TALLAHASSEE – Nearly 40,000 insurance claims totaling an estimated $435 million have been filed across the state in the wake of Hurricane Helene, which made landfall Thursday night in Taylor County.
We have gathered resources for Realtors in Florida to help you recover and rebuild.
The storm had maximum sustained winds of 140 mph when it crashed into the Big Bend area. The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation’s preliminary insured losses totaled $434,696,041 as of Sunday. Of the 39,898 insurance claims so far, 20,759 are for residential property damage. The number of claims and estimated losses are expected to increase in the coming weeks. For now:
Claims under private flood insurance policies: 817 (most flood policies are through FEMA’s Flood Insurance Program, not private)
Claims closed with payments to policyholders: 592
Claims closed without payments to policyholders: 857
Commercial property claims: 294
Percent of claims closed: 3.6%
FEMA aid open
Homeowners and renters in 17 affected counties may be eligible for FEMA disaster assistance to cover uninsured losses. FEMA may be able to help with serious needs, displacement, temporary lodging, basic home repair costs, personal property losses or other disaster-caused needs.
Homeowners and renters in Charlotte, Citrus, Dixie, Franklin, Hernando, Hillsborough, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lee, Levy, Madison, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Sarasota, Taylor and Wakulla counties can apply.
If you applied to FEMA after Hurricane Debby and have additional damage from Hurricane Helene, you will need to apply separately for Helene and provide the dates of your most recent damage. Apply for either storm online at DisasterAssistance.gov. You can also apply using the FEMA mobile app or by calling FEMA’s helpline toll-free at 800-621-3362.
What you’ll need to apply:
A current phone number where you can be contacted
Your address at the time of the disaster and the address where you are now staying
Your Social Security number
A general list of damage and losses
Banking information if you choose direct deposit
If insured, the policy number or the agent and/or the company name
Bridge loans available
Also, FloridaCommerce activated the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program, making $15 million available for businesses impacted by Hurricane Helene. Florida small business owners in need of assistance can apply at FloridaJobs.org/EBL.
Businesses in the following counties, including sole proprietors, are eligible to apply: Alachua, Baker, Bay, Bradford, Brevard, Calhoun, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, Columbia, DeSoto, Dixie, Duval, Escambia, Flagler, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Glades, Gulf, Hamilton, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lake, Lee, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Madison, Manatee, Marion, Monroe, Nassau, Okaloosa, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Santa Rosa, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, Sumter, Suwannee, Taylor, Union, Volusia, Wakulla, Walton and Washington counties.
The program provides short-term, zero-interest loans to small businesses that experienced economic injury or physical damage due to Hurricane Helene. Interested applicants can apply now through November 24, 2024, or until all available funds are expended.
Eligible small businesses may apply for loans of up to $50,000 through the program. Loans approved through the Emergency Bridge Loan Program are intended to “bridge the gap” between the time a disaster impacts a business and when a business has secured longer term recovery funding, such as federally or commercially available loans, insurance claims or other resources.
Florida Realtors® Disaster Relief Fund accepting applications
The Florida Realtors Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) is available to Realtors®, Realtor boards/associations and staff whose primary residential home or real estate office sustain damages due to the storm. Business and individual damage applications for Hurricane Helene will be accepted until March 26, 2025. The DRF is accepting applications for other severe weather events as well.
In addition, the DRF is accepting donations from those who can. Donations may be completed securely online with a credit card. Or, if you prefer to mail in a tax-deductible donation, please make your check payable to “Florida Realtors Disaster Fund, Attention Dave Garrison,” and send the check to:
Florida Realtors Disaster Relief Fund
PO Box 725025
Orlando, FL 32872-5025
© 2024 Florida Realtors®
