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• FEMA Assistance

• Asbestos and Natural Disasters Guide
• Homeowner's Guide to Asbestos
• Asbestos in Soil and Water

• Response and Recovery Resources - Hurricane Ian

• U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Loan Fact Sheet 

Low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) are available to businesses and residents in Florida following the announcement of a Presidential disaster declaration due to Hurricane Ian.

The disaster declaration covers Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Hardee, Hillsborough, Lee, Manatee, Pinellas and Sarasota counties in Florida, which are eligible for both Physical and Economic Injury Disaster Loans from the SBA. Small businesses and most private nonprofit organizations in the following adjacent counties are eligible to apply only for SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs): Broward, Glades, Hendry, Highlands, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Pasco and Polk in Florida.

Businesses and private nonprofit (PNP) organizations of any size may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets. For PNP’s the interest rate is 1.875 percent, with terms up to 30 years. Applicants may be eligible for a loan amount increase up to 20 percent of their physical damages, as verified by the SBA, for mitigation purposes. Eligible mitigation improvements may include a safe room or storm shelter, sump pump or French drain to help protect property and occupants from future damage caused by a similar disaster.

The SBA also offers  Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) to help meet working capital needs, such as ongoing operating expenses for PNP organizations.  EIDL assistance is available regardless of whether the organization suffered any physical property damage.

PNP organizations are urged to contact their municipality’s Emergency Manager to provide information about their organization. The information will be submitted to FEMA to determine eligibility for a Public Assistance grant or whether the PNP should be referred to SBA for disaster loan assistance. Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via the SBA’s secure website at DisasterLoanAssistance.sba.gov/ela/s/ and should apply under SBA declaration # 17667.

Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloanassistance.sba.gov/ela/s/  and should apply under SBA declaration # 17644.

Please refer also to this Fact Sheet and Disaster Loan Checklist. You may also find this SBA Hurricane Ian Disaster Business Recovery Webinar helpful.

• Chamber member and Fort Myers Beach resident attorney Monica Schmucker, along with one of her partners Peter Kamm, are litigation attorneys at Henderson, Franklin, Starnes & Holt, P.A. They are assisting Fort Myers Beach residents with insurance claims, helping guide clients through the claim process — everything from answering questions to filing a claim on your behalf, if necessary. They may be reached by email monica.schmucker@henlaw.com or peter.kamm@henlaw.com, or by phone at 239-344-1100. With over 55 attorneys, Henderson Franklin has served the legal needs and communities of Southwest Florida since 1924. To learn more, visit henlaw.com.

The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) and the State Emergency Response Team (SERT) activated the Business Damage Assessment Surveyin response to Hurricane Ian. Survey responses will allow the state to expedite Hurricane Ian recovery efforts by gathering data and assessing the needs of affected businesses.

DEO is updating www.FloridaDisaster.biz with real-time information for business owners, families, and employees throughout the preparation, response and recovery phases of Hurricane Ian.

• Executive Order Number 22-218 Emergency Management — Tropical Depression Nine
• MEMORANDUM: Executive Order 22-219 (Amending Executive Order 22-218, Emergency Management — Tropical Depression Nine)
• Governor Ron DeSantis Activates the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program
• Blue Roof Program Available for Floridians in Lee, Charlotte, Sarasota, Collier and DeSoto

• Standing in front of a mound of debris in front of Doc Ford’s Rum Bar and Grille on Fort Myers Beach where restaurant partner Marty Harrity announced he intends to reopen by Thanksgiving, Governor Ron DeSantis announced that he would sign an executive order extending the deadline for the payment of property taxes for property owners whose homes were destroyed or rendered uninhabitable by Hurricane Ian. READ MORE ON THE FORT MYERS BEACH OBSERVER

• Emergency Road Use Permit
• Florida Department of Transportation Enforcement Bulletin 2022-004 

• Emergency Order 2022-001 — Budget Procedures [ 554 KB ]
• Emergency Order 2022-002 — Animal Movement [ 2 MB ]
• Emergency Order 2022-003 — Division of Licensing [ 1 MB ]
• Emergency Order 2022-004 — Late Fees and Deadlines [ 1 MB ]
• Emergency Order 2022-005 — LP Gas [ 1 MB ]
• Emergency Order 2022-006 — Pest Control [ 1 MB ]
• Emergency Order 2022-007 — Duplicate Licenses [ 850 KB ]
• Emergency Order 2022-008 – Division of Licensing (Extension of 2022-003) [ 1 MB ]
• Emergency Order 2022-009 - Late Fees and Deadlines (Extension of 2022-004) [ 1 MB ]
• Emergency Order 2022-010 - BMP Implementation Verification [ 927 KB ]
• Emergency Order 2022-011 - DOL Duplicate Licenses (Extension of 2022-007) [ 804 KB ]
• Emergency Rule 5BER22-4 — Exposed Citrus Nursery Stock [ 63 KB ]
• Emergency Order 5JER22-5 — Volatility Standards for Gasoline Emergency Rule [ 84 KB ]
• Emergency Rule 5KER22-6 — Cleaning and Sanitizing of Containers and Equipment (Milk) [ 66 KB ]

• IRS Granting Dyed Diesel Penalty Relief as a Result of Hurricane Ian (Internal Revenue Service)
• Sales and Reporting of Dyed Diesel Fuel During Penalty Relief Period[

• SART Emergency Management Contacts
• SART Livestock Water Information [ 137 KB ]