Governor Ron DeSantis Issues Updates on Hurricane Idalia Response

On September 5, 2023, in News Releases, by Staff

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The first Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) opened today at the Dixie County Public Library to provide impacted Floridians with needed supplies and recovery resources. This is the fastest that a DRC has opened in the state post landfall, beating Hurricane Ian’s record by two days. A complete list of open DRCs can be found here.

Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nuñez and Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz Jr. traveled to Cedar Key today to visit with impacted residents and volunteers helping with recovery efforts. They also visited Cedar Key School to greet students on their first day back following Hurricane Idalia. Read the press release here.

FEMA is providing assistance for cleaning and sanitization efforts for Floridians impacted by Hurricane Idalia. If your home was damaged by Hurricane Idalia but you can live in it safely, FEMA may be able to provide up to $300 in one-time financial assistance to help with cleanup. This assistance is for eligible homeowners and renters and is available for counties designated for Critical Needs Assistance and for those whose insurance would not cover such costs. To apply, visit DisasterAssistance.gov.

FEMA is also providing assistance for those with immediate or critical needs who were displaced from their primary dwelling. That assistance provides a one-time $700 payment per household. This assistance is available for counties designated for Critical Needs Assistance and for those whose insurance would not cover such costs. To apply, visit DisasterAssistance.gov.

Additionally, Pinellas County was added to the approved list of counties under the Major Disaster Declaration. Read the press release here.

The U.S. Small Business Administration has made available Disaster Loans for Hurricane Idalia affected businesses. Applications for Business Physical Disaster Loans, Economic Injury Disaster Loans, and Home Disaster Loans are available here.

The Florida Disaster Fund, announced by Governor Ron DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis, has raised nearly $3 million since activation and is currently accepting donations to support communities impacted by Hurricane Idalia. To donate, click here.

State Response Efforts

FDEM is leading the State Emergency Response Team (SERT) for the Hurricane Idalia response.
Today, an additional business resource center opened, operated by FloridaCommerce, at 2186 U.S. 19 North, Perry, Florida, to help impacted Floridians receive help with applying for resources.
Over 400,000 Meals, over 300,000 1-liter waters and over 10,000 tarps have been distributed to Point of Distribution (POD) locations. Find a list below and at FloridaDisaster.org/Updates.
Points of Distributions (PODs) are beginning to demobilize as counties improve. POD’s still operating can be located at floridadisaster.org/updates/.
Non-profit partners have established sites for impacted residents to eat hot meals. A full list of locations can be found here.
The Florida State Guard is distributing meals to residents in partnership with local law enforcement and Operation BBQ.

Nonprofit organizations are coordinating with the State Emergency Response Team to assist Idalia survivors with muck and gut assistance and crisis cleanup. For connection with completely free muck and gut assistance through nonprofits, contact CrisisCleanup at 1-800-451-1954 or CrisisCleanup.org.

6 shelters are currently open across Leon, Levy, Madison, Pinellas, Suwannee and Taylor counties housing an overnight population of 104 individuals. For up-to-date shelter information visit FloridaDisaster.org/updates.

The FLNG continues to conduct humanitarian and route clearance operations and is already engaged in commodity distribution missions (PODs). Our Guardsmen have cleared over 850 miles of roadways.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) The Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s (FDLE) mutual aid team is coordinating Florida’s law enforcement response with more than 150 total missions including deployment of approximately 450 Florida law enforcement officers. More than 60 missions have been completed.
FDLE has more than 30 agents from Tallahassee, Miami, Orlando, Tampa Bay and Pensacola deployed into the impacted area, and an FDLE incident management team deployed to Dixie County to coordinate an increase of law enforcement missions.
FDLE’s mutual aid team is coordinating law enforcement personnel to operate fueling stations in Madison County.
A regional law enforcement coordination team (RLECTs) is activated in Tallahassee assisting local law enforcement agencies with needs as they arise.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is working closely with state and local emergency management agencies to deploy resources to impacted areas.
A second wave of FWC officers has arrived to replace the first wave of initial FWC responders.
Teams are performing 24-hour land and waterborne law enforcement, public safety, security and humanitarian services throughout Dixie County.
Additional FWC officers are providing nighttime law enforcement patrols in Yankeetown.
A base of operations has been established in Cross City.
The FWC has set up a hotline (888-404-3922) to report vessels lost, displaced or rendered derelict as a result of the storm. FWC officers are assessing waters in the impacted area for displaced or derelict vessels.
The Florida Highway Patrol has activated 300 troopers and implemented 12-hour Alpha, Bravo to provide resources to impacted areas. This activation has resulted in regular days off being cancelled and 24-Hour enhanced coverage.
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is actively working to provide any needed assistance to drinking water, wastewater and hazardous waste facilities in the impacted areas. Outreach to these facilities to determine operation status is ongoing.

DEP has confirmed that more than 96% of the drinking water facilities in the impacted areas are operational.

DEP and response partners are working 1-on-1 with partially- and non-operational drinking water facilities to get them back to operational status as quickly as possible in order to meet the immediate service needs of the communities they serve. Areas under boil water advisories can be found at here.

DEP has confirmed the availability of mobile testing labs from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), to expedite testing for drinking and surface water samples to protect public health. The labs are currently on stand-by as DEP assesses potential needs.

66 Disaster Debris Management Sites have been authorized to operate for Hurricane Idalia, including three in Taylor and Madison counties. DEP has pre-authorized an additional 12 sites for these counties and will activate them as needed. DEP is coordinating with EPA’s Landfill Strike Teams to provide technical support and assistance for sites operating as a result of Hurricane Idalia

DEP is conducting post-storm beach surveys to determine impacts to shorelines and erosion, as well as beach projects from Hurricane Idalia from Pinellas through Collier counties. Detailed damage assessments have also been completed by coastal engineering staff in Franklin, Wakulla, Levy, Dixie, Pinellas, Manatee and Sarasota counties.

14 Florida State Parks strike teams have been assembled to assist with assessment and recovery efforts at impacted parks. Eight teams are on the ground today in Columbia, Suwannee and Lafayette counties.
Over 120 state parks have re-opened following Hurricane Idalia. DEP has published a storm updates webpage to keep state park visitors updated of closures: www.floridbprdastateparks.org/StormUpdates.

Health and Human Services

The Florida Department of Children and Families’ (DCF) has established six Family Resource Support Centers (FRSC) in Dixie, Hamilton, Lafayette, Madison, Taylor and Suwannee counties. The Department has staff on site, including Hope Navigators, crisis counselors who have expertise in disaster recovery response, and public benefit eligibility specialists. More information on specific locations and hours of operation can be found online at myflfamilies.com/Idalia. To date, the FRSCs have served over 3,300 households in the six counties.

DCF is working to submit the waiver for D-SNAP and will have more information soon.

DCF waiver requests to assist individuals receiving supplemental nutrition assistance benefits (SNAP) were approved, these waivers include:
- Automatic SNAP replacement benefits – Households in the following counties that did not receive the early release of SNAP benefits will receive automatic replacement of SNAP benefits: Baker, Citrus, Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Jefferson, Lafayette, Levy, Madison, Suwannee, Taylor, Union, and Wakulla counties. Eligible recipients will have the benefits automatically added to their EBT card. There is no need for recipients to apply.
- SNAP recipients will have the ability to use their EBT card to purchase hot food. Typically, food assistance benefits can only be used to buy unprepared foods, such as breads, cereals, meats, fruits, vegetables, and poultry.
DCF has released more than $104 million in SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits early in preparation/response to Hurricane Idalia for over 327,000 households that would normally receive their September SNAP benefit between the 1st – 14th of the month. This applies to SNAP households located in one of the 49 designated counties in Governor DeSantis’ Executive Order. Eligible recipients will have the benefits automatically added to their EBT card. There is no need for recipients to apply.
The Hope Bus will be in Orlando collecting donations on Tuesday, September 5, 2023. Items that are being collected include:
- Toys for children of all ages
- Puzzles – Cross Words, Sudoku, and regular puzzles
- Board games and card games
- Books
- Baby Products – diapers, formula, wipes, baby food, bottles with nipples, bottle brush, pacifiers, onesies, pack n’ play / bassinet, car seats, blanket, infant Tylenol, diaper cream, bibs
- Hygiene Items – shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, soap, lotion, deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste, mouth wash, adult diapers, razors, shaving cream, feminine hygiene products, toilet paper, hand sanitizer, nail clippers, etc.

At the direction of the Governor and First Lady, the Florida Department of Health (DOH) distributed backpacks stuffed with supplies and health/safety educational materials to Floridians in Horseshoe Beach and Dixie County. During this distribution, leadership spoke to Floridians to assess their needs and connected them to resources and services.

DOH continues to stage mobile field hospitals and emergency rooms as needed. Currently these are staged in Dixie, Taylor, Suwannee, Madison, and Lee counties.
- A mobile medical unit is operating in each of the following counties: Madison, Taylor, and Lee.
- A health medical task force is operating in Taylor County.
- A mobile medical station is operating in the following county: Dixie.
- Seven strike teams are deployed supporting ground and aerial EMS transport in Madison County. Additional strike teams stand ready to be deployed as needs are assessed and monitored.
DOH has deployed oxygen generators to support fire rescue in Taylor and Madison Counties.

There are eighteen (18) boil water notices in effect: Alachua (1), Charlotte (1), Columbia (1), DeSoto (1), Dixie (2), Franklin (1), Levy (1), Marion (6), Sarasota (3), Taylor (1). Details on these locations can be found on the DOH website here. Instructions on safe water use during a boil water notice can be found here.

DOH is working with DEP to assess private wells in Taylor county that may have been compromised due to flooding. DOH distributed information to private well owners in Taylor county regarding instructions on safe water consumption, proper disinfection, and well testing.

CMS also ensured clients have access to early prescription refills. Following the storm to aid in recovery efforts, CMS and Sunshine Health are offering dental supplies, food, water, baby supplies, hygiene supplies at 8 locations in Cedar Key, Live Oak, and Horseshoe Beach. Medical care is also available at 4 of the sites.

The DOH and Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) sent information regarding early prescription refills permitted under Executive Order 23-171. This information was sent to the public, health insurers, managed care organizations, pharmacy benefit managers, pharmacy chains, and health care providers.

In Dixie County, DOH supports door-to-door paramedicine wellness checks that provide first aid treatment or transportation for additional medical treatment as needed. Additionally, DOH staff, in partnership with the Florida Department of Elder Affairs (DOEA), are conducting wellness checks that provide educational health/safety information, identify health/safety risks, and connect Floridians to services.

DOH and DOEA canvassed over 100 households in Horseshoe Beach, Dixie County. DOH and DOEA provided health/safety information and supplies, such as food boxes and bug spray, and connected Floridians, including older adults, to resources and follow up services.

OIR instituted a data call to collect Hurricane Idalia catastrophe claims data and assist with determining the impact of Hurricane Idalia on Florida’s insurance industry. OIR is requiring daily catastrophe claims reporting for Hurricane Idalia starting Friday, September 1. More information regarding catastrophe claims data and reporting is available here.
DOH has deployed three environmental health strike teams to conduct assessments to inspect storm damage and any health/safety risks that must be addressed in Taylor, Hamilton, and Dixie counties.

An environmental strike teams finished conducting assessments in Jefferson and Madison counties.
All county health departments in affected areas will be reopened and return to normal operations by tomorrow.

Twenty-one (21) pharmacies have reopened in Taylor, Suwannee, and Madison Counties within 48-72 hours. Open pharmacies can be found on RxOpen.org.
Five pharmacies have reopened in Madison County. DOH continues to monitor pharmacy needs and is prepared to deploy a mobile pharmacy if needed. The open pharmacy addresses are below:
- CVS Pharmacy 407 E. Base St. Madison, FL 32340
- Winn Dixie729 W Base St. Madison, FL 32340
- DaVita Four Freedoms Dialysis 289A SW Range Ave. Madison, FL 32340
- Jays Pharmacy of Madison 683 E Base St. Madison, FL 32340
- North Florida Pharmacy of Madison 139 SW Macon St. Madison, FL 32340

The Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) has thanked all health care providers for reporting into the Health Facility Reporting System for Hurricane Idalia. At this time the emergency event has closed, and reporting is no longer required. AHCA staff remains ready to conduct surveys immediately for remaining evacuated facilities that require surveys to reopen.

Agency surveyors have completed more than 220 on-site post-storm visits to conduct health and life safety surveys in conjunction with Attorney General’s Fraud Unit.

On September 1, the Agency’s Bureau of Health Facility Regulation made over 2,000 calls to residential health care providers, including hospitals, in the impacted counties.

For health facilities with storm damage, damage assessment guidelines, are available here.
Teledoc is providing free virtual health care services, including general medical telehealth visits, non-emergency services, and prescription refills, to Florida residents, first responders and others directly impacted by Hurricane Idalia. Call Teladoc directly at 855-225-5032.

The Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD), continues to conduct post-storm outreach and follow-up of all clients, determining unmet needs, assisting those with needs to connect with and access community, state, and federal resources, and work toward getting them back to normalcy and stability.
APD is equipping providers and partners with updated recovery assistance information to assist their members and our clients as we move through the recovery process.
APD is staffing the Family Resource Centers and the Disaster Recovery centers, assisting individuals with disabilities with their recovery needs.
APD regional staff are contacting the 6,061 APD clients in the 14 counties declared for Individual Assistance, ensuring they are registering with FEMA as appropriate, and assisting in meeting unmet needs.
APD is assisting APD clients with disaster-caused needs in registering for FEMA in the IA declared counties.
The Department of Elder Affairs (DOEA) continues to receive daily updates from all 11 Area Agencies on Aging throughout Florida.

Infrastructure, Roads, State Closures and Outages

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) is coordinating with agricultural partners to conduct damage assessment sand producers to ensure those impacted have adequate resources and support.
- For Hurricane Idalia assistance, please call the FSA Producer Hotline: 1-877-508-8364 M-F 8am-8pm or send an email to the FSA disaster group inbox at SM.FPAC.FSA.FLFSA.Disaster@USDA.GOV Indicate the county of loss in the Subject Line – emails sent to the disaster group inbox will receive an auto reply acknowledging receipt.
- UF/IFAS is studying the agricultural losses and damages resulting from Hurricane Idalia. Producers can share information about impacts experienced at your farm, ranch, or aquaculture operation here.

The Florida Forest Service is asking Floridians in areas impacted by Hurricane Idalia to use caution when burning debris piles. Since smoke can travel great distances, be mindful of your neighbors as many are still without power and most homes have open windows. Burn piles must be less than eight feet in diameter, extinguished one hour before sunset, and there are required setbacks from your house, forests, and roads. To learn more, visit BeWildfireReadyFL.com.
Food safety inspectors are responding to impacted areas to conduct damage assessments and ensure the safe operation of permitted food establishments.
- As of 8 a.m., inspectors have completed over 10,000 assessments of food establishments in impacted regions. 10,802 facilities are open for business and 89 are closed.

FDACS has opened up the consumer hotline to receive complaints from consumers impacted by the Port of Tampa fuel contamination. If you believe you were sold contaminated gasoline, you can file a complaint by calling 1-800-HELP-FLA or visiting fdacs.gov.
The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) is maintaining high visibility on interstate systems, bridges, and rest areas. Motorists can report disabled vehicles or dangerous driving conditions to *FHP (*347).
FHP chainsaw crews, consisting of approximately 40-50 troopers responded to assist in the rapid opening of Interstate – 10 following the impact of Hurricane Idalia.
102 FHP Troopers have been deployed to provide support, traffic control, roadway clearing, and welfare checks throughout impacted areas in North Florida.
1 FHP Command Bus has been deployed to provide Command and Logistics support operations in Madison County.
10 FHP troopers providing road security operations at the request of Taylor County EOC.
2 FHP troopers provided Publix escorts to various locations in Levy County.
2 FHP Troopers are providing security at a feeding location in Taylor County.
2 FHP Troopers providing security at state fuel site in Madison County.
FHP is staffing the State Emergency Operations Center to coordinate recovery efforts in the impacted areas.
FHP is working with FDOT in support of clearing roadways and supporting county sheriffs and local police agencies.
40 FHP troopers responded to support traffic operations in the Cedar Key area of Levy County.
20 FHP troopers responding at the request of Madison County Sheriff’s Office to provide law enforcement support countywide.
25 FHP troopers providing law enforcement support on alpha/bravo shifts at the request of the Suwannee County Sheriff’s Office.
Florida Licensing on Wheels (FLOW) mobile units are deployed to Taylor and Madison counties providing replacement credentialing services.
FHP continues to complete missions related to vehicle escorts of deliveries of critical infrastructure resources to impacted areas.
FHP provided fuel and propane escorts overnight to Suwannee County.
FHP is providing security for a state fueling site in Madison County.
FHP is providing security at Mass Care Station in Madison County.
FHP is providing security at Lanier Field Comfort Station in Madison County.
FLHSMV driver license and motor vehicle service center closures can be found here.
Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) – As of today, crews completed all Cut and Toss operations on state roads and off-system roadways in the impacted counties.
FDOT crews have moved into fiscally constrained counties that have requested assistance to support Cut and Toss operations on local roads. Counties that have requested this assistance include Gilchrist, Dixie, Hamilton, Lafayette, Levy, Suwannee, and Taylor. Crews have completed Cut and Toss operations on local roads in Madison County and Suwannee County.
FDOT has added additional field workers and now has over 250 total deployed crew members to support cut and toss operations throughout our communities working to recover.
Across the state, less than 10 traffic signals are still running temporarily on generators.

FDOT road and bridge contractors have resumed operations on all active construction projects except in the following counties: Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Jefferson, Lafayette, Levy, Madison, Putnam, Suwannee, Taylor, and Union. Also, lane closures related to construction on I-10 from the Jefferson/Madison County Line to I-95 and I-95 from I-10 to the Georgia State Line are not permitted at this time.
FDOT issued an Emergency Order to temporarily allow expanded weight and size requirements for vehicles transporting emergency equipment, services, supplies, and agriculture commodities and citrus.
For rolling updates on Florida’s airport, seaport, and transit partners, please visit local listings or www.fdot.gov/idalia.

For rolling updates on Florida’s airport, seaport, and transit partners, please visit local listings or www.fdot.gov/idalia.
For the most up-to-date closures, visit Florida 511, at FL511.com or on the FL511 app.

The Florida Department of Education is consistently updating their website with school district closures, as well as State University System and Florida College System Closures. 60 school districts will be open on Tuesday.

Resources for Employees and Businesses

FloridaCommerce, Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), Florida Department of Children and Families, Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, CareerSource, Citizens Property Insurance and Florida Small Business Development Center (SBDC) are co-locating business resources for communities impacted by Hurricane Idalia. Located at:
- The Bridge Church 1135 E US 90, Madison, FL 32340
- Pouncey’s Restaurant 2186 S Byron Butler PKWY Perry, FL 32348
- Hamilton County Courthouse Annex 1153 NW US Hwy 41 Jasper, FL 32052
- CareerSource Florida Crown 25811 SE US Hwy 19 Old Town, FL 32680
- Department of Children and Families 521 Demorest Street Live Oak, FL 3206
The FLOW mobile from FLHSMV will be relocating to 705 East Base St. in Madison at noon today.
The Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program has been activated making $20 million available for businesses impacted by Hurricane Idalia, with $5 million set aside for agricultural small businesses. Florida small business owners in need of assistance are encouraged to visit www.FloridaJobs.org/EBL to apply for the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program.
FloridaCommerce and the State Emergency Response Team (SERT) activated the Business Damage Assessment Survey in response to Hurricane Idalia. Survey responses will allow the state to expedite Hurricane Idalia recovery efforts by gathering data and assessing the needs of affected businesses. Businesses can complete the survey online by visiting www.floridadisaster.biz/and selecting “Hurricane Idalia” from the dropdown menu.
Low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) are available to businesses and residents in Florida. Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure website at disasterloanassistance.sba.gov/ela/s/ and should apply under SBA declaration # 18118.
FloridaCommerce has activated the private sector hotline at 850-815-4925 from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Inquiries may also be emailed to ESF18@em.myflorida.com.
U-HAUL is offering 30 days of free self-storage or container use at more than 50 of its locations across the state. For more information contact the nearest participating location: bit.ly/3Ehal49.
Visa is waiving interchange fees for donations made to the Florida Disaster Fund. They will match employee donations made in support of Florida disaster relief efforts and the Visa Small Business Team has activated their Back to Business tools to help Floridians affected by Hurricane Idalia.
Comcast has opened 141,000 public Xfinity WiFi hotspots in areas it serves across Florida in Hurricane Idalia’s potential path for anyone to use, including non-Xfinity customers, for free. You can find a list of locations at xfinity.com/wifi.
Verizon is waiving prepaid and postpaid domestic call/text/data usage incurred from August 30 – September 13, for Florida residents in the areas most impacted by the storm.
Walmart has donated goods to the people of Yankeetown including food, water and cleaning supplies and purchased over $5,000 worth of supplies for the impacted communities and is donating an additional truckload of supplies to Doctor’s Memorial Hospital in Perry Florida.
AT&T is supporting residents as restoration continues in impacted communities with charging stations located in Branford, Live Oak, Madison, Monticello, Perry and Tallahassee.
AT&T is waiving overage charges to provide unlimited talk, text and data for AT&T Postpaid & PREPAID customers with billing addresses in zip codes across affected areas in Florida and Georgia from August 31, 2023, through September 8, 2023.
Publix donated a truckload of food and water to the residents of Yankeetown. This donation follows Publix’s donation of more than 800 Publix subs to impacted Floridians in Yankeetown and Horseshoe Beach.

Publix plans to distribute ten pallets of ice to the public today in Greenville.

Updates on closures and business resources are consistently being updated at FloridaDisaster.Biz/CurrentDisasterUpdates.
DWG application was submitted to USDOL for $20 million for the impacted counties. We are awaiting approval. FloridaCommerce is awaiting approval.
Disaster Unemployment Assistance is available for claimants impacted by Hurricane Idalia. DUA is available for weeks of unemployment beginning September 3, 2023, until March 2, 2024, as long as the individual’s unemployment continues to be a result of the disaster in a designated-disaster areas. The deadline to submit a claim for DUA benefits is no later than 11:59 p.m. on October 3, 2023, for businesses and residents in Citrus, Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Hernando, Jefferson, Lafayette, Levy, Madison, Pasco, Suwannee, and Taylor counties. For businesses and residents in Pinellas County, the deadline to submit a claim for DUA benefits is no later than 11:59 p.m. on October 5, 2023.
Additionally, work search reporting, waiting week, and Employ Florida registration requirements for Reemployment Assistance claims have been temporarily waived for Floridians impacted by Hurricane Idalia in FEMA disaster-declared counties.
ID.me is deploying 3 kiosk into the field for claimants to verify their identity while applying for DUA.

Today, the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) is joining state agencies at Family Resource Support Centers, One-Stop Business Resource Centers, and Disaster Recovery Centers in Madison, Mayo, Jasper, Old Town, Live Oak, Cross City, and Perry to meet with impacted licensees and educate business owners on important business recovery resources available to them through the state.

This week, DBPR has issued 130 new contractor licenses, with 43 of these being certified or registered roofing contractor licenses.

Over the weekend the DBPR Division of Regulation performed damage assessment sweeps to look for structural damages caused by Hurricane Idalia and combat unlicensed activity in Citrus, Levy, Madison, Pasco, Suwannee, and Taylor counties. Residents can report instances of unlicensed contracting to the DBPR hotline toll-free at +1 (866) 532-1440.

DBPR Division of Hotels and Restaurants emergency response teams have completed 635 disaster inspections of hotels, motels and food service establishments in impacted areas to ensure businesses are reopening and operating safely.
DBPR Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco (ABT) has performed 46 inspections of licensee establishments in impacted areas to assess damages and assist in reopening. ABT Bureau of Law Enforcement are providing 24-hour security at three distribution sites in Jefferson County and two distribution sites in Madison County. Officers are also providing security and traffic direction at the distribution site in Suwannee County.
DBPR encourages Florida’s licensed contractors who are looking to help property owners in need of post-storm construction-related services to register with the Florida Disaster Contractors Network at DCNOnline.org. Once homeowners are safely able to assess their home repair needs, DBPR encourages them to log onto DCNOnline.org and search by county for a list of Florida-licensed contractors providing these services in their community.
OIR issued an Informational Memorandum to all authorized residential property insurers to provide guidance on hurricane preparedness and response. OIR directed insurers to review all aspects of their disaster preparedness and response plans to ensure they’re in compliance with Florida law. Informational Memorandum OIR-23-05M is available here.

Florida Realtors has activated the Florida Realtors Disaster Relief Fund (DRF), which assists Realtors, their employees and staff of local associations who have experienced damage to their primary residences or offices caused by natural disasters, including the recent landfall of Hurricane Idalia. More information can be found here.

Emergency Orders

Secretary J. Alex Kelly signed a FloridaCommerce Emergency Order tolling deadlines related to comprehensive plan amendments, and for the revitalization of a homeowners’ association’s declaration of covenants, within the counties impacted by Hurricane Idalia, as listed in the Governor’s Executive Order.
DBPR Emergency Order 2023-07 suspends certain provisions of section 489.113(3), Florida Statutes, in order to allow certified or registered general, building, or residential contractors to subcontract roofing work for the repair or installation of any roof type in listed counties.

DBPR Emergency Order 2023-06 extends multiple deadlines for license renewals, and:
- Extends the deadline for the filing of monthly reports and returns by certain alcoholic beverage and tobacco license holders to October 25, 2023.
- Suspends and tolls through October 25, 2023, all final orders reflecting agency action and all-time requirements and deadlines for filing responses outlined in agency orders through September 28, 2023.
- Suspends and tolls the annual $4 mobile home fee and $1 surcharge for mobile home park owners.
- Waives the $200 fee for the issuance of temporary licenses for out-of-state veterinarians through October 25, 2023.
Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) has FLHSMV has issued Emergency Order 082623, which:
- waives specific requirements for commercial motor vehicles providing emergency relief; and
- waives the replacement fees for driver’s license and identification credentials, vehicle registrations and titles, vessel registrations and titles and temporary parking permits for impacted individuals.
DEP’s Emergency Final Order also removes barriers for expediting necessary repair, replacement and restoration of structures, equipment, surface water management systems, works and other systems that may be damaged by the storm.