Hurricane Ian
Recovery Resources for Coastal Communities Impacted by Hurricane Ian
Hurricane Ian caused significant damage to large parts of Florida, including the state’s coastal communities and fisheries and aquaculture industries.
Several sources are available for coastal community members needing assistance. This webpage will be updated as additional information is provided.
Bulletins
FWC extends the deadline for waivers for unsalvageable vessels through December
FWC Reminds Owners Unable To Salvage Vessels After Hurricane Ian Waivers Are Still Available
FWC Reminds Owners Unable To Salvage Vessels After Hurricane Ian Waivers Are Still Available
Eligibility Requirements Waived for FL Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program to Allow Sole Proprietors in Marine Fisheries Industry to Receive Critical Assistance
Post-Storm Guidance: Environmental Resource Permitting Activities FAQs
Uber To Give Free Rides To Designated Disaster Recovery Centers
FWC Creates Hotline To Address Thousands Of Vessels Displaced By Hurricane Ian
FWC Waives 2022-2023 Commercial Stone Crab Trap Tag Requirements in Affected Counties
FWC Waives Commercial Spiny Lobster Trap Tag Requirements For 2022-2023
2022 Assessment of Losses and Damages to Florida Agriculture from Hazard/Disaster Events
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Hurricane Ian
Disaster
Assistance Programs
For Impacted Communities
For Small Business Operators
For Aquaculture Farmers
DisasterAssistance.gov
The federal government has set up a page specifically for those impacted by Hurricane Ian. DisasterAssistance.gov provides information on many disaster assistance programs and services.
Find Assistance Tool
Complete their anonymous questionnaire to get a personalized list of possible assistance. Use their Disaster Survivor Application Checklist to complete an application.
Disaster Unemployment Assistance
The Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) program provides unemployment benefits to individuals who have become unemployed as a direct result of a Presidentially declared major disaster.
FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs)
Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) are open across the Hurricane Ian impact area. They are accessible facilities and mobile offices set up after a disaster that offer equal access and resources to everyone.
Visit a DRC to:
- Learn about disaster assistance programs.
- Apply for disaster assistance.
- Check the status of your FEMA application.
- Help you understand FEMA notices or letters.
- Find housing and rental assistance information.
- Get referrals to agencies that offer other assistance.
- Meet with a Small Business Administration (SBA) agent.
The DRC Locator can help you find the locations, hours, and services of DRCs near you.
Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program
Short-term, zero-interest working capital loans 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.
- Max Amount: $50,000
- Loan Term: 1 year
- Interest Rate: 0%
How to Apply or Find Assistance with Application:
U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Physical Disaster Loan
Loans for impacted small businesses located in declared disaster areas to repair or replace disaster-damaged property owned by the business, including real estate, inventories, supplies, machinery and equipment. Businesses of any size are eligible. Private, non-profit organizations are also eligible.
- Max Amount: $2 Million (Between both SBA Programs)
- Loan Term: Up to 30 years
- Interest Rate: Varies
How to Apply or Find Assistance with Application:
- Visit the website.
- Call 1-800-659-2955.
- Email [email protected]
- Visit an in-person Business Recover Center (BRCs): Find your local BRC
- Visit an in-person Disaster Recovery Center(DRCs): Find your local DRC or text ‘43362’ with the message ‘DRC [your ZIP code]’ Ex: DRC 12345.
U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Economic Injury Disaster Loan
Loans for impacted small businesses located in declared disaster areas that are unable to meet obligations and pay ordinary and necessary operating expenses. Provide working capital to help small businesses survive until normal operations resume after a disaster.
- Max Amount: $2 Million (Between both SBA Programs)
- Loan Term: Up to 30 years
- Interest Rate: 4%
How to Apply or Find Assistance with Application:
- Visit the website.
- Call 1-800-659-2955.
- Email [email protected]
- Visit an in-person Business Recover Center (BRCs): Find your local BRC
- Visit an in-person Disaster Recovery Center(DRCs): Find your local DRC or text ‘43362’ with the message ‘DRC [your ZIP code]’ Ex: DRC 12345.
Filing Hurricane Losses with the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA)
Aquaculture growers located in counties where the USDA Farm Service Agency local infrastructure has been impacted by Hurricane Ian may be eligible for relief through the following FSA assistance programs:
Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP)
- Deadline: File notice of loss within 15 days.
- Visit the NAP webpage.
Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP)
- Deadline: File notice of loss within 30 days.
- Visit the ELAP website.
To inquire about FSA assistance:
- Contact your local FSA office.
- Call the FSA Call Center at 1-877-508-8364, 8a.m.-8p.m. ET
- Email: [email protected]
Recovery For Off-Bottom Oyster Aquaculture in the Gulf of Mexico
As soon as it is safe to do so, the plan for recovery of oyster crops and gear should be implemented. Browse fact sheets to ensure you have adequate help, supplies, surplus gear, and equipment.
Coastal Safety after Hurricane Ian
Hurricane Ian’s impact on Florida’s coast lingers, even weeks after the storm’s passing, leaving questions about derelict vessels, water quality and more. Florida Sea Grant UF/IFAS Extension agents and other experts answer commonly asked questions about coastal safety after the hurricane.
Answers provided by: Scott Jackson, Bay County agent; David Outerbridge, Lee County Extension director; Andrew Ropicki, marine resource economics specialist; Kate Rose, Charlotte County agent; Michael Sipos, Collier County agent
The Florida Department of Health (DOH) is sampling beaches and testing the water for enterococcus, a group of bacteria that normally reside in the intestinal tract of animals and may indicate fecal matter pollution. Updates are posted in several places including county websites. Visit the Florida Health website to check the status of each beach.
Conditions might change over time as tides change or as runoff continues. Use caution before attending. Another bacterium to be aware of when working with open wounds near salt or brackish water is Vibrio vulnificus. More information can be found on the state and Lee County Department of Health websites.
It might be safest to refrain or limit interactions with impacted coastal waters, if possible, especially in areas that may have marine debris or a compromised sewage system or if you have cuts and scrapes. Additionally, weather such as rain or wind can flush still-developing upland pollutants towards the sea but efforts to remove environmental hazards are a priority. — Sipos
Looks like bacteria levels are starting to be pushed out but stay up to date and check with local DOH and emergency management for the latest updates. There is also some displaced wildlife in the water bodies right now, be careful of that too. (Rose)
There is a lot of debris, including metal and other items, that have been washed out into the ocean, so use extreme caution. — Outerbridge
There is a coordinated effort among agencies to identify and remove storm debris from state-owned waters, but it is not exhaustive. If boaters see significant hazards in the water, they need to report it to their county public works department. Conversations surrounding a platform to log marine debris online are still ongoing. — Rose
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is working with partners to identify and remove vessels impacted by Hurricane Ian.
If an owner is removing their vessel, they should notify the Hurricane Ian Vessel Hotline of their plans by calling 850-488-5600 M-F, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
You are also encouraged to call the Hurricane Ian Vessel Hotline if your vessel is missing, if you have located a vessel or if you have questions about displaced vessels or vessels in state waters that have been rendered derelict by Hurricane Ian.
Reported vessels are currently being investigated and FWC is trying to remove them as quickly as possible. This could take a really long time. To put it in perspective, more than 6,000 vessels have been reported in the water and on land. These vessels may have fuel on board and there is a lot to address.
Continue to work with your insurance company, especially if your vessel is outside the waters of the state. If there is a vessel on your property that may be causing a problem, work with local law enforcement to identify the vessel owner and manage that issue.
For any non-vessel marine debris reporting, the info can be submitted by dropping a pin and info on the GIS map located here. — Jackson
The public can report vessels, other titled property, and debris that are displaced on public or private property lands to the Florida Division of Emergency Management via the debris cleanup hotline or email address below.
Phone: (850) 961-2002
Email: [email protected].
Right now, boaters should try to stay out of the water. There is a lot of debris that could damage vessels or cause injuries. Channel markers are down as well so it is not safe to be out. Missing waterway markers can be reported to FWC and coastal zone management teams within your local county. — Sipos
Missing federal channel markers or pilings should be reported to the U.S. Coast Guard. Citizen lines for your individual counties can help you find information or to report other concerns as well. — Jackson
Once it is safe to be on the water, there will be a collective effort to understand what is happening in the natural environment out there. Keep your eye out for opportunities to help us understand the effects of the storm down the line for citizen science programs. –Rose
The San Carlos Island shrimp fleet was severely impacted. This fleet includes 50 vessels, and only three are intact after the storm. Pine Island fish houses are severely damaged as well. These are substantial fisheries – the Lee County shrimp fishery brings in $13 million a year in dockside revenue and accounts for a quarter of the state’s entire shrimping landings. The state of Florida as a whole does a total of about $52 million in shrimp dockside revenue.
The general public can help the fishery by seeking out and asking for Florida caught seafood. A lot of the industry is still sidelined but as they get back out there working, having demand for Florida seafood will help them. — Ropicki
In Collier County, stone crabbers deployed traps shortly after the storm and are now harvesting fresh crab claws. A great way to support southwest Florida commercial fishermen is to purchase locally sourced seafood like stone crab from area fish houses that are currently operational. — Sipos
Retailers of Lee County fisheries are also still down so we will keep you posted where these fisheries are selling their product once they are up and going again. (Ropicki)
Many of the disaster funds can take a long time to get to business owners. The fastest way to get them going is by getting them fishing again. Buying their products is an easy way to help with the situation. — Jackson
Ian flooded our waterways with debris, silt and nutrients. How concerned should we be with red tide?
When red tide blooms form, they do so offshore. Right now we do not have any reason to anticipate that Hurricane Ian has triggered a red tide bloom. However, the runoff of organic material from the land will likely increase nutrient levels in some coastal areas. This may trigger other types of algal blooms present in the water, which could have similar impacts as red tide, including fish kills. Red tide, however, is still an algae and if present in the environment, it can utilize nutrients like any other algae or plant, to check for any bloom update visit the FWC Red Tide Current Status webpage. Typical water quality parameter levels may be impacted for some time.
Be familiar with emergency reporting hotlines and report if you see anything. Sign up for alerts to be notified of closures and bacteria levels. — Sipos
There are various tools to report anything you observe that is concerning or that looks like a bloom. Suspected algal blooms can be reported to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) on their website. You can report fish kills to FWC online or by calling. Low oxygen levels in the water following the storm may cause fish kills that have nothing to do with a red tide or harmful algal blooms. There are a lot of new technologies that can predict red tide that you can monitor as well. –Rose
Many mangroves along the shoreline have been defoliated. Those leaves that were blown off went somewhere and will eventually break down, introducing more nutrients and bacteria into the water. It will be a while before water quality gets back to what everyone is used to. –Outerbridge and Rose
As a reminder, mangroves are protected species, so it is best to check with the DEP before removing or trimming mangroves.
We did not have the opportunity to survey the bottom officially post storm. Hazards were documented locally so right now we do not have a clear answer. In the past, Florida Sea Grant had a team that could map bathymetry, providing precision dredging recommendations based on an inventory of vessels and their draft in given areas. We do not currently have funding to operate this group, so our data is limited. –Jackson
There is not a quick answer to this question. Scientists themselves are still trying to record changes and explain them. The storm caused changes that people likely aren’t anticipating, whether it be related to water levels, navigational hazards like downed trees and debris, or changes in bathymetry. — Rose
Relief funds for small business will mostly be in the form of loans. The Florida Sea Grant website highlights three options out for small businesses.
If you have insurance on your aquaculture operation, you should reach out to your local Farm Service Agency. If your local FSA office is closed, there is a hotline to call and an email address for this purpose, 1-877-508-8364 (The line is staffed Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET) or [email protected]. Note, the Lee County FSA office has relocated to Hendry County due to storm damage. (Ropicki)
Disaster recovery centers helped us out a lot after Hurricane Matthew. The Small Business Administration can also help individuals as well. It also will not hurt to call your creditors or other loan companies to adjust your payment deadlines. Many of them are being flexible and will all you to make alternate arrangements to help get you through the immediate hard time. (Jackson)
Continue checking in with members of your community and helping when you safely can do so. It will take time, but this is bringing the community together and we’ll get through this. — all
Help Floridians Recover From Hurricane Ian
Connect with Volunteer Florida to donate to the Florida Disaster Fund and get involved with volunteer opportunities related to disaster relief.
Help Support Southwest FL Fishermen
You can help the fishery by seeking out and asking for Florida caught seafood. Find your local seafood retail market here.
Publications & Resources
Browse and download storm recovery products created by faculty experts.
Sea Grant X disaster recovery
Find Your
Local Agent
When natural disasters hit coastal communities, Florida Sea Grant works with community members to help with response, recovery and rebuilding efforts. Connect with your local agent to provide guidance on how Florida Sea Grant can best serve your area.
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