. The order:

• Extends grace periods for any policy, provision, notice, correspondence, or law that imposes a time limit upon an insured to perform any act until October 31, 2023.
• Prohibits the cancellation or nonrenewal of a policy in an impacted area, except at the written request of the policyholder, until October 31, 2023.
• Prohibits the cancellation or nonrenewal of a personal residential or commercial residential property insurance policy covering a property repaired as a result of damage from Hurricane Idalia for a period of 90 days after it has been repaired.
• Directs insurers, surplus lines and other regulated entities to implement processes and procedures to facilitate the efficient payment of claims.

Floridians seeking assistance with insurance related questions should contact the Department of Financial Services Consumer Services either by visiting their website, or by contacting the DFS Consumer Services Assistance Line 1-877-693-5236. The line is open Monday-Friday from 8 AM to 4:30 PM.

Housing help

Florida Housing: This free state resource for renters and property managers in Florida features dynamic search options can help you find available rental housing that fits your needs and income.

HurricaneHomes.org: Local Realtor associations are building a safe platform for the community to access rentals for temporary housing in Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Naples, Bonita Springs, and Marco Island. The website, HurricaneHomes.org, will be available in the coming days and provides listings for housing whose properties have been vetted as reliable, safe, and clean. The listings are given by Realtors in the area. 

Operation Blue Roof: Operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Operation Blue Roof provides homeowners and permanently occupied rental properties in disaster areas with fiber-reinforced sheeting to cover their damaged roofs until arrangements can be made for permanent repairs. 

Legal questions

Click here for an overview of key bad weather provisions in the Florida Realtors/Florida Bar “AS IS” Residential Contract for Sale and Purchase revised in October of 2021, along with one reference to the casualty provision contained in the Florida Residential Landlord and Tenant Act.

Landlord-tenant concerns: Click here for answers to common questions about rental properties from Florida Realtors legal team.