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The Florida Department of Financial Services' (DFS) Check My Contract service designed to assist residential or commercial property insurance policyholders who have entered into a repair contract with contractors, restoration professionals, or public adjusters related to an insurance claim.
Check My Contract allows these policyholders to submit repair contracts to DFS for independent review to gather any potential evidence of insurance fraud against Florida policyholders, especially following storms and ensure the contract complies with Florida Law. The Department will review:
Aerial spraying for mosquitoes in Polk County was originally scheduled for the weekend of Oct. 25-27; due to delays, spraying is scheduled to begin tonight at 8 p.m. and stop Thursday morning. There will be no aerial spraying for mosquitoes on Halloween, Thursday, Oct. 31. Due to the acreage being covered, it is necessary to spray multiple days. Spraying will resume the night of Friday, Nov.1.
Spraying is scheduled from dusk to dawn; approximately 8 p.m. through 5 a.m., while most residents are indoors. The decision for aerial spraying was made due to the overwhelming increase in the mosquito population, with the advisement of county health officials and in direct response to residents’ recent requests. Residents may notice low-flying aircraft applying a low volume of insecticides approved for mosquito control. Should you have any questions or concerns about aerial spraying, please contact Polk County Mosquito Control at (863) 534-7377. While most of Polk County’s parks and boat ramps have reopened following Hurricane Milton, some areas remain closed to the public or have limited access. Sections of environmental lands and stormwater sites may still be wet or underwater.
Opening:
The following environmental lands sites will remain closed until further notice:
The following parks are hurricane debris collection sites and will remain closed for public safety until further notice:
If you have questions about these closures, contact Polk County’s Parks and Natural Resources Division at (863) 534-7377. Key Messages
FAQ of the Day: Is my vacation home covered? No, FEMA can provide disaster assistance only for a primary residence. Second homes, vacation homes or homes used as vacation rentals (AirBnB/VRBO) do not qualify for FEMA assistance. FEMA is Hiring FEMA is hiring more than 600 local hire positions in Gainesville, Melbourne Beach, Sarasota and Tallahassee, Florida. Local Hire employees are typically local residents who aid in the recovery of their community and help fellow neighbors in the recovery process. Visit USAJobs.gov, type “Local Hire” in the keywords section and “Florida” for location. Operation Blue Roof The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is installing fiber-reinforced sheeting to cover damaged roofs until arrangements can be made for permanent repairs to damaged homes across affected Florida communities. The service is free and the initial sign-up period ends Nov. 5. Florida Residents affected by Hurricane Milton can sign-up at www.blueroof.gov, by calling 888-ROOF-BLU (888-766-3258), or by visiting a Right-of-Entry collection center throughout the affected areas. Disaster Recovery Centers Disaster Recovery Centers are open in Charlotte, Citrus, Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hernando, Indian River, Madison, Manatee, Martin, Pinellas, Polk, Sarasota, St. Lucie, Suwanee and Taylor counties. Additional locations will continue opening in the coming days. To find center locations go to fema.gov/drc or text “DRC” and a Zip Code to 43362. All centers are accessible to people with disabilities or access and functional needs and are equipped with assistive technology. Survivors do not need to visit a center to apply for assistance. Survivors are encouraged to apply online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by downloading the FEMA App. FEMA does not distribute cash at Disaster Recovery Centers. Transitional Sheltering Assistance FEMA has activated Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA) for Floridians displaced by Hurricane Helene or Hurricane Milton in 52 counties and for tribal members of the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians. Residents in these counties who have applied for disaster assistance may be eligible to stay temporarily in a hotel or motel paid for by FEMA. Applicants do not need to request TSA. FEMA will notify them of their eligibility through an automated phone call, text message, and/or email, depending upon the method of communication they selected at the time of application for disaster assistance. Survivors who have been approved for TSA can find hotel options here: Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA) Serious Needs Assistance Serious Needs Assistance is money to pay for emergency supplies like water, food, first aid, breast-feeding supplies, infant formula, diapers, personal hygiene items, or fuel for transportation. Serious Needs Assistance is available for survivors who apply during the first 30 days after a disaster is declared. If you don’t agree with FEMA’s decision, you can appeal by showing why you need FEMA assistance. The decision letter you get from FEMA will have more information about the types of documents you should send. Learn more about Serious Needs Assistance. U.S. Small Business Administration The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) offers low-interest disaster loans for homeowners, renters, businesses and nonprofit organizations to cover losses not fully compensated by insurance and other sources. Apply online at SBA.gov/disaster. Disaster loan information and application forms can also be obtained by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955. SBA Business Recovery Centers are open in Hillsborough and Manatee counties. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov. How to Apply for FEMA Assistance If you sustained damage or loss from Hurricanes Milton, Helene or Debby, FEMA may be able to help. You may be eligible for financial assistance for displacement, serious needs, temporary lodging, basic home repairs, personal property losses and other uninsured disaster-related expenses.
Additional Resources Clean & Sanitize: FEMA may be able to provide up to $300 in one-time financial assistance to help with cleanup. Clean and Sanitize Assistance | FEMA.gov. Multi-Agency Resource Centers: Florida Division of Emergency Management and local communities are establishing these centers to assist residents with storm recovery. FEMA specialists are available at most centers. FEMA & Citizenship: You or a member of your household must be U.S. citizen, non-U.S. citizen national or qualified non-citizen to apply for FEMA assistance. Be Alert to Fraud: Con artists and criminals may try to obtain money or steal personal information through fraud or identity theft after disasters. Be Alert to Fraud After Florida Hurricanes | FEMA.gov FEMA Rumor Response: Know what’s true and what isn’t. Hurricane Rumor Response | FEMA.gov Mental health resources for Floridians For help with cleanup: Call 833-GET HOPE Tips for Mold Cleanup Florida Division of Emergency Management Updates: floridadisaster.org/disaster-updates/storm-updates/ Disaster Legal Hotline: 833-514-2940 FEMA, the U.S. Small Business Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture have collaborated to create a guide to help local businesses affected by hurricanes Helene and Milton access recovery resources. The agencies created a one-stop-shop resource with information about multiple kinds of federal support that is available to assist local businesses with their recovery. The guide—tailored for each affected state—is available on FEMA’s website at the links below:
Many local business owners are also disaster survivors. This means they’re dealing with two separate recoveries, one for their household and another for their business. Recovery for local businesses after events like Helene and Milton may seem daunting. FEMA encourages chambers of commerce and other civic organizations to share this guide to help local businesses recover. Below are examples of the resources available to local businesses and their owners:
A full list of more than 70 resources from 17 federal agencies is available on disasterassistance.gov. President Biden has declared a major disaster for six states affected by Helene--Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia—and Florida for Milton. FEMA reminds survivors affected by hurricanes Helene or Milton that they can apply for FEMA assistance in four ways: online at disasterassistance.gov, on the FEMA App, calling 800-621-3362, or in person at a local Disaster Recovery Center. Contact Us If you have any questions, please contact FEMA Office of External Affairs:
Follow Us Follow FEMA on social media at: FEMA Blog on fema.gov, @FEMA or @FEMAEspanol on X, FEMA or FEMA Español on Facebook, @FEMA on Instagram, and via FEMA YouTube channel. Also, follow Administrator Deanne Criswell on X @FEMA_Deanne. FEMA Mission Helping people before, during, and after disasters. Flooding along the edge of Lake Seward has severely damaged homes and prevented access to others. In coordination with the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD), Polk County has put a plan in place to direct water away from Lake Seward to Banana Lake, ultimately flowing into Lake Hancock.
The Lake Seward Flood Relief Plan consists of the following:
Pumping is expected to move water off Lake Seward and should provide relief to the residents who are currently flooded, or otherwise are unable to safely reach their homes. There is a concentrated effort taking place to mitigate the flooding that has happened around Lake Bonny. The lake is swollen above typical levels due to heavy rains experienced with Tropical Storm Debbie, Hurricane Helene and most recently Hurricane Milton. The City of Lakeland, the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD), Polk County, the City of Bartow, US Army Corp of Engineers, and the State of Florida collaborated to assist residents living around the flooded lake. The US Army Corp of Engineers has provided two industrial water pumps that are now pumping from the northwest corner of Lake Bonny. Crews have installed over 6,000 feet of industrial 12” diameter piping to direct water from Lake Bonny to Lake Parker. SWFWMD and Polk County have agreed to allow Lake Bonny outflow to be discharged into the Peace River. Staff is manning the system 24/7 to ensure it is operating and not causing unintended flooding in the vicinity of operations. A portion of Main Street is closed so above ground pipe can get flood waters from Lake Bonny to a stormwater culvert on North Gary Road. The stormwater system discharges to Lake Parker and flows to Lake Hancock before being discharged to the Peace River. The SWFWMD oversees and manages water bodies that flow to the Peace River. The overland piping will impact pedestrian and/or vehicular traffic in the area as the flood mitigation project continues. There are several road closures and detours are in place. Motorists are encouraged to avoid the area if possible. Road Closures:
 Due to a surge in the mosquito population from flooding caused by Hurricane Milton, Polk County Mosquito Control is working with the Florida Department of Agricultural and Consumer Services to help abate mosquitoes.
Aerial spraying for mosquitoes in Polk County has been scheduled for the weekend of Oct. 25 -27, 2024, or thereafter, weather permitting. Spraying is scheduled from dusk to dawn; approximately 8 p.m. through 5 a.m. while most residents are indoors. The decision for aerial spraying was made due to the overwhelming increase in the mosquito population, with the advisement of county health officials and in direct response to residents’ recent requests. Residents may notice low-flying aircraft applying insecticides approved for mosquito control. Should you have any questions or concerns about aerial spraying please contact Polk County Mosquito Control at (863) 534-7377. MULTI-AGENCY SOLUTION TO PUMP ADDITIONAL STORMWATER FROM LAKE BONNY
The City of Lakeland is working with several agencies in ongoing efforts to mitigate the sustained flooding on Lake Bonny. The City of Lakeland has been coordinating with the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD), Polk County, US Army Corp of Engineers, and the State of Florida to develop a flood mitigation plan. The US Army Corp of Engineers is providing two industrial water pumps that will be placed on the northwest corner of Lake Bonny on the recreational pathway and 6,000 feet of piping to remove water from Lake Bonny and transfer it to Lake Parker. SWFWMD and Polk County has agreed to allow Lake Bonny outflow to be discharged into the Peace River. The equipment is being delivered from Clewiston, Florida within the next 24-hours. City and SWFWMD staff will work around the clock to install the system and get it operational. Staff will man the system 24/7 to ensure it is operating and not causing unintended flooding in the vicinity of the operations. The strategy will include the closing of Main Street to run above ground pipe from Lake Bonny to a stormwater outflow on North Gary Road, just north of the train trestle. The stormwater system discharges to Lake Parker and flows to Lake Hancock before being discharged to the Peace River. The SWFWMD oversees and manages water bodies that flow to the Peace River. City Manager Shawn Sherrouse said, “The City of Lakeland team has continued to agonize alongside our flooded Lake Bonny residents. We have tirelessly sought every opportunity to reduce flooding levels without negatively impacting other residents or major commerce networks.” He added, “By stepping back from our current pump location, we were able to think outside the box and devise a unique plan to redirect floodwaters into Lake Parker. This project involves several agencies, and we truly value their efforts and support. I especially want to commend City staff for their unwavering dedication to helping those in our community most affected by Hurricane Milton.” The overland piping once installed will impact pedestrian and/or vehicular traffic. The proposed layout of the piping will result in closed roads that will include: E. Main Street at Elgin Street, Elgin Street, N. Fern Road from Elgin Street to Alicia Road, N. Gary Road from Rose Street to E. Magnolia Street/E. Gary Road. Motorists are encouraged to avoid the area and follow the advance notice detours. The recreational path from Lake Bonny Drive to the boat ramp will be closed as well. The system will operate for an undetermined timeframe, and if successful, will continue until Lake Bonny reaches an acceptable level and provides relief to those impacted. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Disaster Survivor Assistance (DSA) crews are currently visiting Polk County neighborhoods.
DSA specialists are going door-to-door in affected neighborhoods to help people apply for federal assistance, check the status of an application, identify potential needs and make connections with organizations that can provide resources. DSA specialists carry federal photo identification. DSA crews never ask for or accept money. Homeowners and renters are encouraged to apply for FEMA assistance online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by using the FEMA App. You may also apply by phone at (800) 621-3362. FEMA is increasing staff at call centers but wait times may be long due to increased call volume for multiple recent disasters. Lines are open every day and help is available in most languages. If you use a relay service, captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA your number for that service. |
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