Resources to Help Those Impacted By Hurricane Ian

Written By Jason Carr

Though the Blue Fox Den is virtual, Florida is our home state. Southwest Florida (SWFL) in particular holds a special place in our hearts - it’s where we got our start, served our first clients, and hired our first team members. The devastation we see from Hurricane Ian's destructive path is hard to process. The effects are unbelievably tragic, and it will be a long road back to anything remotely normal in Southwest Florida.

We stand with our team and our community to do whatever we can to help.

​If you are looking for ways to aid recovery efforts, please see the list below that includes organizations that are making a direct impact in SWFL (the boots on the ground). ​If you have time, talent, or treasure to contribute, please do!

We’ve also included some resources to help those affected stay connected and updated

How to Support, Give, and Connect

Statewide & General Relief


Southwest Florida (Boots On the Ground)


Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteer Florida is the state’s lead agency for volunteerism and national service. This organization has compiled a variety of opportunities through its Volunteer Connect platform. Click here to find ways to volunteer and assist those in need from the devastation of Hurricane Ian.

Hurricane Ian Direct Impact Assistance

If you were directly affected by Hurricane Ian, this section is for you.

FEMA
Thousands of FEMA and federal personnel are working alongside Florida National Guard and other state response and emergency managers to support recovery from Ian. Here is more information on how FEMA continues to respond to Hurricane Ian.

Apply for Disaster Assistance
If you have been affected by Hurricane Ian in Florida, apply for assistance at www.disasterassistance.gov or call 800-621-3362. 

Call the FL SAIL - State Assistance Information Line - for up-to-date information on state assistance at 800-342-3557.

Small Business Administration Disaster Support for Businesses in Affected Areas | disasterloanassistance.sba.gov

​Disaster Distress Hotline
Mental health resources are available. Survivors experiencing emotional distress can call or text the Disaster Distress Helpline at 800-985-5990. The national hotline provides free 24/7, crisis counseling for people who are experiencing emotional distress related to any natural or human-caused disaster. Deaf and hard of hearing ASL callers can use a videophone or ASL Now.

Unemployment Aid
State and federal officials have made it easier for storm victims to apply for unemployment aid. Work search reporting, waiting week and registration requirements for Reemployment Assistance claims have been temporarily waived in the counties declared disasters.

Updates & Information
Stay up-to-date on announcements by accessing government and public safety organizations at the county and state levels (this list may not be exhaustive):

County Offices
Brevard | brevardfl.gov
Charlotte | charlottecountyfl.gov
Collier  | colliercountyfl.gov
Duval | coj.net
Flagler | flaglercounty.gov
Hillsborough | hillsboroughcounty.org
Lake | lakecountyfl.gov
Lee | leegov.com
Manatee | manatee.hosted.civiclive.com
Monroe | monroecounty-fl.gov
Nassau | nassaucountyfl.com
Orange | orangecountyfl.net
Osceola | osceola.org
Pasco | pascocountyfl.net
Pinellas | pinellascounty.org
Polk | polk-county.net
Sarasota | scgov.net
St. Johns | co.st-johns.fl.us
Seminole | seminolecountyfl.gov
Sumter | sumtercountyfl.gov
Volusia | volusia.org

State Offices
Official Florida State Website |  myflorida.com
Florida Division of Emergency Management | floridadisaster.org 
​
Power Outages
State of Florida Power Outages | floridadisaster.maps.arcgis.com

Support Blue Fox Clients in Florida
They Need Your Help More than Ever!

Natural disasters rightfully take our focus when they hit, but that tends to pull focuses from the causes in our communities that rely on fundraising for general support. Please consider donating to at least one of our dear clients in the Florida Den.

Brevard Homeless Coalition
The lead agency for the Continuum of Care and management of homelessness in Brevard County. | brevardhomelesscoalition.org/get-involved


CREW Land & Water Trust
Dedicated to the preservation and stewardship of the water resources and natural communities in and around the Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed (CREW) in Southwest Florida. | crewtrust.org


Earn to Learn Florida 
Empowers low- to moderate-income students to successfully complete college. | earntolearnfl.org


Friends of Foster Children Forever
Providing foster children in Southwest Florida with targeted educational and enrichment opportunities to allow each child to fulfill his/her potential. | friendsoffosterchildren.net


Henegar Center Performing Arts Center
The Henegar Center entertains, educates, and enriches by producing the highest quality performing arts experiences. | henegarcenter.com 


Jacksonville Civic Council
Shaping Jacksonville’s future as a premier national and international city. | jaxciviccouncil.com 


Marine Resources Council / Save the Indian River Lagoon
Improve water quality and to protect and restore the fish and wildlife resources of the Indian River Lagoon (Space Coast), coastal waters, inshore reefs, and the watershed by advocating and using sound science, education and the involvement of the public at large. | savetheirl.org/ 


My Autism Connection
A member-driven organization that offers services for autistic adults ages 18-50 across Southwest Florida. | myautismconnection.net


Reinvented Magazine
Supporting young women in STEM on the Space Coast and beyond. |  www.reinventedmagazine.com 


South Brevard Sharing Center
A community agency on a mission to support, strengthen and empower families to achieve self-sufficiency in south Brevard County. |  www.mysbsc.org


​STARability Foundation
Transforming the lives of individuals with disabilities through social, vocational and educational connections to the community, while strengthening awareness and respect for individual abilities. | starability.org

Jason Carr
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