Hurricane Michael’s impact on families, businesses and communities will be felt for years to come in the Florida Panhandle.
Since the storm, our team has traveled to counties impacted including Bay, Gulf, Gadsden, Holmes, Franklin, Taylor, Wakulla and Washington counties, speaking with local leaders and business owners about how DEO can assist in their recovery efforts. Later this week and next, we will visit Calhoun, Leon, Liberty and Jackson counties. We remain committed to helping businesses and individuals recover quickly. We know the faster businesses recover, the sooner families and communities are able to return to normal.
Following Hurricane Michael, Governor Scott asked our agency to activate the Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan and Disaster Unemployment Assistance programs for Florida businesses and residents who were affected by Hurricane Michael. These two programs are designed to help businesses and individuals while they recover from the devastating impact of Hurricane Michael.
DEO administers the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program in partnership with the Florida SBDC Network to provide cash flow to businesses damaged by a disaster. These loans are interest-free for up to one year and help bridge the gap between the time damage is incurred and when a business secures other financial resources, including payment of insurance claims or longer-term Small Business Administration loans. The deadline to apply is Dec. 7, 2018. The application can be found here.
Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) is available to Florida businesses and residents whose employment or self-employment was lost or interrupted as a result of Hurricane Michael. Individuals affected in these designated-disaster areas must file DUA applications by Nov. 14, 2018, or if in Leon County by Friday, Nov. 16, 2018. To apply or to see a full list of requirements, please click here.
Many individuals are currently out of work because their employers are unable to open. Individuals looking for employment related to disaster recovery can click here and find opportunities for work and help rebuild their communities.
These are just a few of the resources our agency has to offer those impacted by the storm. All Hurricane Michael disaster recovery programs can be found here. We encourage all of our partners to share these resources with their communities as we continue assisting those throughout the Panhandle.