In order to help the Southwest Florida community recover from Hurricane Irma, the following is a non-exhaustive list of resources:
Tax
- IRS issues relief, granting extensions of time to file and pay for certain taxes, for more info go to https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/help-for-victims-of-hurricane-irma
FEMA
- If you bought or rented a generator for your home and it was necessary to power a medically-required piece of equipment (including a medically-required refrigerator), you may qualify for reimbursement from FEMA. For more info, go to https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/94768.
- Additional financial assistance may be available from FEMA, depending on your circumstances. For more info, go to https://www.fema.gov/apply-assistance.
Interest Free Loans
- Assistance for businesses in the disaster area may qualify for federal, state, and/or local assistance, including interest free loans. For more info, see:
- Florida Virtual Business Emergency Operations Center at http://www.flvbeoc.org/
- SBA Disaster Assistance https://www.sba.gov/business-guide/manage/prepare-emergencies-disaster-assistance
Payroll
- Questions on whether to pay employees for workplace closures, see http://www.swflemploymentlawblog.com/2017/09/06/cone-of-uncertainty-wagehour-concerns-in-the-path-of-hurricane-irma/.
Construction
- A helpful site to confirm licensing for contractors to perform repairs from hurricane damage, http://www.myfloridalicense.com/dbpr/os/communications_office/HurricaneGuide.html.
United Way
- United Way 2-1-1 is a United Way program that provides free information and referral to human/social service agencies within Lee, Hendry, Glades and Okeechobee Counties. Clients can call and receive information and referrals appropriate to their needs, https://www.unitedwaylee.org/what-is-united-way-211/.
We will continue to update the list as they become available.