Hurricane Milton

I hope you and your family are safe after Hurricane Milton. As we begin to recover from the storm, I want to share with you an update on response and recovery efforts.

The White House has approved Governor DeSantis’ request for an expedited major disaster declaration for the State of Florida as a result of Hurricane Milton. You may apply for assistance or check your application status:

Online at www.disasterassistance.gov.
By downloading the FEMA App from www.fema.gov or through your mobile provider’s application store.
By calling 800-621-3362

If you need assistance with the status of your application, please contact my office at https://webster.house.gov/email-me.

Florida’s HOPE Line is available to assist those in need of resources or other assistance after the storm. The line will be open 24/7 for the next two-plus weeks at 833-GET-HOPE. You can also submit a request for assistance from Florida HOPE through this form.

Additional resources include:

Disaster Legal Hotline at 833-514-2940
2-1-1 is open and ready to receive calls.
Red Cross Hotline is open to assist: 1-800-Red Cross
Crisis Cleanup number: 844-965-1386

Power Restoration

Duke Energy customers who experienced an outage during the storm can report it the following ways:

Visit duke-energy.com on a desktop computer or mobile device.
Use the Duke Energy mobile app – Download the Duke Energy app from a smartphone via Apple Store or Google Play.
Text OUT to 57801 (standard text and data charges may apply).
Call the automated outage reporting system at 800.228.8485.
There is also an interactive outage map where customers can find up-to-date information on power outages, including the total number of outages systemwide and estimated times of restoration.

SECO Power Customers:

Visit https://secoenergy.com/stormcenter/ on a desktop or mobile device

Additional Contacts:

City of Leesburg Electric Report outages: 833-223-1313
City of Mount Dora Electric Report outages: 352-735-7141
Clay Electric Co-op: MyClayElectric app, or MyClayElectric.com, https://clayelectric.smarthub.coop/Login.html, or 888-434-9844
Sumter Electric Cooperative Report outages: 800-732-6141 or online at https://secoenergy.com/ors/
Eustis Office 352-357-5600
Groveland Office 352-429-2195
Sumterville Office 352-793-3801
Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC): 407-423-9018
Winter Park Utility: 877-811-8700

Debris Cleanup

Statewide Crisis Cleanup at 844-965-1386
Lake County residents with questions regarding Hurricane Milton recovery can call 352-253-9999. This line is open daily until 7 PM
Orange County residents report downed trees and debris by dialing 3-1-1, calling 407-836-3111 or using the OCFL311 app.
Polk County residents with questions regarding hurricane debris are advised to call the Hurricane Milton Residential Debris Hotline at (833) 843-1920. The hotline is active from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Operation Blue Roof

This program is a free service for homeowners and permanently occupied rental properties, providing fiber-reinforced, industrial-strength sheeting to protect storm-damaged roofs until homeowners can make permanent repairs. Residents impacted by Hurricane Milton can sign up for this no-cost service by visiting blueroof.gov or calling 888-ROOF-BLU (888-766-3258).

Veterans

The Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs (FDVA) has announced that outpatient appointments at VA clinics in impacted areas are being rescheduled or moved to virtual appointments. For more details visit www.FloridaVets.org.
All State Veterans’ Homes in Florida are operational and undamaged.
Veterans needing immediate housing assistance can call the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 877-424-3838.
If you can’t receive your benefit payments because of Hurricane Milton, please contact 800-827-1000 to request a special one-time payment. Agents are available Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Water and Agriculture

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is working with Florida’s agricultural partners so producers have adequate resources.

13 generators have been deployed to commercial agricultural facilities to prevent disruption in critical food and agriculture infrastructure.
Floridians are encouraged to contact 1-800-HELP-FLA to report water-contaminated fuel issues.
Agricultural partners in need of urgent assistance for livestock and animals in critical need can submit this form to DAIOPSAssessment@FDACS.gov, or call 863-993-5460.
All State Mental Health Treatment Facilities and Crisis Stabilization Units are fully operational.

There are 131 active Boil Water Notices as a result of Hurricane Milton. A comprehensive statewide list of notices for residents to access online can be found here:

Charlotte (5), Citrus (5), Collier (1), Flagler (1), Hardee (1), Hernando (3), Highlands (3), Hillsborough (16), Lake (26), Lee (5), Levy (2), Manatee (2), Marion (15), Okeechobee (1), Orange (5), Osceola (3), Pasco (12), Pinellas (3), Polk (8), Putnam (2), Sarasota (1), Seminole (1), St. Lucie (1), Sumter (5), and Volusia (6).

Fuel Replenishment

The Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) is coordinating the opening of Points of Distribution (PODs) in impacted areas. There are currently 27 PODs mobilizing in impacted counties.

FDEM also has more than 1 million gallons of diesel and more than 730,000 gallons of emergency fuels on-hand, with 51,500 gallons of diesel and 35,900 gallons of gas deployed in the field supporting operations.

The state is currently working to get these reserves out to gas stations that have open road access and power or generators to pump it to customers. FL Petroleum Marketing Association is working with the state to identify these gas stations.
Florida Department of Emergency Management is also working to distribute generators to gas stations where possible.
In locations where neither of these are an option, FLDEM is working to get tanker trucks and a process to provide fuel directly to Floridians from these tanks.

Resources for Employees, Businesses and Consumers:

Governor DeSantis has activated the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program, making $50 million available for businesses impacted by Hurricane Milton.

Florida small business owners in need of assistance, including sole proprietors, are encouraged to visit www.FloridaJobs.org/EBL to apply for the program.
The program provides short-term, zero-interest loans to small businesses that have experienced economic injury or physical damage due to Hurricane Milton.
Applications can be submitted through December 4, 2024, or until all available funds are expended.

The Business Damage Assessment Survey has been activated in response to Hurricane Milton.

Business owners can self-report physical and economic damage caused by Hurricane Milton to help the state expedite recovery efforts.
Businesses can complete the survey online by visiting FloridaDisaster.biz and selecting “Hurricane Milton” from the dropdown menu.

The IRS has extended the filing deadlines for 2024 individual/business returns, quarterly estimated tax payments and certain other taxes for those in impacted areas.

Housing

The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) has announced that the State of Florida is working with the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association to Waive Pet Policies for Hurricane Milton Evacuees. For a list of lodging locations that have waived pet policies and fees, click here.

More than 30 hotel brands have relaxed pet policies and fees across all Florida locations, and more than 70 additional individual establishments are also participating.
Lodging operators who have waived pet policies and fees are encouraged to complete DBPR’s Lodging Pet Fee Waiver Information Sheet.

Florida Housing Finance Corporation (FHFC) has also activated FloridaHousingSearch.org to assist hurricane-impacted Floridians in locating an affordable rental property. This free, statewide search platform is being constantly updated to ensure all listings are accurate. Floridians can also call 1-877-428-8844.

The Federal Housing Administration has opened a resource center for homowners with mortgages insured by FHA. Homeowners can contact this center by calling 800-304-9320.

Homeowners unable to make their mortgage payments due to Hurricane Milton may be eligible for assistance. For more information and assistance cal 800-569-4287

Insurance Assistance

Florida CFO Jimmy Patronis has opened phone linves and local insurance villages to assist individuals needing to file insurance claims due to Hurricane Miltion.

Insurance Assistance is available 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM EST, 7 Days a Week by phone at the following numbers. Note: Callers must have their insurance documentation, i.e., company name, policy number, agent name; as well as home address and contact information.

Call statewide toll-free helpline at 1-877-MY-FL-CFO (1-877-693-5236)
Out of State Callers: (850) 413-3089

The Division of Consumer Services is hosting Insurance Villages beginning October 15th, 2024. These Villages will serve as an opportunity for policyholders to meet with their property insurer in-person and work together to resolve outstanding claims. Representatives from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and more than a dozen insurers are expected to be on hand to assist insurance consumers.

LAKELAND-OPENS TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15TH
RP Funding Center-Sikes Hall
701 West Lime Street
Lakeland, FL 33815

OPENING DAY-The Village will be open from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM, EST. The Village will be open from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, EST the following days. For more information visit www.myfloridacfo.com/division/consumers/storm/resources

Allstate

Customers can file a virtual claim on Allstate’s website or by calling 1-800-54-STORM.\
For homeowners:

We offer a vendor inspection service through our Good Hands Network for losses involving exterior losses and associated minor interior damages.
Through our online Xactimate ClaimXperience tool, our customers can submit images and live video of their loss directly to Allstate (and/or Castle Key Insurance).
For larger losses that require a physical inspection, an adjuster will be deployed to inspect the claim.

For auto claims, customers have the option of QuickFoto Claim or Virtual Assist®. We also continue to offer the Good Hands Repair Network in applicable markets

Allstate customers can also submit claims by visiting a Mobile Claim Center. The following location is within my district:

Home Depot
871 North Highway 27
Lady Lake, FL 32159

Financial Services

Florida Commerce is working with private sector banking partners to ensure evacuees have access to banks and are able to withdraw cash.

The Private Sector Hotline has been activated at (850) 815-4925, open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Inquires can also be emailed to ESF18@em.myflorida.com.
The Office of Financial Regulation offers online resources to Floridians who need assistance finding information about their financial services provider(s), including state-chartered banks and credit unions, mortgage servicers, and other financial businesses and professionals.

Road closures

Please note, this is not necessarily a comprehensive list as the data can change rapidly, for real time updates, visit FL511.com.

Orange County State Roads

Flooding in Orange County on SR-436 / Semoran Blvd / Altamonte Dr North, at Line Dr.
Flooding on SR-527 / Orange Ave / Rosalind Ave North, at Annie St.

Sumter County Local Roads

CR 519A – underwater/flooded,
CR 569 – underwater/flooded,
CR 652 A – underwater/flooded,
CR 682 – underwater/flooded,
CR 426B – underwater/flooded,
CR 426 – underwater/flooded,
CR 647C – underwater/flooded,
CR 647s – underwater/flooded by the Big Withlacoochee River,
CR 687 – underwater/flooded by the Little Withlacoochee River,
CR 696 – underwater/flooded by the Little Withlacoochee River, and
CR 681 – underwater/flooded by the Little Withlacoochee River.

WiFi and Cell Services

Comcast has opened more than 261,000 Xfinity free and public hotspots for anyone to use, including non-Xfinity customers. For more information, visit Finder.wifi.xfinity.com.
SpaceX has delivered another 400 Starlink kits to the State of Florida to support Hurricane Milton. SpaceX has also worked with T-Mobile to activate Direct to Cell satellites to provide emergency alerts for all cell phones and carries in affected areas.
Spectrum announced it will help residents stay connected by offering free, unlimited access to Spectrum Wi-Fi access points in Florida. Click here to view a map of locations.

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Hurricane Milton