Hurricane Helene Prep & Recovery
Emergency Assistance and Information
- If you are in an area affected by the hurricane and need shelter, click here.
- If you are without electricity: Review this food safety guide for when to discard your perishable food.
- If you are without air conditioning: This can be the most uncomfortable side effect of losing power during a storm. Try to prevent as much light from entering and warming the house by covering up your windows on the inside. If you have a backup or battery-operated fans, don't run them unless you are in the room. Fans create a difference in perceived temperature but do not cool the room; instead, they create a cooling effect by dispersing the heat off your skin. It is said they can actually add heat to a room just by running.
- If you do not have running water: Use water stored in the bathtub or washing machine ONLY for washing and flushing.
- For more information, see http://www.stateofflorida.com/articles/hurricane-preparedness-guide.aspx
- FEMA: https://www.fema.gov/states/florida
- Florida Red Cross: https://www.redcross.org/ns/apology/disaster_homepage.html
- Florida Division of Emergency Management: http://www.floridadisaster.org/index.asp
- United Way of Florida: http://www.uwof.org/
- National Hurricane Center: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/
Price Gouging
Florida Statute 501.160 states that during a state of emergency, it is unlawful to sell, lease, offer to sell, or offer for lease essential commodities, dwelling units, or self-storage facilities for an amount that grossly exceeds the average price for that commodity during the 30 days before the declaration of the state of emergency, unless the seller can justify the price by showing increases in its prices or market trends. Examples of necessary commodities are food, ice, gas, and lumber.
How do I know if I’m being price gouged?The law compares the reported price of the commodity or service during the state of emergency to the average price charged over the 30-day period prior to the declared state of emergency. If there is a gross disparity between the prior price and the current charge, it could be considered price gouging.
Florida Price Gouging Hotline: 866-966-7226 http://myfloridalegal.com/pages.nsf/Main/5D2710E379EAD6BC85256F03006AA2C5?OpenDocument
Late Rental Payments and Lease Termination Due to Disaster
Fl Statute 83.63 provides information on damage to unit and rental agreements: http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=0000-0099/0083/Sections/0083.63.html
83.63 Casualty damage.—If the premises are damaged or destroyed other than by the wrongful or negligent acts of the tenant so that the enjoyment of the premises is substantially impaired, the tenant may terminate the rental agreement and immediately vacate the premises. The tenant may vacate the part of the premises rendered unusable by the casualty, in which case the tenant’s liability for rent shall be reduced by the fair rental value of that part of the premises damaged or destroyed. If the rental agreement is terminated, the landlord shall comply with s. 83.49(3).
Insurance Resources
Insurance consumer helpline: 877-693-5236 http://www.myfloridacfo.com/
National Apartment Association Resources
NAA Emergency and Disaster Library
How You Can Help
Florida Disaster Fund
The Florida Disaster Fund helps provide financial support to Florida’s communities in times of disaster. To make a contribution, please click the link below or text DISASTER to 20222 to make a one-time donation of $10.
Hatching Hope
Hatching Hope is a multifamily-focused charity that creates and distributes disaster relief kits. For more information or to donate, visit https://www.hatchinghopefl.com/
