Resources for assistance

ACCESS Florida — Florida Department of Children and Family Services

myflfamilies.com/frsc

Family Resource Support Centers, SNAP benefits

Boil water notices

floridahealth.gov/environmental-health/drinking-water/boil-water-notices

Disability and Disaster hotline

800-626-4959

info@disasterstrategies.org

Information and resources to people with disabilities and those assisting them.

Disaster Distress Helpline

800-985-5990

myflfamilies.com/hurricaneian

Free 24/7, crisis counseling for people who are experiencing emotional distress related to any natural or human-caused disaster

Disaster unemployment assistance

FloridaJobs.org and select "Apply for Hurricane Ian DUA," visit a local CareerSource Career Center, or call 800-385-3920.

FEMA Disaster Assistance

1-800-621-3362

If you use a TTY: 1-800-462-7585

711 or Video Relay Service (VRS): 1-800-621-3362

Online registration available at disasterassistance.gov

Flood insurance claim

877-336-2627

fema.gov

Learn more about starting a flood insurance claim. National Flood Insurance Program policyholders may receive up to $1,000 to reimburse the purchase of supplies like sandbags, plastic sheeting and lumber. They may also receive up to $1,000 in storage expenses if they moved insured property. Policyholders should file a claim for flood loss avoidance reimbursement, regardless if it was successful in preventing flood damage.

Florida Department of Economic Opportunity

www.floridadisaster.biz

Information for business owners. Complete the Business Damage Assessment tool.

Florida Department of Transportation

FL511.com

For road and bridge closures and conditions, detour routes, etc.

Florida Division of Emergency Management

State Assistance Information Line

1-800-342-3557

Up-to-date information regarding Hurricane Ian.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission

Hurricane Ian Vessel Hotline

850-488-5600

To report lost, damaged or grounded boats.

Florida Housing Finance Corporation

floridahousing.org

Disaster relief resources and information

Highlands County help

https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/19afae53f13b4123bf738821e5b6e1dd

Highlands County Board of County Commissioners portal for reporting damage caused by Hurricane Ian. Upload photos, videos and a description of damage.

Hold mail & change of address

holdmail.usps.com/holdmail

Have your mail held at the Post Office for up to 30 days. Also a temporary change of address is available for those who plan to return to their residence within six months.

Legal helpline

866-550-2929

Free help with home repair contracts, insurance claims, re-doing legal documents like wills, price gouging and landlord or tenant issues.

Lumen/Century Link

Emergency Call Forwarding for 90 days free of charge

800-244-1111

Price gouging or fraud

1-800-966-7226

Safe and Sound

safe.fl.gov

Report yourself safe

UF/IFAS

news.ifas.ufl.edu

Food safety tips for power outages

U-Haul

863-658-0390

uhaul.com/Articles/About/Hurricane-Ian-Prep-43-U-Haul-Locations-IN-Florida-Offer-Free-Self-Storage-27961/

30 days of free storage and U-Box container usage

United Way of Central Florida/Highlands

Crisis Cleanup

800-451-0954

Volunteers can help with small tree removal, tarping, removing debris and hauling it to the curb. This is NOT for projects that require special training or equipment or activities that require permits.

2-1-1

Food, clothing, rental assistance, etc.

To volunteer

United Way is utilizing the Volunteer Florida website ( www.volunteerflorida.org/) to assign volunteers to help out. Feel free to sign up individually or as a group.

Veterans Affairs

877-741-3400

va.gov

Find a list of open VA centers or pharmacy refill locations

US Army Corps of Engineers

Operation Blue Roof

888-766-3258

For DeSoto County only at this time.